How to organize a Sanremo watch party

Here We Go! Sanremo 2025 is about to kick off with its marathon of songs, sketches, hosts, guests, outfit changes, rankings, and gossip. After the Amadeus era, this year it’s up to Carlo Conti to entertain us for the now-canonical five nights, alongside a large lineup of co-hosts who will take turns on stage. Among them: Bianca Balti, Miriam Leone, Mahmood, and for the final night, the duo Alessia Marcuzzi and Alessandro Cattelan, who will also host the Dopofestival. Adding to these faces of Italian showbiz are the 29 big artists and 4 young talents competing, each presenting a song that will either be remembered for years or quickly forgotten. Most of Italy will carefully analyze and comment on these tracks, which, for about a week each year, turns into a nation of music critics, fashion experts, and beauty analysts. Because, while some die-hard non-fans prefer to do something else in February, it’s hard to resist the guilty pleasure of watching Sanremo and sharing opinions about everything and everyone.

Some people prefer to watch it out and about, surrounded by crowds in a pub, while others are used to cocooning themselves in a blanket, comfortably settled on the couch at home, remote in hand, eyes slowly closing during the show’s quieter moments. One way to make this national-popular sleep deprivation experiment, Festival della Canzone Italiana, more enjoyable and sustainable is to watch it in a group—with friends, crushes, partners, neighbors, family members, or various situationships. After all, misery loves company, and staying awake until the final performance—only to show up at work the next morning with dark circles and zero energy—is much easier when sharing the Sanremo experience with a friend. Just add food and drinks, comfy seating, plenty of caffeine, and enjoy at least one of the five nights together—if not all, then at least cover night or the grand finale.

Everything you need to organize the perfect Sanremo 2025 watch party

Where to Watch Sanremo 2025

Planning to enjoy the Sanremo 2025 performances comfortably from your sofa, singing along to the choruses, reviewing the outfits, and discussing the most exciting moments with friends? The first step in organizing a Sanremo watch party is knowing where to watch the live broadcast. The 75th edition of the Festival della Canzone Italiana will take place from Tuesday, February 11, 2025, to Saturday, February 15, 2025, and will be broadcast live on Rai 1, Radio2, and RaiPlay. The show will start every night at 8:40 PM, right after the PrimaFestival, hosted by Gabriele Corsi, Bianca Guaccero, and Mariasole Pollio. Carlo Conti has promised a streamlined and dynamic Festival, without long monologues or unnecessary digressions, aiming to wrap up between 1:05 and 1:10 AM. However, the show could run later, especially on the opening night, when all the artists will perform, on duet night, and during the grand finale on Saturday, February 15. Following the main event, every night until Friday, February 14, Alessandro Cattelan will host the DopoFestival.

Sanremo: How to Create a Cozy Atmosphere at Home

Have your friends accepted your invitation? Great! Now it's time to set up your home and create a cozy space where everyone can clearly see the screen, hear all the songs, and fully enjoy the Festival. The key is to have enough seating for everyone—sofas, armchairs, chairs, poufs—whatever works! Make sure to have plenty of cushions and blankets for those who love to watch TV all bundled up and warm. Keep tables and surfaces nearby for snacks, drinks, smartphones, and even scorecards and pens to jot down favorite looks and songs. Then, it's up to your creativity to add personal or themed touches to enhance the Sanremo experience. Feel free to go all out with scented candles, balloons, and party decorations. Finally, pay attention to the lighting. Aim for the right balance—not too bright, to avoid distracting screen glare, but also not too dim, so it doesn't lull everyone to sleep!

Cocktails & Snacks for Sanremo 2025

Sanremo is always Sanremo, but the songs alone aren’t enough. To survive each night of the Festival, you'll need drinks and food to keep your energy up. What’s a must-have on the Sanremo menu? Caffeine. It doesn’t matter if it’s coffee, cappuccino, Americano, tea, matcha, Coca-Cola, Monster, or any other colorful energy drink—staying awake and sharp without a little help is tough. For the pros, why not try making themed cocktails and mocktails, inspired by a legendary Festival hit or dedicated to one of this year’s competing artists? For example, you could take inspiration from Gaia’s Brazilian roots and create your own version of a Caipirinha or Batida de Coco, mixing mango, coconut cream, coconut water, lime, açaí powder, and ice. As for snacks, besides the classic popcorn and chips, you can prepare savory pies, finger sandwiches, mini stuffed rolls, pizzette, and anything else that tempts your taste buds. Don’t forget to include vegetarian and vegan options! Short on time or too busy to cook? No worries—just order food delivery, maybe from different restaurants, especially if you need more than just snacks and want a proper dinner. And finally, never forget something sweet to nibble on—ice cream, pastries, cookies, or candy are all perfect for a Sanremo watch party!

Sanremo 2025 Dress Code

No need to stress—you’re not the one going on stage at the Ariston! So, you can dress however you like. If you don’t want to feel out of place, talk to your guests and agree on a dress code. Are you up for a chill and casual night, wearing sweats and sneakers? Or maybe a pajama party, so you’re already set to jump into bed afterward? Or would you rather dress up as your favorite artist or wear the shiniest outfit in your closet? Anything goes! A fun idea could be to go makeup-free and provide face and eye masks for your guests—to help combat the effects of Sanremo-induced sleep deprivation!

Fantasanremo, Voting, and Bets on Winners & Best Looks

Everyone experiences the Festival della Canzone Italiana in their own way. That said, watching it in a group can be even more fun—between gossip, snacks, and some karaoke, you can also place bets on the winner and hand out your own awards for best look, best performance, best song, or best co-host. You could have everyone write down their top 3 predictions, seal them in an envelope, and open them only at the very end. The prize? Maybe a sushi dinner, an Aperol Spritz, a hug, or simply eternal glory as the ultimate Sanremo 2025 pro. The more methodical fans might go all out with Excel sheets, charts, and scoring tables, rating each performance from 1 to 10. And for those who just can’t get enough, there’s always Fantasanremo. But don’t overthink it—just focus on having fun and surviving the Carlo Conti era of Sanremo. After all, in Sanremo, anything and everything goes!