The Italian music festival Sanremo continues to generate headlines, this time not for on-stage performances but for questions surrounding the transparency of the artist selection process. Recent comments made during Alessandro Cattelan’s podcast, “Supernova,” have sparked debate about whether singer Fedez was aware of his participation in Sanremo 2026 before the official announcement, marking the second instance of potentially premature revelations linked to the program.
The latest controversy centers on a conversation with YouTuber Ale Della Giusta, who alluded to Fedez’s prior knowledge during a discussion about the singer’s experience at the 2025 festival. This follows earlier scrutiny regarding potential leaks from the show, raising concerns about the integrity of the selection process and the information shared with the public. The incident underscores a pattern of information slipping out before official announcements, prompting questions about internal communication and control.
During the “Supernova” podcast, Della Giusta hinted at a possible return to Sanremo for Fedez, prompting a visibly awkward exchange with Cattelan. According to reports from Libero, Della Giusta stated, “Forse lo rifacciamo anche quest’anno” (“Maybe we’ll do it again this year”), when discussing following Fedez during the festival. Cattelan’s subsequent questioning and Della Giusta’s hesitant responses fueled speculation that Fedez was informed of his participation before the official announcement on November 30, 2025. The exchange, occurring in a podcast episode released December 18, but reportedly recorded before the official announcement, has ignited discussion among fans and industry observers.
This isn’t the first time “Supernova” has been at the center of pre-announcement disclosures. The podcast previously featured a discussion suggesting Fedez knew about his Sanremo 2026 participation well in advance of the official cast reveal. This pattern has led to questions about whether the official narrative – that artists are informed of their inclusion only when Carlo Conti, the artistic director, announces the lineup on the national news program Tg1 – is entirely accurate. While Conti and previous artistic directors, such as Amadeus, have maintained this account, some within the industry suggest that established artists often receive confirmation weeks before the public announcement.
The latest incident comes as Fedez prepares to perform alongside Marco Masini at Sanremo 2026 with their song “Male necessario,” a collaboration described as a blend of Fedez’s lyrical style and Masini’s melodic approach, as reported by RaiNews. The duo’s performance is already generating significant anticipation, building on their successful collaboration during the Duets Night at the previous festival. Their song is described as a ballad with a “pungente e pieno di voglia di rivalsa” (sharp and full of a desire for revenge) tone.
Meanwhile, Chanel Totti, daughter of Ilary Blasi and Francesco Totti and Filippo Laurino, are competing on the reality show Pechino Express. During an appearance on “Supernova,” Cattelan seemingly revealed a spoiler about their performance on the show, suggesting that Totti’s presence was crucial to their success. According to Libero, Cattelan remarked, “Se non fosse stato per Chanel avresti vinto” (“If it hadn’t been for Chanel, you would have won”), prompting laughter and no immediate denial from the contestants.
Totti also discussed the challenges of public scrutiny, particularly regarding her parents’ divorce, stating, “Non è stato semplice legger certe cose sul divorzio dei miei genitori” (“It wasn’t easy to read certain things about my parents’ divorce”). She revealed initial reservations about participating in Pechino Express, highlighting the difficulties of adapting to the show’s demands.
As Sanremo 2026 approaches, the focus will undoubtedly shift back to the music. However, the recent disclosures surrounding the artist selection process raise questions about transparency and the management of information. The festival organizers will likely face continued scrutiny regarding how they handle announcements and maintain the element of surprise. The next procedural step will be the full unveiling of the festival program and the commencement of rehearsals, all while navigating the lingering questions about pre-announcement knowledge.
What are your thoughts on the potential for leaks and early knowledge of Sanremo participation? Share your opinions in the comments below and join the conversation.
