Malmö Messages: three eurovision icons open festival

Sal Da Vinci will represent Italy at Eurovision 2026 after winning the 76th Festival di Sanremo. The singer secured the Italian ticket to Vienna with Per Sempre Sì, the song that gave him victory on Saturday 28 February. In the final round, he took 22.2% of the vote. Sayf finished second with Tu Mi Piaci Tanto, while Ditonellapiaga placed third with Che Fastidio!. Sal Da Vinci Eurovision 2026 now moves from Sanremo to the international stage, as Italy prepares for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May. Sal Da Vinci, whose name is Salvatore Michael Sorrentino, entered the world in New York in 1969. His father, Mario Da Vinci, was touring there at the time. He made his stage debut at the age of seven and later appeared in films including Il Motorino and Troppo Forte. Music soon became the main focus of his career. In 1994, he won the Canale 5 Italian Music Festival with Vera. Eurovision followers may also remember his third-place finish at Sanremo 2009 with Non Riesco A Farti Innamorare. In recent years, Sal Da Vinci has reached a new commercial peak. His single Rossetto e Caffè recorded more than 450 million plays across digital platforms and earned double platinum status. The track also became one of the most-streamed songs of 2024. He played the leading role in the musical C’era Una Volta…Scugnizzi from 2002 to 2006. That theatre work added another part to his career before his latest chart success. That success gives extra weight to his Eurovision selection in 2026. With Per Sempre Sì, Sal Da Vinci Eurovision 2026 adds another major chapter to a career that already spans music, theatre, film, and Sanremo. Italy will head to Vienna with a well-known artist and the song that won over the Sanremo vote.