FantaSanremo 2026 opens with record registrations and new official theme song
The fantasy game surpassed 250,000 teams within a week of opening registrations, with Elettra Lamborghini and Dargen D'Amico emerging as the most selected artists.
January 23, 2026
FantaSanremo 2026 has launched with strong momentum, exceeding 250,000 registered teams just over a week after opening registrations on January 7. The figure matches and slightly improves upon the record pace set during the previous year's edition, according to officials familiar with the competition.
Registrations opened at noon on January 7, allowing participants to begin assembling squads through the dedicated mobile application or the fantasanremo.com website. Each player receives a budget of 100 "baudi"—the game's currency named in memory of Pippo Baudo—to purchase seven artists: five starters and two reserves. A captain, selected from the five starting players, sees both bonuses and penalties doubled.
Among the first strategic choices made by fantasy managers, Elettra Lamborghini and Dargen D'Amico lead the rankings of most-selected artists. Following them are J-Ax, LDA, Aka 7even, Bambole di pezza, Serena Brancale, Arisa, Sayf, Sal Da Vinci, and Ditonellapiaga. In the captain rankings, Dargen D'Amico tops preferences, followed by Arisa, the duo Fedez & Masini, and the pairing LDA & Aka 7even.
The 2026 edition introduces modified gameplay mechanics. Fantasy managers can now adjust the lineup of starters and reserves only during two specific windows: Friday, February 27, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the cover songs evening, or Saturday, February 28, during the same hours for the finale. The deadline for squad formation has been set, with participants able to manage up to five teams and join a maximum of 25 different leagues.
The official theme song for FantaSanremo 2026 is "Scapezzolate" by Tony Pitony, released across all digital platforms. The track succeeds last year's "Occhi di FantaSanremo," performed by Cristina D'Avena, and marks a return to an entirely original theme song for the fantasy game. The song humorously depicts a typical fantasy manager's evening: the anxious anticipation of performances, last-minute strategies, euphoria over bonuses, and frustration over penalties.
Tony Pitony, the artist behind the new theme, has amassed over 169,000 followers on TikTok and has performed sold-out concerts. The community has mentioned him as a possible Big contender for the Ariston stage in the "Totofestival" prediction game.
Casa Sanremo itself opens on February 14 and runs through the festival's conclusion on February 28. The 76th edition of the Festival della Canzone Italiana takes place February 24 to 28.
Artist Tredici Pietro has publicly stated that his participation will focus solely on performing his song without strategic moves designed to accumulate FantaSanremo points. His player value in the game is set at 13 baudi.
Thirty days before the festival's start, FantaSanremo registrations showed a 20 percent increase in team signups compared to the same period in 2025.