Singer Ermal Meta moved the audience of the Sanremo Music Festival 2026 with his heartfelt performance of “Stella Stellina.” The song, inspired by a traditional Italian lullaby, is dedicated to children affected by the conflict in Palestine.

Meta described the piece as a reflection on the innocence of children in times of war. On stage, he wore the name of a Palestinian girl — Amal — embroidered on his shirt collar. The artist said he plans to repeat this symbolic gesture each night, wearing different Palestinian names as a tribute.

“The protagonist of ‘Stella Stellina’ is a child without a name, yet perhaps with all names — Aysha, Amal, Layla, Nour, Hind… Does it matter? Maybe everything, maybe nothing. Children of no one, children of everyone,” Meta wrote on social media after his performance, highlighting the song’s human message.

During his performance, Meta created a quiet yet deeply emotional atmosphere. The audience responded with reflection and warm applause.

The opening night of Sanremo 2026 featured live performances from all thirty competing artists, each presenting their unreleased songs for the first time. The festival remains one of Italy’s most followed music events, offering artists a major platform and giving the winner the chance to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest.