Italian singer Luciano Ligabue said he would not perform at Sanremo as a guest artist, citing excessive tension at the festival.
6:40 PM
Luciano Ligabue said he does not plan to appear as a guest performer at the Sanremo Music Festival, though he left the door open to a future change of mind.
Speaking to press Saturday before taking the stage at Rome's Olimpico stadium for celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of his song "Certe notti," Ligabue addressed the possibility of a Sanremo guest appearance. "I don't think so. We've already discussed this other times," he said. "Sanremo is the biggest showcase in Italy, but it's always something with a knife between your teeth. It's difficult to make music there because there's too much tension—it always seems like a matter of life or death."
He added that if invited, he would evaluate whether conditions existed to participate. "At the moment I would say no, but never say never," Ligabue stated.
The singer outlined his plans for the coming year, noting that 2027 will see no live performances in Italy. Instead, he said he will be engaged with projects abroad. His current tour celebrating three decades of "Certe notti" drew 452,000 spectators across 30 dates in 2026.
Beginning in September, Ligabue will conclude the anniversary tour with 15 final shows across 15 cities. According to his announcement, these performances will not be repeated, making each date unique.
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