Russian teen Milana Krokhina wins Sanremo Junior 2026 Grand Prix

Milana Krokhina, 14, from the Russian Federation, won first place in Section A3 (ages 13–15) and the Grand Prix 2026 at the 17th edition of Sanremo Junior, an international singing competition for ages 6–15, held last weekend at Teatro Ariston in Sanremo.

Krokhina performed Nemo's "The code" and received unanimous approval from the jury. The jury was chaired by singer and songwriter Franco Fasano and included songwriter Fabrizio Berlincioni, pianist and concert performer Cristiana Pegoraro, composer and multi-instrumentalist Lodovico Saccol, and musician, conductor, arranger and writer Freddy Colt.

The Prix Committee Sanremo Junior award went to 13-year-old Almira Ainun Mahya from Indonesia, who performed "Mama knows best." Additional recognitions included the Student Prize and the Sanremo Junior Orchestra Prize, awarded to Alice "Artemis" Viganò in memory of the young clarinetist from the Sanremo Junior Orchestra.

Sanremo Junior is an international singing competition that draws young performers from multiple countries. The competition features different age categories and is held annually at the Teatro Ariston, the same venue that hosts the adult Sanremo Music Festival. The event showcases emerging vocal talent and provides a platform for young singers to perform before a professional jury of established musicians and industry figures.