The San Marino Song Contest 2025 is set to showcase its finalists on March 8, with 20 artists vying for the opportunity to represent the microstate at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Among the prominent names are renowned DJ Gabry Ponte, presenting his anthem "Tutta l'Italia," which gained attention during the Sanremo Festival earlier this year. This year’s event is being bolstered by notable guest appearances, including Cristiano Malgioglio and La Rappresentante di Lista, along with past contestants such as Luisa Corna and Marco Carta.
The contest, hosted at the Teatro Nuovo di Dogana, will be broadcast live on multiple platforms including San Marino RTV and Rai Radio2, aiming to attract widespread viewership. This year, the competition attracted 1,105 participants from 48 different countries, highlighting the growing interest and talent pool surrounding the annual showcase.
San Marino, which has faced challenges at Eurovision, aims to determine its next representative through this contest, set to be held from May 13 to 17, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland. The inclusion of both established names and new talents suggests a diverse and competitive lineup for the country’s selection process.
Joining Ponte will be other well-known Italian artists such as Bianca Atzei, Boosta, and Silvia Salemi, providing fans with familiar faces alongside newer artists like Paco, Haymara, and Teslenko. The event will not utilize the traditional public televote format; instead, it will feature a jury composed of industry experts including music critic Luca De Gennaro and San Marino RTV’s General Director Roberto Sergio, ensuring the selection process remains focused on artistic merit.
Massimo Bonelli, the artistic director of the contest, has emphasized the importance of the jury, stating, “The mechanisms of the televote are not always clear.” This year’s format aims to highlight the professionalism of competing artists and aims to present them with the opportunity to shine on European stages.
With the backing of Rai, San Marino hopes to present not just compelling performances but also a polished production. This collaboration signals increased visibility and support for the San Marino Song Contest, which has been evolved to be “renewed and recognizable,” as indicated by Roberto Sergio.
The artists selected for the final competition include:
- Gabry Ponte
- Bianca Atzei
- Boosta
- Pierdavide Carone
- Marco Carta
- Luisa Corna
- Vincenzo Capua
- Curli
- Elasi
- Haymara
- King Foo
- Paco
- Questo e Quello
- Silvia Salemi
- Angy Sciacqua
- Taoma
- Teslenko
- The Rimpled
- Giacomo Voli
The results of the competition will not only determine who will represent San Marino at Eurovision but will also encompass several awards, such as the Eurovision Prize and the Critics’ Award, emphasizing both popular and artistic achievements.
With the stakes high, fans and participants alike are eager to see who will emerge victorious and potentially follow the path of past representatives like Achille Lauro, who performed at Eurovision 2022. The final promises to deliver excitement as San Marino seeks to make its mark on the international music stage once again. Can Gabry Ponte stand out and help put the tiny nation back on the Eurovision map? Time will tell!