The doors of the Quirinale open for the first time for the protagonists of Sanremo: the artistic director and host, Carlo Conti, the co-host Laura Pausini and the 30 Big names competing at the festival will be received by the president Sergio Mattarella on Friday 13 February. “It is obviously an immense joy, a great honor and a great emotion”, smiles Carlo Conti announcing the event in a video on Instagram. The CEO Giampaolo Rossi is expected to represent Rai.
A special wish
It will be a sort of special wish, on the eve of the 76th edition, scheduled at the Ariston from 24 to 28 February, from a Head of State who in recent years has managed to earn the sympathy of Italians also for his simplicity and ability to grasp the passions of his fellow citizens.
Mattarella first president at Ariston
After all, Mattarella was also the first President of the Republic in Sanremo, to testify to the recognition of music as a cultural industry and heritage of Italy: guest on the stage of honor with his daughter Laura, in the 2023 edition hosted by Amadeus, for the tribute to the 75 years of the Constitution entrusted to Roberto Benigni. Greeted by the public’s standing ovation upon his entry into the room, with the Mameli anthem sung by Gianni Morandi and sung by everyone in chorus, the president on that occasion laughed at Benigni’s jokes, applauded, put his hand twice on his heart when the Oscar-winning actor and director cited his father, Bernardo Mattarella, among the founding fathers, creators of that “work of art that sings the freedom and dignity of man”, the fundamental Charter in the Benigni’s words.
Benigni’s support for the president after the attack on Moscow
And again from the Ariston stage, on 14 February last year, Benigni once again testified to his support for Mattarella, at the center of an attack by Moscow: “We are proud to be represented by you, president, for your dignity and humanity”https://gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/cultura/2026/02/05/sanremo-arriva-al-quirinale-conti-pausini-ei-30-big-da-mattarella-f06d2af0-f1a7-41fc-84b9-c39bf55e1a5a/.”To you all the solidarity of the Italian people”, echoed Carlo Conti.
The context of the visit
The ceremony on 13 February – evocatively ‘anticipated’ by the film La Grazia by Paolo Sorrentino, in which the President of the Republic, played by Toni Servillo, after having rapped to the tune of Le bimbe pipianno by Guè, receives him at the Quirinale – is ideally in line with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Afi, the Italian Phonographic Association, in November 2023, closed by a choir to the tune of Nel blu dipinto di blu, with Mattarella standing while Amedeo Minghi, I Cugini di Campagna, Edoardo Vianello, Aleandro Baldi, i Neri per caso, Mal and the late maestro Peppe Vessicchio sang Volare. Among applause and choirs, Vianello also intoned the first words of “Watussi” and Cugini di Campagna “Anima mia”https://gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/cultura/2026/02/05/sanremo-arriva-al-quirinale-conti-pausini-ei-30-big-da-mattarella-f06d2af0-f1a7-41fc-84b9-c39bf55e1a5a/.”The set of values of music is fundamental”, said the Head of State at the time, who did not fails to mention the young people of the traditional Concertone in Piazza San Giovanni in the message of greetings for May Day. And a few days ago he appointed Antonio Diodato Knight of the Republic for his social commitment and Jovanotti Commander, then welcoming him to the Quirinale together with his wife Francesca and daughter Teresa.