Guide to the Sanremo Festival 2025

Italy’s premier song contest is back at its historic home, the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, where 29 artists will compete over five nights from 11-15 February 2025.

Officially known as the Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo, this annual event has been a staple of the Ligurian coastal town since 1951. Now in its 75th year, it holds the distinction of being the world’s longest-running national music competition and served as the inspiration for the Eurovision Song Contest.

The winner of Sanremo 2025 will have the option to represent Italy at Eurovision, set to take place in Basel from 13-17 May.

The big news (Ed. For you!) is that Duran Duran are returning to the festival after 40 years.

A Launchpad for Italian Music

Sanremo has propelled numerous Italian artists to international fame, including Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, Zucchero, and Måneskin, who won in 2021. Past winners include Mahmood & Blanco (2022) with “Brividi,” Marco Mengoni (2023) with “Due Vite,” and Angelina Mango (2024) with “La Noia.”

The festival’s global claim to fame remains “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” better known as “Volare,” which Domenico Modugno debuted at Sanremo in 1958 before it became an international sensation.

Sanremo generates intense national debate each year, with Italians split into fervent supporters, vocal critics, and those who insist they never watch—despite ratings proving otherwise.

Who’s Hosting in 2025?

Veteran TV presenter Carlo Conti will take the reins as host and artistic director. Having previously led the festival in 2015, 2016, and 2017, he steps in after Amadeus’ five-year run. Conti will be joined by a rotating cast of celebrity co-hosts each night.

Notable past hosts include television icons Pippo Baudo and Mike Bongiorno, both of whom helmed the festival over a dozen times. In 2001, the legendary Raffaella Carrà presented the show, marking a memorable edition before her passing in 2021.

Controversy Surrounding the Line-Up

This year’s line-up includes Rome rapper Tony Effe, who was previously dropped from Rome’s New Year’s Eve concert over accusations of misogynistic lyrics. Despite calls for his exclusion, Conti confirmed there would be “no censorship” and that Tony Effe would “amaze” audiences.

Meanwhile, Milan rapper Emis Killa withdrew on 29 January after being linked to a criminal investigation involving football fan groups. As a result, the number of competing acts drops from the usual 30 to 29, with no replacement planned.

2025 Contestants and Songs

This year’s festival features a diverse mix of artists performing original, unreleased songs:

Achille Lauro – “Incoscienti giovani”
Bresh – “La tana del granchio”
Brunori Sas – “L’albero delle noci”
Clara – “Febbre”
Coma_Cose – “Cuoricini”
Elodie – “Dimenticarsi alle 7”
Fedez – “Battito”
Francesca Michielin – “Fango in Paradiso”
Francesco Gabbani – “Viva la vita”
Gaia – “Chiamo io chiami tu”
Giorgia – “La cura per me”
Irama – “Lentamente”
Joan Thiele – “Eco”
Lucio Corsi – “Volevo essere un duro”
Marcella Bella – “Pelle diamante”
Massimo Ranieri – “Tra le mani un cuore”
Modà – “Non ti dimentico”
Noemi – “Se t’innamori muori”
Olly – “Balorda nostalgia”
Rkomi – “Il ritmo delle cose”
Rocco Hunt – “Mille vote ancora”
Rose Villain – “Fuorilegge”
Sarah Toscano – “Amarcord”
Shablo feat. Guè, Joshua & Tormento – “La mia parola”
Serena Brancale – “Anema e core”
Simone Cristicchi – “Quando sarai piccola”
The Kolors – “Tu con chi fai l’amore”
Tony Effe – “Damme ‘na mano”
Willie Peyote – “Grazie ma no grazie”

Competition Format

Each artist presents an original, unreleased song, with winners determined by a combination of jury and public online votes.

The first two nights feature performances from half of the contestants each evening. All acts return to perform again before Friday’s special night, where participants cover Italian or international hits from the 1960s to the 2000s.

On the final night, artists perform their entries one last time before the winner is crowned.

History of Sanremo

Originally launched in post-war Italy to boost cultural identity and economic recovery, the festival has evolved significantly over the decades. Between 1953 and 1971, it welcomed international artists such as Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Dionne Warwick, and Shirley Bassey, who performed alongside Italian competitors.