Amici 26 officially kicked off its new season with the recording of its first afternoon episode on Thursday, October 8, 2026, introducing 25 provisional students, a restructured coaching panel now designated as artistic directors, and two athletes entering a dedicated sports track, Biccy reported. The talent show returns to Canale 5 on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC), hosted by Maria De Filippi, with production details and contestant social media handles emerging from early previews.
The Coaching Lineup Changes
The upcoming season implements a distinct structural shift by replacing traditional professor titles with artistic directors. For the singing category, Rudy Zerbi is joined by Amadeus and Samurai Jay, who enters as the youngest artistic director in the program’s history, according to Biccy. The dance category features returning instructor Lorella Cuccarini alongside Alessandra Celentano—present since the second edition—and new addition Ambra Angiolini, as detailed by MondoTV24. DanInSeries noted that the artistic directors will evaluate the young dancers and singers continuously throughout the term.
Contestants Must Earn Second Yes for Permanent Seats
None of the 25 contestants admitted during the initial recording secured a definitive seat or guaranteed desk in the school. SuperGuidaTV reported via MondoTV24 that the initial acceptance grants students only a provisional jersey based on the instructor who favored their entry. To secure a permanent position, students must participate in weekly studio evaluations and earn a second yes from the faculty. Once a student receives two affirmative votes, they gain the autonomy to select their primary instructor for the remainder of the school year, mirroring past season mechanics.
Contestant Social Media Directories
Following the first studio taping, social media monitoring by X account @AmiciNews mapped out the Instagram profiles for the provisional roster across singing, dancing, and athletic divisions. For the vocal division, the identified accounts include Kashmire (@kashmere_official), Saitta (@inartesaitta), Jed (@jed_leg), Shari (@sharinoioso), Nicolò (@nicolobassanii), Andrea Heros (@andrea.heros), Manuel Meledina (@manuel.meledina), Tìaso (@sonotiaso), Posniak (@dnlposniak), and Erness (@erness_real), as cross-referenced by MondoTV24. The dance category features Napo (@gabrielenapolii), Celeste Moroni (@celestemoronii), Anna Messina (@anna__messina__), Clara Rocco (@clararocco_), Riccardo Frisonn (@riccardo.frisonn), Lorenzo Lombardi (@lorenzo.lombardi._), and Carlotta Rossini (@xccharli_).
The New Sports Track Integration
Amici 26 introduces a parallel training section dedicated to competitive sports disciplines, featuring two specialized entrants: India, a judoka with the Instagram handle @serafini.iindia, and Gabriele, a boxer operating under @gabriele_g.r. Biccy reported that these athletic competitors will undergo a separate curriculum involving weekly challenges against external athletes, which will be judged independently by industry experts rather than the standard artistic staff.
Canale 5 Broadcasts First Verification Phase on October 11
The official television broadcast commences on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC) on Canale 5. The provisional 25 students face an immediate verification phase during their first week inside the studios, where individual performances will determine whether they transition from provisional jersey holders to confirmed permanent participants under their chosen artistic directors.
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