Carlo Conti, the artistic director of the Sanremo Music Festival, announced the inclusion of Tiziano Ferro as a “super-guest” for the Tuesday, February 24th show, a move perceived by some as a strategic shift following controversy surrounding a previous invitation. The announcement, delivered with multiple exclamation points on social media, came shortly after a performance on Canale 5’s Taratata featured a lineup of prominent Italian artists including Giorgia, Ligabue, Biagio Antonacci, Emma and Max Pezzali.
The festival’s programming has been under scrutiny after an invitation extended to Andrea Pucci sparked public backlash. Pucci’s name had been considered for the “Big” category of the 2026 edition, potentially as a duet with Madame, but the invitation was ultimately withdrawn amid the ensuing controversy. Conti’s decision to feature Ferro, a familiar face at the festival, alongside the presence of veteran performer Nino Frassica, and model Irina Shayk, appears to be a move towards safer ground.
Ferro has previously appeared at the Sanremo Festival in 2006, 2007, 2015, and 2017, and served as a co-host during Amadeus’s 2020 edition. This year will mark his third collaboration with Conti. In an interview with Fanpage, Ferro revealed the performance will center around the 25th anniversary of his song “Xdono,” a track he has not previously performed live on television in 15-20 years. He also indicated plans to perform “Sono un grande,” and emphasized a desire to showcase a more energetic side of his repertoire, moving away from solely ballads.
“I don’t like the word ‘medley,’ because it’s a bit of a mess, too many things together,” Ferro stated in the Fanpage interview. “I don’t want to do seven songs all mixed up. What I’d like to do is something powerful, not slow, not ‘Sere nere.’”
Conti also announced the participation of Russian model Irina Shayk in the February 26th show, citing a need to address representation of women at the festival. The inclusion of Frassica for the final show on February 28th is intended to promote two upcoming episodes of “Sanremo Top” scheduled to air on Rai1 on March 7th and 14th, where he will co-host alongside Conti.
The festival faces competition from Champions League matches and concerns about the overall appeal of the artist lineup. Conti is attempting to bolster the festival’s ratings, hoping the established popularity of Ferro and Frassica will draw viewers.