Billboard Italy Women in Music 2025: Full Program

Billboard Italia returns with the second annual Women in Music event, this time expanded into a multi-day program and presented in a refreshed format. After launching in 2024, the 2025 edition transforms UFO — the cultural hub that houses Billboard Italy’s offices in Milan — into the Women in Music House, hosting a variety of public events and recorded conversations.

The program runs across three days: November 25, 2025 (coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), November 26, 2025, and November 28, 2025. Each day will combine panels, performances and curated encounters that highlight the contributions of women across the Italian music scene.

This year’s Woman of the Year is Giorgia. Several other awards were announced in recent weeks, including the Global Icon Award, bestowed upon Laura Pausini in recognition of her international career and her capacity to connect audiences across generations. The Global Icon accolade was presented during a Vatican ceremony in which Billboard Italy also offered a symbolic Women in Music plaque to the Holy See, underscoring the role of women’s voices as vehicles for dialogue and solidarity.

The complete roster of honorees for Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025:

• Giorgia — Woman of the Year
• Laura Pausini — Global Icon
• Serena Brancale — Powerhouse
• Deborah De Luca — DJ of the Year
• Joan Thiele — Songwriter of the Year
• Emma Nolde — Performer of the Year
• Ele A — Breakthrough
• Sarah Toscano — Rising Star
• Paola Zukar — Manager of the Year

The 2025 theme, “Intersections,” examines how music forges connections and fresh viewpoints when it intersects with other cultural spheres — from sport to digital media. As part of the program, each honoree will take part in a public conversation with a notable figure from another field; those dialogues will be recorded and released as episodes of a Women in Music digital series on Billboard Italy’s YouTube channel and social platforms in the weeks following the event.

Scheduled conversations include:

• Giorgia — conversation with a special guest
• Serena Brancale with actress Giulia Vecchio
• Deborah De Luca with journalist Giulia Innocenzi
• Joan Thiele with filmmaker Carolina Cavalli
• Emma Nolde with athlete Erika Saraceni
• Ele A with content creator Emma Galeotti
• Sarah Toscano with content creator Elisa Maino
• Paola Zukar with Giorgia Linardi, spokesperson for Sea-Watch

Beyond the talks, the Women in Music House will stage workshops, panel discussions, showcases and DJ sets across the three days. The full timetable and program details are available on billboard.it.

Official partners for Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025 include Aperol, Amazon Music and AW LAB. Ticketmaster serves as the ticketing partner, SAE Institute is the educational partner, and the initiative receives support from SIAE — Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori.

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