“We had more than 2,500 entries from all over the world. 700 musicians have already been chosen and, of these, 52% are Portuguese”, revealed the executive director of the promoter MOT - Memories of Tomorrow, at the presentation of the event.

On the pitch of the Leiria Municipal Stadium, which is hosting the show for the second consecutive year, Tiago Castelo Branco explained that the intention is to fill the remaining 300 vacancies with Portuguese musicians: “We want to give a stage to Portuguese music and Portuguese talent. We believe that in the next few weeks we will reach a thousand, with the 300 Portuguese who are missing.”

Among those registered, the youngest participant is five years old, while the oldest will be 74 years old, he added.

One of the new features of the 2025 edition of Rockin’1000 is the creation of an optional fee to be paid by musicians who want to guarantee priority in the selection. The six-month subscription costs 75 euros, the annual subscription costs 95 euros.


This possibility is criticised by some musicians, but Fabio Zaffagnini, founder of the project, assured, in an intervention from Italy, that “being part of Rockin’1000 is free”.

“Anyone can participate, but starting this year, we are launching a membership program for anyone who wants to support the project and help it grow,” he explained.

The Italian organizer also explained that among the thousand participants in 2025, “those who are not Portuguese have membership and, of the Portuguese musicians who are registered now, 30% are supporters [with paid registration] and 70% will be free members”.

“Membership is our way of supporting the project, but participation is free. People who are members of Rockin’1000 have a benefit, because it is right to have some benefit. Most of the musicians from Portugal who will participate will participate for free,” he insisted.

By August 13, all one thousand musicians who will fill the vocal, guitar, piano, bass and drum sections will be defined.

With a projected capacity of 22,000 spectators, Rockin’1000 currently has “30% more tickets sold than we had last year, when we opened sales”.

“If last year we sold out about a week before the event, I am convinced that by the beginning of August we will be able to achieve the same result we had last September”, concluded the person in charge of MOT.