Music Awards changes skin for the twentieth anniversary, but remains at the Verona Arena: here are the dates of the musical event conducted by Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada

The BYD Music Awards, celebrating their 20th anniversary, will return to the Arena di Verona for its upcoming edition, marking a new chapter in the history of Italy’s premier music awards show. The event, which has been renamed from its previous moniker, Tim Music Awards, will take place over two nights, Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19, and will air live in prime time on Rai 1. Hosted once again by Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada, the duo will mark their fifteenth consecutive year together on stage, guiding viewers through the ceremony that has become a staple of Italian television programming. The transformation of the event began with a name change, reflecting a partnership with BYD, a Chinese multinational corporation known for its electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. This shift signals a broader evolution in the awards' branding while maintaining the core structure and purpose of recognizing musical achievement in Italy. Over the past two decades, the awards have honored more than 600 artists and presented over 1,000 prizes, underscoring its role as a key platform for acknowledging both emerging and established talent within the Italian music industry. Each edition of the BYD Music Awards features a range of categories based on tangible achievements. These include recognition for albums certified Gold, Platinum, and Multiplatinum by FIMI/NIQ, singles reaching Platinum and Multiplatinum status, and tours achieving attendance milestones of 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000 verified by SIAE. Additional special awards are also given to highlight exceptional contributions or performances that stand out beyond standard metrics. The origins of the awards trace back to 2007, when they were launched under the name Wind Music Awards, named after its founding sponsor, Wind, a telecommunications company. The initial editions took place in Rome, at the Auditorium della Conciliazione for the first one and Valle Giulia for the second. From 2009 to 2012, the event moved to the historic Arena di Verona, a venue previously used for the finals of the Festivalbar, a long-running Italian music competition. However, the ceremony relocated to the Foro Italico in Rome during the years 2013 and 2014 before returning permanently to Verona in 2015. Television coverage of the awards has evolved significantly since their inception. Initially broadcast in delayed transmission on Italia 1, the first five editions aired in prime time on the channel. In 2012, the show transitioned to Rai 1, and from that point onward, it was broadcast live in high definition. This move solidified the awards’ position as a flagship program on Rai’s main network, ensuring consistent visibility and audience engagement. As the BYD Music Awards approach their 20th anniversary, scheduled to be reached in 2026, the event continues to adapt while preserving its foundational mission of honoring musical excellence. With the Arena di Verona serving as the backdrop, the awards remain rooted in tradition yet open to innovation, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Italian music scene. The continued collaboration between hosts Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada ensures continuity and familiarity for audiences who have followed the event for many years. The awards ceremony will feature a mix of veteran performers and rising stars, with the specific lineup of nominees and winners to be announced closer to the event dates. As the countdown begins toward the 20th anniversary, anticipation builds among fans and participants alike, eager to witness how this milestone will be celebrated. The selection of the Arena di Verona as the host venue underscores the significance of the occasion, linking the present iteration of the awards to their historical roots in the city's iconic concert space.