Sanremo Festival opens with tribute to Pippo Baudo; Conti hosts fifth edition

The 76th Sanremo Festival officially opened Tuesday evening at the Ariston theater with a tribute to Pippo Baudo, the legendary presenter who shaped the festival for decades.

Carlo Conti, hosting the festival for the fifth time, guided the opening night alongside Laura Pausini, who made her debut as a co-host for all five evenings of the competition. Turkish actor Can Yaman shared hosting duties for the inaugural broadcast.

The opening sequence began with the orchestra accompanying a gradual illumination of the stage to the notes of "Perché Sanremo è Sanremo." A recorded voice of Pippo Baudo then filled the theater, drawing an extended ovation from the audience. Conti descended the staircase visibly moved and spoke about the first festival without the legendary presenter, acknowledging Baudo's children Tiziana and Alessandro seated in the audience.

Pausini, dressed in a long black gown, then made her entrance as co-host. Can Yaman participated in the opening night's hosting responsibilities as announced by organizers.

The festival's opening marked a significant moment for the event, which has been a cornerstone of Italian television and music for generations. Baudo's recorded voice served as the ceremonial opener, with his historic jingle preceding the broadcast.

During pre-festival discussions, RAI executive Giampaolo Rossi addressed questions about succession and the festival's future direction. When asked about who might represent the next generation of festival leadership, Rossi stated that Carlo Conti "represents certainly a key reading for today's Sanremo," noting that Conti achieved exceptional results in the previous year's edition and set records in Sanremo's history.

The opening night proceeded with the traditional format of the competition, which showcases Italian musical talent across multiple evenings of performances and voting.