As the autumn air begins to cool Italy, anticipation is heating up for the return of one of the nation’s most beloved television events. On September 27, 2025, Rai 1 will once again roll out the red carpet for the twentieth edition of Ballando con le Stelle, the dance competition that has captivated Saturday night audiences for two decades. With a blend of fresh faces, returning favorites, and a few headline-making shake-ups, this anniversary season promises to be among the most memorable yet.
At the helm, as always, stands Milly Carlucci, whose careful curation of celebrity contestants and professional dancers has long been a recipe for ratings success. This year, Carlucci has begun revealing the much-anticipated pairings between the 12 celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners, teasing fans with a steady drip of announcements across social media and live events. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sorrisi e Canzoni TV, the lineup is a true cross-section of Italian pop culture, blending the worlds of sports, entertainment, music, and television into a single, glittering spectacle.
Perhaps the most headline-grabbing news is the return of tennis star Fabio Fognini, who will step onto the dance floor alongside Giada Lini. The two aren’t strangers: Fognini previously made a one-night-only appearance as a “dancer for a night” during the 2024 semifinals, also with Lini as his guide. Now, the duo is set for a full season together. Lini, participating for the fifth time, brings a wealth of experience, having previously partnered with Fabio Galante, Gabriel Garko, Giovanni Terzi, and Alan Friedman. Fognini has already set the tone for his campaign, promising to bring “a lot of passion and joy” to the competition—a sentiment sure to endear him to viewers and judges alike.
But the surprises don’t stop there. In a twist that’s set to shake up the show’s dynamic, Paolo Belli—a fixture of Ballando con le Stelle as co-host and musical sidekick—will trade his microphone for dancing shoes. After years of jokingly coaxing celebrity guests to sign up as future contestants, Belli himself is stepping onto the parquet as a competitor, paired with the accomplished Anastasia Kuzmina. His move leaves a vacancy in the co-host chair, which will be filled by none other than Massimiliano Rosolino. The former Olympic swimming champion is no stranger to the Ballando stage, having competed as a contestant in 2006, where he met his partner, dance professional Natalia Titova. Rosolino greeted his new role with characteristic humor, telling La Repubblica, “If Paolo Belli is the janitor of the school, then I’ll be the assistant janitor, ready to mop up the sweat of our contestants.”
The pairings for this milestone season reflect a deliberate effort to balance novelty and nostalgia. Alongside Fognini and Lini, the confirmed duos include Andrea Delogu with Nikita Perotti, Francesca Fialdini with Carlo Aloia, Marcella Bella with Chiquito (the Dominican dancer who won Sognando... Ballando con le Stelle), Barbara d’Urso with Pasquale La Rocca, Nancy Brilli with Giovanni Pernice, Rosa Chemical with Erica Martinelli, Beppe Convertini with Veera Kinnunen, Martina Colombari with Luca Favilla, La Signora Coriandoli (the alter ego of Maurizio Ferrini) with Simone Di Pasquale, Filippo Magnini with Alessandra Tripoli, and Paolo Belli with Anastasia Kuzmina. The roster is nothing if not eclectic, promising a season where anything can happen.
Barbara d’Urso’s participation is particularly noteworthy. Once the reigning queen of Pomeriggio Cinque, her return to TV after a brief hiatus is being hailed as a coup for Carlucci and the show. Paired with Pasquale La Rocca, a dancer and choreographer with two victories in the past three years, d’Urso’s presence is expected to bring both drama and star power to the proceedings. “A couple that promises fireworks,” wrote Sorrisi e Canzoni TV, highlighting the high expectations for their partnership.
Meanwhile, the show’s professional dance corps remains as formidable as ever. Familiar faces like Simone Di Pasquale, Luca Favilla, Erica Martinelli, Veera Kinnunen, Chiquito, Giovanni Pernice, Pasquale La Rocca, Nikita, Giada Lini, Alessandra Tripoli, and Anastasia Kuzmina will once again guide their celebrity charges through tangos, salsas, and waltzes. Di Pasquale, after a stint as “tribuno del popolo,” returns to his roots as a master dancer, partnering with La Signora Coriandoli in what’s sure to be a crowd-pleasing pairing.
Of course, Ballando con le Stelle wouldn’t be the same without its judging panel, and for the twentieth anniversary, the lineup remains unchanged. Carolyn Smith, Fabio Canino, Ivan Zazzaroni, Guillermo Mariotto, and Selvaggia Lucarelli will once again preside over the dance floor, bringing their unique blend of expertise, wit, and sharp commentary. According to announcements made during the Rai schedule presentation in Naples this past June, the panel’s return was never in doubt—a reassuring constant for longtime fans.
Another key element of the show’s enduring appeal is its commitment to blending genres and generations. This season’s cast includes not only athletes like Fognini and Magnini but also icons from Italian music (Marcella Bella), television (Barbara d’Urso, Beppe Convertini), and cinema (Nancy Brilli). Rising stars like Rosa Chemical and Andrea Delogu round out the field, ensuring that the show remains both rooted in tradition and open to innovation. “With these premises, the 2025 edition of Ballando con le Stelle promises to be one of the most varied and explosive ever,” observed Sorrisi e Canzoni TV, underlining the sense of excitement in the air.
Behind the scenes, familiar faces will continue to shape the show’s narrative. Massimiliano Rosolino, in his new role, will oversee connections from the “Sala delle Stelle,” while Rossella Erra and Sara Di Vaira remain as “tribuno del popolo.” Alberto Matano, a fixture at the edge of the dance floor, will continue his duties as the show’s principal commentator, offering insights and reactions as the action unfolds.
Notably, the production has also reportedly secured the participation of Belen Rodriguez after protracted negotiations and a significant fee, though her exact role has yet to be officially confirmed. This move, reported by Gazzetta.it, underscores the show’s ongoing ambition to attract top-tier talent and keep viewers guessing.
As the countdown to September 27 ticks away, the stage is set for an anniversary season that honors the show’s legacy while embracing new possibilities. With a cast that bridges generations and genres, a judging panel that’s as incisive as ever, and a production team eager to surprise, Ballando con le Stelle looks poised to dance its way into Italian television history once again.
The only question left is: who will capture the coveted trophy—and the hearts of viewers—this time around?
