Premio Tenco 2026 to be held in Sanremo

The 49th edition of the Premio Tenco will take place from October 20 to 24, 2026, at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. Dedicated to the memory of Sergio Secondiano Sacchi, this year’s festival carries the title ‘Dio è morto’ (God is dead), a theme intended to explore how creative expression can resist violence, homogenization, and the reduction of art to algorithms.

Several prestigious lifetime achievement awards (Premio Tenco alla carriera) will be presented to Manuel Agnelli and Afterhours, Enzo Avitabile, Frankie Hi-NRG MC, Max Manfredi, and Paola Turci. Other notable recognitions include the Premio Yorum, awarded to Juan Carlos ‘Flaco’ Biondini in collaboration with Amnesty International Italia, and the Cultural Operator awards given to Cesare Bermani and Andrea Scanzi.

The festival program includes a masterclass dedicated to Franco Battiato, various musical performances, and cultural events such as book presentations and documentaries. The Tenco plaques for the best albums of the year will honor artists including Caparezza, Carmen Consoli, Piji, Avincola, Emma Nolde, and Filippo Graziani.