Sal Da Vinci performs in Giovinazzo and defends stage gesture with disabled child

Italian singer Sal Da Vinci, winner of the Sanremo Music Festival 2026 with the song “Per sempre sì”, held a concert on 7 August at the Levante Arena in Giovinazzo, a seaside venue near the Adriatic Sea. The event was part of his 2026 summer tour, which will culminate with large shows in Naples later in September.

Earlier in July, Da Vinci invited a disabled girl onto the stage during a concert in Adrano, an act that sparked debate on social media. Critics accused him of using the moment as “inspiration porn”. On 1 August in Francavilla a Mare, he addressed the backlash, explaining that the gesture was motivated by a personal family experience and saying, “Ci siamo commossi tutti. Perché in famiglia mia vivo un caso del genere.” He also condemned the hostile online comments, stating, “passiamo delle giornate a scrivere put***ate pur di fare del male agli altri.”