After he was declared as the winner of Sanremo 2025, Olly had time until 23rd of February to make his decision whether he will be representing Italy at Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel. Today on his social media Olly has announced that he decided to give up the opportunity to participate at Eurovision.

The winner of Italian music show, Festival di Sanremo is not automatically their representative as they have the opportunity to decline the chance to wave the Italian flag at the European favourite musical TV contest. This is the first time since 2016 that the winner of the Festival di Sanremo choose not to represent Italy at the contest.

 

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A post shared by OLLY (@olly_nclusive)

I’ve been asking myself and asking everyone’s opinions for days, 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’m 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
Olly on his IG

A total of 29 songs have competed at 75th edition of Festival di Sanremo which traditionally took place at Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. After the five nights of the festival the ending results were the following:

1. Olly – “Balorda nostalgia”  – 23.8%
2. Lucio Corsi – “Volevo essere un duro” – 23.4%
3. Brunori Sas – “L’albero delle noci”  – 20.3%
4. Fedez – “Battito” – 17.7%
5. Simone Cristicchi – “Quando sarai piccola”– 14.8%

 

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RAI has expressed gratitude to Olly for his contribution to the 75th edition of Festival di Sanremo and wished him a long and successful career and in addition to that the broadcaster has congratulated to the runner up of the show Lucio Corsi on accepting the opportunity to represent Italy at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest being their 50th representative at the singing competition. You can check his song Volevo essere un duro below

Lucio Corsi is a 31 years old Tuscan singer-songwriter from Val di Campo di Vetulonia. In 2012, after being a guitarist of some bands, he moved to Milan. He released his first two EPs, “Vetulonia Dakar” and “Altalena Boy” in 2015, two years later his first album, “Bestiario Musicale,” was published. In 2020, he released his second studio album, “Cosa faremo da grandi?” and in 2023 his third album “La Gente Che Sogna” saw the light of day.

You can also check our teams review of Sanremo 2025 below

What is your opinion of Olly’s decision? How do you rate their newly selected entry “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi? Let as know more about your impressions in the comments and at our social media @escbubble