Sanremo 2026 Duets: A Wild Mix of Covers, Icons & Cartoon Legends

It’s that time again — when Italy throws logic to the wind, lets Patty Pravo duet with a ballet dancer, and someone performs Aserejé like it’s still 2002.

The Festival di Sanremo 2026 is coming together piece by fabulous piece, and the cover duet night (aka the Friday night fever dream) is shaping up to be one for the books. Friday 27 February is the date, Rai1 is the place, and chaos is not just expected — it’s basically required.

The line-up? Equal parts iconic, questionable, and deeply Sanremo

Fresh from his usual TG1 drop-in, host and artistic director Carlo Conti revealed this year’s duet line-up and, darling, it’s got everything: anime theme songs, unexpected jazz, forgotten bangers, emotional wreckage and pure camp.

Here’s the full breakdown of who’s singing what with whom:

• Arisa will belt out Quello che le donne non dicono with the Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma. High notes and a choir? Buckle up.
• Bambole di Pezza tackle Occhi di gatto with the ultimate childhood voice: Cristina d’Avena. Cosplay incoming.
• Chiello sings Mi sono innamorato di te with Morgan, which sounds like an emotionally risky choice.
• Dargen D’Amico goes full Italian karaoke with Su di noi, joined by Pupo and Fabrizio Bosso. No notes.
• Ditonellapiaga brings swing to The Lady Is a Tramp with someone named Tony Pitony, which feels made up, but sure.
• Eddie Brock sings Portami via with Fabrizio Moro, possibly the only duet that won’t melt into absurdity.
• Elettra Lamborghini resurrects Aserejé with Las Ketchup, because Italy doesn’t know the meaning of shame and thank God for that.
• Enrico Nigiotti and Alfa team up for En e Xanax — soft boys unite.
• Ermal Meta and Dardust take on Golden Hour, likely to induce tears and/or chills.
• Fedez & Marco Masini tackle Meravigliosa creatura with cellist Stjepan Hauser, who will undoubtedly steal the spotlight with a single bow stroke.
• Francesco Renga sings Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola with Giusy Ferreri. Expect vibrato wars.
• Fulminacci and journalist Francesca Fagnani duet on Parole parole. Bold of her to say yes.
• J-Ax teams up with Ligera County Fam (which may or may not be Cochi e Renato in disguise) for E la vita, la vita.
• LDA & Aka 7even dive into Andamento lento with the legendary Tullio De Piscopo. Percussion levels: extreme.
• Leo Gassmann and Aiello duet on Era già tutto previsto, a song more dramatic than your last breakup.
• Levante and Gaia perform I maschi, ready to destroy gender norms and vocal cords.
• Luchè tackles Falco a metà with Gianluca Grignani, who may or may not behave.
• Malika Ayane and actor Claudio Santamaria will deliver Mi sei scoppiato dentro al cuore, which sounds like a couple’s therapy session in song.
• Mara Sattei and Mecna team up for L’ultimo bacio. Bring tissues.
• Maria Antonietta & Colombre do Il mondo with the ever-elegant Brunori Sas.
• Michele Bravi performs Domani è un altro giorno with Fiorella Mannoia, a duet made for standing ovations and key changes.
• Nayt and Joan Thiele deliver La canzone dell’amore perduto. Soulful, melancholic, and very Spotify-core.
• Patty Pravo sings Ti lascio una canzone with ballet star Timofej Andrijashenko, because she’s Patty Pravo and she can.
• Raf goes English with The Riddle, joined by The Kolors. Expect retro vibes and sunglasses indoors.
• Sal Da Vinci and Michele Zarrillo revive Cinque giorni. Goosebumps and high notes are a given.
• Samurai Jay brings Baila morena to life with Belén Rodríguez and Roy Paci. Horns, hips, hysteria.
• Sayf sings Hit the Road Jack with Alex Britti and Mario Biondi. Soulful chaos incoming.
• Serena Brancale, Gregory Porter and Delia serve Besame Mucho. That’s a lot of velvet voice on one stage.
• Tommaso Paradiso closes the night with L’ultima luna alongside the legendary Stadio.

One word: unapologetic

This isn’t about taste. It’s about television.

And the cover night at Sanremo never disappoints in serving exactly what it promises: surprise duos, wild genre mashups, and at least three performances that make you question everything about the Italian music industry — and still love it for exactly that.

Conti’s Festival continues to do the most, with Laura Pausini headlining every night like the diva she is, and Achille Lauro hosting the second evening .

See you on 27 February — bring popcorn and emotional resilience

Whether you’re here for the musicality or just for the memes, Sanremo 2026’s cover night is destined to be an instant classic. Or a trainwreck. Or both. Which is why we love it.

In the meantime, we’ll be rewatching Aserejé choreo tutorials and wondering if Tony Pitony is actually just Al Bano in disguise.

Source: Corriere