Night Two: A Different Sanremo Experience

The second night of Festival di Sanremo 2026 takes place on Tuesday, 25 February 2026 at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, and it delivers something genuinely different from the opening night. Rather than hearing all 30 artists back-to-back, tonight only 15 of the 30 competing artists take to the stage – while the other 15 remain part of the show, introducing and presenting their fellow competitors. It's an elegant twist that transforms rivals into collaborators, making Night 2 one of the most intimate and human evenings of the festival.

Broadcast live on RAI 1 and streamed on RaiPlay from 20:40 CET, Night 2 is hosted by Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, joined by three charismatic co-presenters: Achille Lauro, Lillo, and Pilar Fogliati. The Newcomers' section is hosted separately by Gianluca Gazzoli.

The 15 Artists Performing Tonight

If Night 1 was about hearing all 30 songs for the first time, Night 2 is about depth. These 15 artists perform their competing entries for the second time, with audiences now more familiar with the songs and better able to appreciate the nuances of each performance. The lineup for tonight includes:

Patty Pravo – "Opera"
LDA & Aka 7even – "Poesie clandestine"
Enrico Nigiotti – "Ogni volta che non so volare"
Tommaso Paradiso – "I romantici"
Elettra Lamborghini – "Voilà"
Ermal Meta – "Stella stellina"
Levante – "Sei tu"
Bambole di pezza – "Resta con me"
Chiello – "Ti penso sempre"
J-Ax – "Italia Starter Pack"
Nayt – "Prima che"
Fulminacci – "Stupida sfortuna"
Fedez & Marco Masini – "Male necessario"
Dargen D'Amico – "AI AI"
Ditonellapiaga – "Che fastidio!"

For the full list of all 30 competing artists and their songs, visit the Festival di Sanremo 2026 – Night 1 page.

One performer that makes tonight particularly special is Patty Pravo, returning to the Ariston for an extraordinary eleventh time. Few artists embody the spirit of Sanremo the way she does — a living thread connecting the festival's 1960s golden age to the present day. Watching her take that stage again is not just a performance; it's a piece of Italian music history.

The Artists-as-Presenters Concept

One of the most charming aspects of Night 2 is that the 15 artists not performing take on a presenting role, introducing their fellow competitors to the audience. This format — unique to the Sanremo multi-night structure — softens the competitive edge and reveals the camaraderie that exists among the artists behind the scenes. It's a reminder that Sanremo is, at its heart, a celebration of Italian music rather than simply a contest.

The Newcomers' Competition (Nuove Proposte) Begins

Night 2 marks the start of the Nuove Proposte (Newcomers) section, a beloved Sanremo tradition that provides emerging Italian artists with a platform on one of the country's most prestigious stages. The four competing newcomers are divided into two head-to-head challenges:

Challenge I

Nicolò Filippucci – "Laguna" vs. Blind, El Ma & Soniko – "Nei miei DM"

Challenge II

Mazzariello – "Manifestazione d'amore" vs. Angelica Bove – "Mattone"

The Nuove Proposte segment is hosted by Gianluca Gazzoli and is judged by jury vote. Many past Nuove Proposte winners have gone on to become important voices in Italian music — tonight could mark the debut of the next generation.

Special Guests and the Extended Sanremo Universe

Night 2 extends the festival well beyond the Teatro Ariston. Bresh appears as a special guest during the evening's proceedings. Meanwhile, Max Pezzali performs live from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship docked in the harbour — a spectacular staging idea that turns Sanremo's seafront into an extension of the show.

The night also welcomes a delegation of Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, biathlete Lisa Vittozzi, Paralympic alpine skier Giacomo Bertagnolli, and Paralympic cross-country skier Giuliana Turra. Their presence reflects the timing of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games, which overlap with the festival this year.

Tonight's Voting: Radio Jury and Public Televoting

Each night of Sanremo uses a different voting combination, creating a multi-layered narrative across the week. Tonight, the results are determined by:

Radio Jury – 50%
Televoting – 50%

At the end of the evening, only the Top 5 artists from tonight's performances will be revealed — and in random order, not ranked. This deliberate choice preserves suspense and keeps the competition fully open until the Grand Final on February 28.

The Co-Presenters: Achille Lauro, Lillo & Pilar Fogliati

The rotation of co-presenters is a Sanremo tradition, and Night 2 brings an eclectic trio. Achille Lauro — himself a former Sanremo competitor who became notorious for provocative staging in 2020 and 2021 — brings an insider's irreverence to the hosting desk. Comedian and actor Lillo, known for his deadpan wit, pairs well with actress and TV personality Pilar Fogliati, whose warmth and timing create natural chemistry on stage.

Together with Conti and Pausini, they ensure that the evening moves with energy, humour, and heart — essential ingredients for a night that lasts well past midnight.

How to Watch

Festival di Sanremo 2026 Night 2 begins at 20:40 CET on RAI 1. For viewers outside Italy or those preferring on-demand viewing, RaiPlay offers full live and catch-up streaming coverage with no subscription required. As noted on the official Eurovision 2026 Vienna page, the Sanremo winner is eligible to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna — adding international stakes to an already captivating domestic competition.

What to Expect from Sanremo Night 2

If Night 1 was the celebration of first impressions, Night 2 is where Sanremo begins to reveal its deeper character. Songs that felt unfamiliar yesterday start to feel inevitable today. Artists who seemed like underdogs can suddenly emerge as front-runners. With the Radio Jury's taste now in play alongside the public vote, expect a Top 5 that might surprise — Sanremo has always rewarded songs that reward repeated listening, and tonight's format is designed exactly for that.

Watch on RAI 1 or stream via RaiPlay from 20:40 CET.

Night 2 Results

Night 2 concluded on 25 February 2026 at Teatro Ariston. Below are the official results.

Top 5 – Radio Jury & Televote (50/50)

The top five artists from Night 2 were announced in random order (no ranking revealed):

Tommaso Paradiso – "I romantici"
LDA & Aka 7even – "Poesie clandestine"
Nayt – "Prima che"
Fedez & Marco Masini – "Male necessario"
Ermal Meta – "Stella stellina"

Note: All 30 artists continue competing across the remaining nights. These Night 2 Top 5 votes contribute cumulatively to the overall Grand Final ranking.

Nuove Proposte – Night 2 Results

The two Newcomer duels produced the following results:

Nicolò Filippucci – "Laguna" advanced to the Nuove Proposte Final, defeating Blind, El Ma & Soniko – "Nei miei DM"
Angelica Bove – "Mattone" advanced to the Nuove Proposte Final, defeating Mazzariello – "Manifestazione d'amore"

Special Moments from Night 2

Achille Lauro performed a tribute to the victims of the Crans-Montana tragedy, singing "16 Marzo" with Laura Pausini and "Perdutamente" with Valentina Gargano
Bresh performed as a guest artist from the Suzuki Stage in Piazza Colombo
Fausto Leali performed a medley of classics "Io amo" and "Mi manchi"
Patty Pravo made her extraordinary 11th Sanremo appearance, one of the most iconic moments of the evening

What's Next?

Festival di Sanremo 2026 continues through 28 February. Night 3 (26 February) features the remaining 15 competing artists. The Grand Final determines the overall winner, who earns the right to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Visit the Events Calendar to follow all upcoming nights.