Italian President Mattarella receives Sanremo 2026 competitors at Quirinal Palace

President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella received the competing artists of the 76th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival at the Quirinal Palace this morning. The meeting included the 30 Big artists competing in the festival, along with conductor and artistic director Carlo Conti, co-host Laura Pausini, and RAI chief executive officer Giampaolo Rossi.

During the encounter, Mattarella spoke with each of the competing artists and offered them his wishes for success. Addressing the participants, the President said: "What you do is the expression of your artistic ability, but also a contribution to the cultural life of our country and to society. Thank you, it will be an appointment of great importance for millions and millions of people. I thank you for coming and hope I have not interfered with your rehearsals."

Conti opened the meeting with remarks to the President. "Mr. President, good morning and thank you for dedicating some of your precious time to all of us," Conti said. "I, who usually do not get emotional, am particularly moved today, because it does not happen every day to speak in front of the President of the Republic. We are honored to have been invited here on this day, for all of us at the Sanremo Festival, but also for the entire Italian music industry, which at this moment is experiencing a season of great splendor. Italian music is strong, it is alive, and the Sanremo Festival is proof of it."

Conti noted that this year marks the festival's 76th anniversary, making it only slightly younger than the Italian Republic itself, which is also celebrating an anniversary this year. Pausini will join Conti as co-host throughout all five evenings of the festival.