The 'Sanremo' superstars that didn't get to represent Italy at Eurovision

On Sunday 1 December, Italian broadcaster Rai is all set to reveal the names of the artists that will be competing in Festival di Sanremo 2025.

It's going to be an extra-special Sanremo for the Italian audience, as it will be the 75th edition of the prestigious music event. The 5-night extravaganza kicks off on Tuesday 11 February, concluding with the final evening of Italian song on Saturday 15 February. 

Particularly in recent years, Sanremo winners have been making big waves at the Eurovision Song Contest; not just in terms of their results, but also with regards to their staying power within the pages of the Eurovision history books. 

Mahmood, who represented Italy in 2019 and 2022, was invited back in 2023 to perform as part of The Liverpool Songbook. And Il Volo, who gave Italy a bronze-medal finish in 2015, returned to Turin 2022 as an interval act. We've also had Marco Mengoni come back to compete a second time at the Eurovision Song Contest, on the 10th anniversary of his first participation in 2013. And then there is Måneskin, who not only went on to win Eurovision for Italy in 2021, but who also managed to turn their victory into one of the biggest commercial successes, globally, that we've seen from a Contest winner.

Not all Sanremo success stories have included a chapter at the Eurovision Song Contest, however. 

Whether due to Italy not participating (in the '90s and '00s, for example, in the 20 Contests that took place, Italy only took part in 5), or the artist declining the opportunity to represent Italy, or indeed the Sanremo rules in any given year stating that the organisers can choose a different song to represent Italy, the trophy takers of Festival di Sanremo haven't always been able to use the Eurovision Song Contest as their international launchpad. 

Amongst the laureat list of Sanremo and Sanremo Giovani winners (Sanremo Giovani is a separate contest within Sanremo each year, for newcomers), there are some blockbuster names that you - and most likely the generations above and below you, too - will be well familiar with.

Here is a selection of just some Sanremo-winning greats who bypassed the Eurovision gates: 

Eros Ramazzotti

Winner of Festival di Sanremo 1986

With Italy declining a trip to Bergen in 1986, Eros Ramazzotti never got to answer the immortal question posed to every Sanremo champ - to Eurovision or not to Eurovision. 

Following Adesso Tu's win at Sanremo, Eros released an album which soared to number 1 in Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Since then, the artist has enjoyed 13 more number 1 albums in his native Italy, with his most recent LP being released in 2022. His success has extended across the rest of mainland Europe and into the US and Latin America, where he's been able to tour extensively. 

Andrea Bocelli

Winner of Sanremo Giovani 1994

While winning the 'Nuove Proposte / Newcomers' section of Sanremo (with his song Il Mare Calmo Della Sera) was not going to get Bocelli an invite to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, it did mean that he got an automatic invitation to participate in the main competition at Sanremo the following year. It was an event that would prove to be life changing for the young Tenor.

Bocelli competed in Sanremo 1995 with the song Con Te Partirò, which finished in 4th place in a field of 23. But while it might not have earned the singer the Sanremo trophy, it did go on to do extraordinary things, launching the career of arguably the most famous Tenor of our time. Both Con Te Partirò and its English-language recording Time To Say Goodbye (a duet with Sarah Brightman) remain two of the biggest selling singles of all time, while its parent album Romanza is up there with the best selling albums in history, still. 

With record sales approaching 100 million, a Golden Globe to his name, and even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Bocelli is easily one of the most recognisable Sanremo prize winners the festival has ever had.

Alexia

Winner of Festival di Sanremo 2003

Uh La La La! After a sizable string of Eurodance hits throughout the continent in the '90s, Alexia took a step away from the genre at the turn of the century and started singing almost exclusively in her native Italian.

With this new direction, the singer was rewarded with a big Sanremo win in 2003, with her song Per Dire Di No. Alexia also achieved two runner-up finishes at the Festival in the '00s; in 2002 with Dimmi Come... and in 2005 with Da Grande. 

Alexia truly said Gimme Love, and Italy responded with this is The Music I Like!

Laura Pausini

Winner of Sanremo Giovani 1993

After winning the 'Nuove Proposte' section of Sanremo with her song La Solitudine, Laura Pausini was invited to take part in the main competition the following year, where she placed third singing Strani Amori. Now widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed Italian vocalists of all time, Pausini has amassed record sales of over 70 million and won herself a Grammy Award, 4 Latin Grammys, 1 Golden Globe and even an Oscar nomination.

While she never got to compete for Italy, Laura did end up making it to the Eurovision stage after all. When the Contest rolled into Turin in 2022 following Måneskin's victory, the decorated diva was one of the three hosts across our two Semi-Finals and Grand Final. 

Giorgia

Winner of Festival di Sanremo 1995

Giorgia might have been pipped to victory by Andrea Bocelli at Sanremo Giovani the year before, but she certainly got her revenge on the Tenor at Sanremo 1995, with her song Come Saprei no doubt still able to dine out on the fact that it was able to triumph over a Global classic as iconic as Con Te Partirò! There were no hard feelings between the two singers though, with the pair collaborating later in 1995 on the hit Vivo Per Lei.

Since her Sanremo victory, Giorgia has gone on to release 12 studio albums and a chart-topping Greatest Hits collection. The icon of Italian pop has also participated in Sanremo three more times; most recently in 2023, which she followed up with her latest album Blu. 

Paola E Chiara

Winners of Sanremo Giovani 1997

Following their win in the 'Nuove Proposte' category of Sanremo 1997, with their song Amici Come Prima, the Milanese sisters spun that success into a rich repertoire of radio-ready hits that lasted well into the '00s.

The pair reunited to great fanfare in 2022, with the icing on the comeback cake being their participation at Sanremo 2023. Their song Furore might only have ended up ranking in 17th place, but it went on to become another smash hit for them in their native Italy. The song has also cemented itself as a big fan favourite in the Eurovision world, and a night-spot staple in the Italian LGBTQ community. 

Check back here at Eurovision.tv on Sunday 1 December, to find out the names of all of the artists that will be taking part in the 75th edition of Festival di Sanremo in 2025. 

You can listen to all 37 songs of Eurovision 2024 via your favourite streaming service or watch the music videos on our YouTube channel.

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