Sanremo Festival 2025: Will the Winner Be an Artist Winning for the First Time?

This year’s Sanremo Music Festival, Italy’s annual musical extravaganza, is set to take the stage at the Teatro Ariston from February 11th to 15th, 2025. With a rich history and the coveted opportunity for the winner to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, this year’s festival promises to be a spectacle. But amidst the familiar glitz and glamour, a key question lingers: will 2025 see a first-time winner crowned champion?

A Year of Milestones

This year’s festival is particularly significant. Not only does it mark the 75th anniversary of Sanremo, but it also precedes Italy’s 50th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. These milestones add weight to the already high-stakes competition and heighten anticipation for a memorable event. Leading the charge is returning artistic director and host, Carlo Conti, who previously helmed the festival from 2015 to 2017.

Format Tweaks and Familiar Faces

Conti has introduced some format adjustments for the 2025 edition. The Newcomers’ section, last seen in 2021, makes a comeback, offering a platform for emerging talent. The “cover night,” where artists perform renditions of classic Italian or international songs, remains, but with a twist: artists can now collaborate with each other or guest performers. The ever-popular DopoFestival, the post-show analysis and commentary, returns in a shorter format. And, crucially, none of the main competitors will be eliminated before the final night, keeping the suspense high until the very end.

The competition features a mix of established stars and rising talents, with 30 artists vying for the top spot. The lineup includes familiar faces like Achille Lauro, Gaia, Coma Cose, Francesco Gabbani, Willie Peyote, Noemi, and many more. Interestingly, the list boasts several Eurovision alumni, including Francesca Michielin (Italy 2016), Francesco Gabbani (Italy 2017), and Achille Lauro (San Marino 2022). Even Massimo Ranieri, a two-time Eurovision representative for Italy in the 1970s, returns to the Sanremo stage.

Will the artist who takes home the crown be a first time winner? The odds at 22bet21.com are quite high at 1.22/1 or 82%, suggesting it could happen.

The Front Runners

Among the impressive lineup, three names have emerged as early favorites: Giorgia, Olly, and Achille Lauro. Giorgia, a powerhouse vocalist with a string of hits and multiple Sanremo appearances, brings experience and a dedicated fanbase. Olly, a rising star in the Italian music scene, has quickly gained popularity with his unique blend of genres. Achille Lauro is no stranger to Sanremo or Eurovision, making him a strong contender.

The Path to Victory

The voting system for Sanremo 2025 remains a multi-faceted process, incorporating public televoting, a jury of the press room, TV and web, and a jury of the radio. The weighting of these votes shifts throughout the five nights, culminating in a final round of voting for the top five finalists. This complex system adds another layer of intrigue to the competition, making it difficult to predict the ultimate winner.

With such a diverse and talented field of competitors, the question of whether a first-time winner will emerge remains open. While established artists like Giorgia bring a wealth of experience and a loyal following, the renewed format and the presence of rising stars like Olly create an environment ripe for surprises. The Sanremo Music Festival has a history of launching new careers and propelling artists to international recognition. Could 2025 be the year another name is etched into the annals of Sanremo history? Only time will tell.