New Sports Categories Introduced for Amici 26
The upcoming twenty-sixth edition of the production hosted by Maria De Filippi will expand its scope beyond singing and dancing by integrating three distinct athletic disciplines: boxing, roller figure skating, and judo, as detailed by journalist Giuseppe Candela in the magazine Chi’s “C’è Chi Dice” column. Each of the three new sports will feature a single representative student who will undergo specialized training, participate in regular classroom challenges, and receive instruction from sector professionals throughout the television season.
Among the additions, the inclusion of combat and martial arts disciplines like boxing and judo marks a significant physical departure for a program historically centered on performing arts. Meanwhile, roller figure skating aligns more closely with the artistic and performance-oriented background traditionally associated with Mediaset’s talent format.
Questions Surrounding Format and Rules
While the addition of the new sports categories has been widely reported across television updates, production details regarding how these athletes will compete remain under review. Producers have yet to clarify whether the boxing, judo, and roller skating competitors will follow the exact same regulatory path toward the evening Serale phase and potential overall victory, or if they will navigate a parallel competition track within the school.
The structural adjustment comes as the program looks toward a broader refresh of its framework. Industry reports indicate that the overarching changes are designed to revitalize the format following audience figures recorded during previous late-season broadcasts.
Faculty Changes and the Coaching Staff Rebus
Alongside the rule changes, the faculty lineup for Amici 26 is experiencing a substantial transition. Following the departure of Anna Pettinelli, the composition of the teaching panel remains partially unconfirmed, though long-standing instructors Alessandra Celentano and Rudy Zerbi are widely reported to return. Lorella Cuccarini is also anticipated to potentially resume her role within the dance category, though official confirmations from the production are still pending.
Additional adjustments to the coaching staff remain unfinalized. While speculation has circulated regarding potential new arrivals such as television personality Amadeus and dancer Angelo Madonia, alongside actress Ambra Angiolini, production executives have not yet issued definitive statements confirming the complete roster of professors for the upcoming term.
What Happens Next
Amici 26 is scheduled to make its official return to television screens on Sunday, October 4, 2026, on Canale 5, at which point the full student roster, rule adaptations, and faculty lineup will be publicly unveiled by the production.
