Night Three: The Midpoint and the Classics

The third night of Festival di Sanremo 2026 takes place on Thursday, 26 February 2026 at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. This is the midpoint of Italy's most celebrated music competition — the night when the competition finds its rhythm, songs begin to crystallize in the public consciousness, and the first hints of who might claim the Golden Lion begin to emerge.

Tonight, 15 of the 30 competing Campioni (Big Artists) take to the stage to perform their songs for the third time, with the other 15 artists playing the role of presenters, introducing their fellow competitors to the audience. It is the same elegant format used on Night 2, but tonight it is the second group of 15 that performs — the artists who have been presenting others since Monday now step into the spotlight. Broadcast live on RAI 1 and streamed on RaiPlay from 20:30 CET, the show is presented by Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, joined by special co-presenter Irina Shayk.

Official Running Order – Night 3

The official scaletta (running order) for the 15 performing Campioni tonight, as published by RAI, is:

Maria Antonietta & Colombre – "La felicità e basta"
Leo Gassmann – "Naturale"
Malika Ayane – "Animali notturni"
Sal Da Vinci – "Per sempre sì"
Tredici Pietro – "Uomo che cade"
Raf – "Ora e per sempre"
Francesco Renga – "Il meglio di me"
Eddie Brock – "Avvoltoi"
Serena Brancale – "Qui con me"
Samurai Jay – "Ossessione"
Arisa – "Magica favola"
Michele Bravi – "Prima o poi"
Luchè – "Labirinto"
Mara Sattei – "Le cose che non sai di me"
Sayf – "Tu mi piaci tanto"

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

The Nuove Proposte Final

Night 3 is also the night of the Nuove Proposte Final — the culmination of the Newcomers' competition that began with the semi-final duels on Night 2. The two artists who survived those head-to-head battles now face each other in the definitive duel to decide the winner of the Nuove Proposte category:

Angelica Bove – "Mattone"
Nicolò Filippucci – "Laguna"

Both artists qualified from the Night 2 duels — Angelica Bove defeated Mazzariello, and Nicolò Filippucci defeated Blind, El Ma & Soniko. The Nuove Proposte section is hosted by Gianluca Gazzoli and judged by a combination of public televote and jury. The winner claims the Newcomers' title at one of Italian music's most prestigious competitions, a springboard that has launched many of Italy's greatest careers.

Special Guests: Eros Ramazzotti and Alicia Keys

Night 3 delivers what may be the most star-studded interval of the entire festival week. Eros Ramazzotti — one of Italy's greatest musical exports and an artist whose global career spans four decades — returns to the Ariston stage for a special performance. Ramazzotti, who first performed at Sanremo in 1984 and 1985 winning the Newcomers' prize and then the main competition, connects generations of fans in a moment that is both a homecoming and a celebration of Italian pop at its most enduring.

Joining him on the Night 3 stage is none other than Alicia Keys, the American singer, songwriter, and pianist whose catalogue of hits — from "Fallin'" to "No One" — has made her one of the most respected artists of her generation. Keys' presence at Sanremo underscores the festival's growing international profile and delivers a moment of genuine global star power to an already exceptional evening.

Beyond the main Ariston stage, Max Pezzali performs live from the Costa Toscana cruise ship docked in Sanremo's harbour — a spectacular staging concept that extends the festival to the seafront. Meanwhile, Italian pop band The Kolors perform at the Suzuki Stage in Piazza Colombo, continuing the festival's tradition of bringing live music to the streets of Sanremo throughout the week.

Co-Presenter: Irina Shayk

Joining Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini on the presenting desk tonight is Irina Shayk, one of the most internationally recognised supermodels in the world. Shayk brings a blend of elegance and global star power that extends Sanremo's reach well beyond music audiences, reflecting the festival's status as a cultural event that transcends genre and industry. The choice of Shayk also speaks to Sanremo's ongoing conversation with the worlds of fashion and international entertainment.

Tonight's Voting: Televote and Radio Committee

Each night of Sanremo uses a different voting combination to create a multi-layered competitive narrative. On Night 3, the results are determined by:

Public Televoting – 50%
Radio Committee – 50%

At the end of the evening, only the Top 5 artists from tonight's performances will be revealed — and as on all the competition nights, in random order. This format deliberately preserves suspense, keeping the race open until the Grand Final on 28 February when all cumulative votes combine to determine the winner. For a full breakdown of how Sanremo's multi-night voting system works, see the official RAI Sanremo 2026 rules.

The Artists Performing – Who Are They?

Tonight's group of 15 includes a particularly distinctive range of voices and generations. Raf, returning to Sanremo after years away, performs "Ora e per sempre" — a career retrospective in song form from the artist behind the timeless "Self Control." Malika Ayane, one of Italy's most critically acclaimed vocalists, brings emotional depth with "Animali notturni." Francesco Renga, a two-time Sanremo winner, performs "Il meglio di me" in what feels like a personal statement from an artist reflecting on his journey.

The group also includes some of Italian music's most exciting newer voices. Mara Sattei, who first broke through in mainstream consciousness with her collaborations with Tananai and Fedez, performs "Le cose che non sai di me" — a more introspective work that showcases her range as a solo artist. Luchè, one of Italy's most respected rappers, brings "Labirinto" to the Ariston, continuing Sanremo's tradition of embracing Italian hip-hop and urban music. Sayf, with "Tu mi piaci tanto," represents the newer generation of Italian pop with a track that blends contemporary production with classic Sanremo songwriting instincts.

How to Watch

Festival di Sanremo 2026 Night 3 begins at approximately 20:30 CET on RAI 1. For viewers outside Italy or those preferring on-demand viewing, RaiPlay offers full live and catch-up streaming 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 — making every Sanremo performance a potential audition for the European stage.

What's Next?

After Night 3, two more evenings remain before the Grand Final on 28 February. Night 4 (Friday, 27 February) brings the Cover Night, where all 30 artists perform classic Italian or international songs rather than their competition entries — one of Sanremo's most beloved and unpredictable formats. Whether you're a Eurovision follower or simply an admirer of Italian music, the journey to the Grand Final is now firmly in its final stretch.

Night 3 Results

Night 3 concluded on 26 February 2026 at Teatro Ariston. Below are the official results.

Top 5 – Televote & Radio Committee (50/50)

The top five artists from Night 3 were announced in random order (no ranking revealed):

Arisa – "Magica favola"
Sayf – "Tu mi piaci tanto"
Luchè – "Labirinto"
Serena Brancale – "Qui con me"
Sal Da Vinci – "Per sempre sì"

Note: All 30 artists continue competing in the remaining nights. These Top 5 votes contribute cumulatively to the overall Grand Final ranking on 28 February. Source: RAI – I momenti clou della terza serata.

🏆 Nuove Proposte Winner

Nicolò Filippucci – "Laguna" was declared the winner of the Nuove Proposte (Newcomers) category of Festival di Sanremo 2026. He defeated finalist Angelica Bove – "Mattone" in the final duel, completing a journey that began with his semi-final victory over Blind, El Ma & Soniko on Night 2.

What's Next?

Festival di Sanremo 2026 continues with two more nights before the Grand Final on 28 February. Night 4 (27 February) is the Cover Night, where all 30 artists perform Italian or international classics rather than their competition entries — one of Sanremo's most unpredictable and beloved evenings. Visit the Events Calendar to follow every remaining night.

The winner of Festival di Sanremo 2026 will earn the right to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria.