Amici di Maria De Filippi returns for its twenty-sixth season on Sunday, October 11, 2026, launching at 2 p.m. local time on Canale 5 with host Maria De Filippi. Following the victory of singer Lorenzo Salvetti in the previous cycle, the production has overhauled its coaching structure, introduced new sports disciplines, and restructured the artist teams ahead of the opening episode.
Amadeus and New Artistic Leads Arrive for the Twenty-Sixth Season
The recording of the season premiere on Thursday, October 8, 2026, confirmed a sweeping shift in how mentors guide the contestants. The traditional professor titles have been replaced by six artistic leads split evenly between singing and dancing. These roles focus on identifying and nurturing raw talent rather than conducting traditional classroom lectures.
The singing division features returning mentor Rudy Zerbi alongside newcomers Amadeus and Samurai Jay. Amadeus confirmed his participation in an interview with Chi magazine, explaining that he accepted the position out of curiosity and his professional trust in Maria De Filippi. Initial speculation placed him as a technical commissioner or headmaster, but the studio recording solidified his role as one of the three artistic leads for singing.
Dancing Lineup Shifts With Celentano, Cuccarini, and Angiolini
The dance commission undergoes a transformation. Alessandra Celentano returns, while Lorella Cuccarini transitions from the singing division back to dance. Ambra Angiolini joins the panel as an artistic lead for dance, after earlier summer reports had played down her participation.
Outgoing from the previous season’s coaching staff are Anna Pettinelli—who joined the cast of Tale e Quale Show—alongside Emanuel Lo and Veronica Peparini. In addition to the roster changes, production removed the physical lever from the studio desks that previous mentors used to interrupt performances.
New Sport Disciplines Enter the School Curriculum
Alongside traditional music and choreography training, the twenty-sixth season introduces competitive sports disciplines to the student roster.
Unlike the vocal and dance contestants who compete for placement in the evening phase, these athletic competitors follow a parallel track. They face external opponents in staged events overseen by specialized sports commissioners, earning cumulative scores toward an end-of-season award.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Season
When does the new season of Amici begin broadcasting?
The twenty-sixth season premieres on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. local time on Canale 5, with Maria De Filippi returning as host.
Who are the new artistic leads for singing and dancing?
The singing division is managed by Rudy Zerbi, Amadeus, and Samurai Jay. The dance division is led by Alessandra Celentano, Lorella Cuccarini, and Ambra Angiolini.
How do the new sports competitors participate in the show?
Athletes admitted for disciplines such as judo and boxing compete in a parallel track against external opponents, accumulating scores through judged events supervised by external sports commissioners.
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