Modena, September 10, 2026 – Paolo Belli returns to Ballando con le Stelle. After days of rumors and an uncertain television future, the musician from Carpi will once again be part of the Rai 1 program’s team, alongside Milly Carlucci. The confirmation, according to Adnkronos, comes at a time when the cast of the new edition is now finalized. Belli, who last year also accepted the challenge of competing as a contestant, will return this time in the role he has held for most of the show’s history: that of musician and a fixed presence in the orchestra. A video also surfaced on social media showing him backstage preparing for the program. The return, not yet officially confirmed, comes after the fatal accident last July, in which 41-year-old Alessandro Magnani lost his life, run over by the bicycle driven by Belli in the countryside of the Bassa Reggiana.
Doubts about the return
There was much uncertainty surrounding his participation. The road accident, for which the judiciary has opened a file for vehicular manslaughter, had indeed opened a particularly delicate phase for the artist. Belli is under investigation by the Reggio Emilia Prosecutor’s Office for vehicular manslaughter, a registration necessary for the investigations into the dynamics of the accident and which does not equate to an admission of responsibility.
After the tragedy, the musician chose to stop. He interrupted the summer tour and suspended public commitments, maintaining an extremely reserved profile. For this reason, even at the beginning of September, his return to Ballando con le Stelle seemed far from certain. Now the situation changes and, according to Adnkronos, the cast has been finalized and Paolo Belli is confirmed alongside Milly Carlucci.
A historic face of Ballando
The relationship with the program has lasted for almost twenty years. Belli has been a stable part of the Ballando universe since the first editions, becoming over time one of the most recognizable presences of the show. The novelty of last season was his participation in the competition. An experience that brought the artist to the other side of the studio, that of the contestants called to face the judgment of the jury and the choreographies of the masters.
Read more Gianni Morandi, the Riccione concert canceled due to bad weather
For the new edition, the path returns to its origins. Belli will once again be by the host’s side, with the orchestra marking the evenings of the program. The choice also confirms the continuity of a professional relationship built over the years with Carlucci. A relationship that, in the weeks following the accident, was described as particularly solid.
The cast is complete
The entry of Andy Diaz, announced as the twelfth and last contestant, has completed the roster of participants. On the floor will be Massimo Ghini, Anna Safroncik, Monica Guerritore, Manuela Moreno, Jimmy Ghione, Alberto Ravagnani, Riccardo Rossi, Eugenio Finardi, Aurora Ramazzotti, Alessandro Matri, Noemi Bocchi, and Andy Diaz. The composition of the jury is also heading towards a profound change. Carolyn Smith will remain president, with Ivan Zazzaroni and Guillermo Mariotto confirmed. In place of Selvaggia Lucarelli and Fabio Canino, Barbara D’Urso and Alberto Matano should arrive.
The very move of Matano from the position of sideline judge to the main jury required a solution for the Tesoretto mechanism. The production chose two former contestants of the program: Francesca Fialdini and Simona Ventura, who will thus return to the studio with a different role. The new season is taking shape, therefore, with a finalized cast and several changes in the team. And among the most awaited confirmations was precisely that of Paolo Belli, who after the most difficult summer restarts from Rai 1, with the legal case still open.
