Sanremo 2026 to feature Achille Lauro and Laura Pausini duet, Sabrina Ferilli among guests

The Sanremo Music Festival 2026 is set to begin in approximately four weeks, with initial reports emerging about guest appearances and performances planned for the five-night event at the Teatro Ariston.

According to reports from Vanity Fair and other outlets, actress Sabrina Ferilli is expected to return to the festival after her previous appearance in 2022. Ferilli recently completed work on the television drama "A Testa Alta." Her appearance at Sanremo 2026 is reportedly scheduled for the fourth evening, which traditionally features cover performances, though her exact role has not been confirmed.

Actor Luca Argentero is also among the anticipated guests for the festival, according to early indications. Reports suggest that Sabrina Ferilli may appear alongside Tommaso Paradiso during her segment, though this detail remains unconfirmed.

A duet between Achille Lauro and Laura Pausini is reported to be in the works for the festival, marking a collaboration between two established figures in Italian music.

Festival conductor Carlo Conti has addressed the matter of tributes to entertainment figures who died in 2025. The year saw the deaths of several notable personalities including Pippo Baudo, Ornella Vanoni, Peppe Vessicchio, and Tony Dallara, who died in early January. Conti clarified that while remembrances will be included during the festival, time constraints on the schedule mean that not all figures will receive full-scale tributes. Most will be acknowledged with applause rather than elaborate commemorations, as the festival must accommodate performances from numerous competing artists.

Pippo Baudo, who died in August 2025, is expected to receive particular recognition during the event given his prominence as a television personality and connection to the festival's history.