The Eurovision Song Contest is heading towards its 70th edition, which will take place in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle.
Little by little, the participating countries are immersed in the preparations to shape the details of their entries with which they will compete to win the coveted glass microphone.
The Eurovision season has brought forward many notable names, and among them is Italy, which once again relies on a well-established figure in its music scene. The country has chosen Sal Da Vinci, an artist with an extensive career who has managed to connect with several generations.
How did he reach Eurovision? What is his background in music? What kind of entry will he bring to Vienna 2026?
On this occasion, we review the musical career of Sal Da Vinci, the context of his entry, and his song. The Italian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will attempt to achieve a new victory with “Per Sempre Sì”, a highly emotional proposal that focuses on love, commitment, and lasting bonds, in what will be Italy’s 51st participation in the European contest.
This is Sal Da Vinci, a solid career in Italian music
Salvatore Michael Sorrentino, known professionally as Sal Da Vinci, was born in New York in 1969 into a family of Neapolitan origin. From a very young age he showed a clear inclination toward music and performance, stepping onto the stage at just six years old. This early exposure to the public marked the beginning of a career that would turn him into a prominent figure of Neapolitan song.
His childhood was closely linked to the artistic world, taking part in numerous performances. In 1976 he took one of his first professional steps by recording the song “Miracolo ’e Natale” together with his father. Years later, in 1993, he achieved important recognition by winning the Canale 5 Italian Music Festival with the song “Vera”. This track gained significant international reach, especially in Latin America thanks to the version by singer Marcos Llunas, which topped the charts for months.
In 1994 he released his debut album, titled “Sal Da Vinci”, which included popular songs such as “Fai Come Vuoi”. Over the years he continued releasing albums, although one of his most notable returns to the charts came in 2008 with “‘Nammuratè”, included in the album “Canto Per Amore”. His career has followed a steady evolution, establishing him as a relevant figure in Italian music.
In 2024 he achieved one of his biggest successes with “Rossetto e caffè”, a song that reached millions of streams and strengthened his presence in the current music scene. He later collaborated with the group The Kolors, expanding his reach to new audiences. His latest release, “L’Amore E Tu”, shows a more intimate and emotional side.
Sal Da Vinci has also built a career as an actor in film and musical theatre, participating in productions such as “Il principe dei sogni” and “Un mondo perfetto”. He has also maintained a consistent connection with the Sanremo Festival, where he achieved a third place in 2009.
This is “Per Sempre Sì”, the proposal by Sal Da Vinci to represent Italy at Eurovision 2026
After triumphing at the Sanremo Festival 2026, Sal Da Vinci represents Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with “Per Sempre Sì” (Forever Yes). The entry was written by the artist himself together with Alessandro La Cava, Federica Abbate, Federico Mercuri, Giordano Cremona, and Eugenio Maimone.
“Per Sempre Sì” is conceived as an intimate and emotional song that explores lasting love and the value of commitment throughout an entire lifetime. The track combines romanticism and emotional maturity, where loving is not only about feeling, but also about sustaining, caring, and staying present. With the intense and emotional tone that characterizes the singer, Sal Da Vinci expresses a love that resists and reaffirms itself in the face of doubt, as a sincere declaration for a love that aspires to last forever.
Lyrics
Italian
È cominciato tutto quanto dal principio
Lo che per te ero solo un uomo sconosciuto
Poi diventato un re dal cuore innamorato
Tu una regina ora vestita in bianco sposa
Abbiamo sognato figli in una grande casa
E superato tutte le difficoltà
Perché un’amore, non è amore per la vita
Se non ha affrontato la più ripida salita
E si accenderà la musica
E qui ti aspetterò
Il più grande giorno ti regalerò
Saremo io e te
Per sempre
Legati per la vita che
Senza te
Non vale niente
Non ha senso vivere
Con la mano sul petto
Io te lo prometto
Davanti a Dio
Saremo io e te
Da qui
Sarà per sempre si
So bene che è una grande incognita il futuro
Ma insieme te non mi spaventerà perché
Costruiremo tutto ma non alzeremo un muro
Litigare e far l’amore poi che male c’è
E si accenderà la musica
Per te io canterò
Il più grande giorno ti regalerò
Saremo io e te
Per sempre
Legati per la vita che
Senza te
Non vale niente
Non ha senso vivere
Con la mano sul petto
Io te lo prometto
Davanti a Dio
Saremo io e te
Da qui
Sarà per sempre
Si, soltanto si
Per questi giorni
E mille altri ancora
Un semplice si
L’eternità è dentro una parola
Saremo io e te
Per sempre
Legati per la vita che
Senza te
Non vale niente
Non ha senso vivere
Con la mano sul petto
Io te lo prometto
Davanti a Dio
Saremo io e te accussì
Sarà p semp sì
English
It all began right from the start
When I was just a stranger to you
Then I became a king with a loving heart
And you, a queen now dressed in white as a bride
We dreamed of children in a big house
And overcame every difficulty
Because a love is not a lifelong love
If it has never faced the steepest climb
And the music will start playing
And here I will wait for you
The greatest day
I will give to you
It will be you and me
Forever
Bound for life because
Without you
Life is worth nothing
There is no sense in living
With my hand upon my chest
I promise it to you
Before God
It will be you and me
From here on
It will be forever, yes
I know well the future is a great unknown
But together it won’t frighten me because
We will build everything without raising a wall
Arguing and making love — what’s wrong with that?
And the music will start playing
For you I will sing
The greatest day
I will give to you
It will be you and me
Forever
Bound for life because
Without you
Life is worth nothing
There is no sense in living
With my hand upon my chest
I promise it to you
Before God
It will be you and me
From here on
It will be forever
Yes, only yes
For these days
And a thousand more to come
A simple yes
Eternity is inside a single word
It will be you and me
Forever
Bound for life because
Without you
Life is worth nothing
There is no sense in living
With my hand upon my chest
I promise it to you
Before God
It will be you and me
Like this
It will be forever, yes
Italy at Eurovision: A Quick History
Italy is one of the founding countries of Eurovision since 1956, inspired by its classic Sanremo Festival. It has achieved three victories: in 1964 with Gigliola Cinquetti, in 1990 with Toto Cutugno and in 2021 with Måneskin. Although its participation has been irregular, with a very long absence between 1998 and 2010, it returned in 2011 with Rafael Gualazzi.
Since then, it has maintained a very competitive trajectory, accumulating numerous Top 10 results. In recent years, notable results include 2nd place in 2019 with Mahmood and his “Soldi”, and 4th place in 2023 with Marco Mengoni’s triumphant return to Liverpool. In 2025, Lucio Corsi achieved an unexpected 5th place thanks to the professional jury vote.