San Marino has confirmed it will be taking part in next year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
San Marino Song Contest success responsible
Following the country’s qualification to the final in 2025, RTV San Marino confirmed it would be permanently using its national final to choose its act. The San Marino Song Contest had been used to select Gabry Ponte back in March after he entered as a late act.
Now, the government has confirmed that it will continue to participate in the Contest, seeing it as a vital instrument for the country’s tourism sector. Speaking in a press release to the national broadcaster, Tourism Minister Federico Pedini Amati said:
We followed the Basel final with trepidation and immense pride. Gabry Ponte’s performance was superb, worthy of his fame and the Eurovision stage. The mere fact of having reached the final is a success that must be attributed to his undoubted talent and the communicative power of his music.
This result, the fruit of synergic and passionate teamwork, confirms the validity of the path undertaken with the San Marino Song Contest and the strategic importance of investing in events that guarantee such vast visibility.
I would like to sincerely thank Gabry Ponte for having brought the name of San Marino so high, the General Director of San Marino RTV, Roberto Sergio, and all his editorial staff for their exceptional professionalism and dedication, Gabry Ponte’s team for their impeccable support and all those who, in various capacities, have contributed to making this extraordinary adventure possible.
Sammarinese acts have qualified for the final a total of four times. Gabry’s qualification in Basel was the first Sammarinese act to reach the final since 2021. He also was the first act to qualify on behalf of the country on his first try, as Valentina Monetta, Serhat and Senhit had all attempted to represent the nation several times previously.
San Marino’s Eurovision journey
As one of the smallest countries in Europe, San Marino made its debut in the competition in 2008 with Miodio and the song โCompliceโ. Since then they have participated in the competition 14 times, qualifying for the grand final in three. Their best result was in 2019, with Serhat and โSay Na Na Naโ.
Italian DJ Gabry Ponte represented San Marino in 2025 with his song “Tutta L’Italia” – the original theme song for Sanremo that year. Performing in the first semi-final, San Marino qualified for the final, where it ultimate placed last with 37 points. 28 points came from the juries, while 9 came from the televote.
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News Source: RTV San Marino
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
Silvia Stifini