San Marino Song Contest 2025 Semi-Finals: A Record-Breaking Musical Marathon!
San Marino has once again proven that size definitely doesn’t matter—at least when it comes to hosting an ambitious national selection for Eurovision! The San Marino Song Contest 2025 (newly rebranded and shinier than ever) has officially outdone itself, surpassing all expectations, breaking records, and possibly exhausting every music-loving soul in the process.
From 1,200 Songs to 20 Finalists: The Great Sammarinese Song Scramble
After receiving a staggering 1,200 submissions - because, let’s face it, everyone wants a shot at Eurovision - San Marino RTV whittled down the hopefuls through a rigorous process. The competition kicked off with “Academy and Casting” sessions between September 2024 and January 2025, where judges sifted through what must have been an overwhelming number of melodies, lyrics, and passionate performances.
By the time the semi-finalist reveal rolled around at the end of January, a whopping 221 artists (yes, you read that right!) had made the cut—almost doubling last year’s total. From February 13-15, the semi-finals took place across six intense sessions, a seventh session giving Sanmarinese artists their well-deserved spotlight, and a final “second chance” round. All in all, the semi-final process brought 11 artists into the national final.
Familiar Faces & Chart-Topping Stars
This year’s lineup featured some recognizable names from across the Eurovision universe and beyond. Among them:
Besa, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2024
Questo e Quello, the dynamic duo who stole hearts in Sanremo Giovani 2024
Teslenko, a former contender in Ukraine’s Vidbir national selection
But wait—San Marino saved the biggest surprise for last. Skipping the semi-final madness, nine “bigger” artists were granted direct tickets to the final. Among them? Italian dance music legend Gabry Ponteyes - yes, that Gabry Ponte of Eiffel 65 fame - who stormed directly into the final with his song “Tutta l’Italia”, the official Sanremo 2025 anthem that has already been a hit on Italian airwaves.
The Grand Final Awaits!
Before all the semi-final performances had even aired, San Marino RTV (SMRTV) pulled the ultimate power move and revealed the 20 finalists on February 25. With a mix of seasoned performers, Eurovision hopefuls, and rising stars, the stage is set for an unforgettable grand final on March 8.
Will San Marino’s next Eurovision representative emerge from this musical marathon? Will Gabry Ponte’s infectious beats take over the contest? And, most importantly, will next year’s selection process somehow feature even more artists?!
All will be revealed soon—until then, let’s take a deep breath and prepare for San Marino’s biggest night of the year!
