Matteo Bocelli Overcomes Microphone Glitch to Win Gaviota de Plata and Oro at Viña del Mar Festival
Feb. 22, 2026 — Viña del Mar, Chile Italian singer-songwriter Matteo Bocelli, son of tenor Andrea Bocelli, headlined the opening night of the 65th Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater, captivating the audience despite a microphone battery failure, descending into the crowd to interact with fans, and earning the crowd’s acclaim with the Gaviota de Plata and Gaviota de Oro awards.
The performance, which began around 2:50 a.m. local time and lasted 55 minutes until 3:45 a.m., opened the festival alongside Gloria Estefan and launched Bocelli’s South American tour leg promoting his September 2025 album Falling in Love. The setlist featured covers like “Bésame mucho,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “Fall on Me” with his father, ending with encores of “Gracias a la vida” and “Caruso” preceded by interviews and the award ceremony.
Technical Issue and Crowd Interaction
During the show, Bocelli encountered a mishap when his microphone battery died, prompting host Rafael Araneda to ask, “¿Qué pasó, Matteo?” as the singer gestured onstage, according to Chilevisión. Undeterred, he thrilled fans by leaving the stage to sing among the crowd, causing a “furor,” as reported by SoyChile.cl.
Post-Performance Reaction
Following the late-night set, Bocelli shared his emotions with media:
“Me siento bien. Con la mente libre y el corazón lleno.”
(I feel good, with a free mind and a full heart.)SoyChile.cl
Chilean outlets like Meganoticias.cl and Radio Agricultura highlighted his charisma and voice, drawing comparisons to his father’s legacy. Some social media users criticized the delayed start time.Emol
Career Background
Born October 8, 1997, to Andrea Bocelli and Enrica Cenzatti, Matteo debuted professionally in 2018 with “Fall on Me” from his father’s album Sì. His releases include the family album A Family Christmas (2022), solo debut Matteo (2023), and Falling in Love (2025). He has appeared in films like The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018).
Upcoming Tour
The Viña show initiated Bocelli’s South American dates, listed on his official site. U.S. legs follow, closing at Levitt Pavilion, as announced in Yahoo Entertainment. Follow updates on Instagram.
