The 2025 Sanremo 2025 champion, Olly, has decided not to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, after winning Sanremo 2025.
The winner of Sanremo is elegible to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. A right which year’s Sanremo winner Olly has forfeited by declining to compete at Eurovision.
Olly was crowned the winner of Sanremo 2025 last Saturday with his entry ‘ Baroda Nostalgia’.
Olly made the announcement regarding his Eurovision non participation via his official Instagram account:
For days I have been asking myself and asking everyone’s opinions, the answer is always the same: “in the end you have to do what you feel”, because everyone knows how much it means to me to be myself, always.
Well, I don’t think you would be sad if I moved concerts for Eurovision, but I firmly believe that I need to connect with everything that is happening to me, before looking even further ahead, before continuing with my beloved live apprenticeship that I always talk about with infinite pride.
I have therefore decided to give up the opportunity to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, with the awareness that it is one of those things that maybe only happen once in a lifetime.
I thank those who voted for me and gave me the opportunity to have this privilege: I hope to see you soon at one of my concerts to reciprocate all the love I am receiving these days.
For me this decision is my way of listening to myself and perhaps also my twisted way of saying thank you. Some will say that I am giving up on a dream, well I think I have simply chosen to live it in my own time.
I wish a huge good luck to whoever takes my place: music in Italy is full of formidable artists and this year’s cast is the most sincere proof of that.
Always believe! Something is changing and it is clear for all to see.
I hug you and see you on tour,
Federico.
Source: Olly/ RAI
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