Overview
- Fifteen Big acts perform with results determined half by public televote and half by the radio jury, with only the top five positions (unordered) announced at the end.
- The Nuove Proposte face head‑to‑head duels voted by televote (34%), press/TV/web jury (33%) and radio jury (33%), with two songs advancing to the third night.
- Pilar Fogliati, Achille Lauro and Lillo co‑host alongside Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, with Pausini and Lauro duetting on 16 marzo.
- Achille Lauro adds a performance of Perdutamente as an homage to the victims of the Crans‑Montana fire, a change agreed with organizers.
- Auditel reports 9.6 million viewers and a 58% share for the opening night, about 3 million fewer than 2025, as Conti addresses the viral 'Repupplica' on‑screen typo and defends the show’s health.