Prior to the 2020 contest, San Marino had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 10 times since their first entry in 2008. The nation's debut entry in the 2008 contest, "Complice" performed by Miodio, failed to qualify for the grand final and placed last in the semi-final it competed in. San Marino subsequently did not participate in both the and contests, citing financial difficulties. They returned in with Italian singer Senit performing "Stand By", which also failed to take the nation to the grand final. From 2012 to 2014, San Marino sent Valentina Monetta to the contest on three consecutive occasions, which made her the first singer to participate in three consecutive contests since Udo Jürgens, who competed in 1964, 1965 and 1966 for Austria. Monetta's entries in ("The Social Network Song") and ("Crisalide (Vola)") also failed to qualify San Marino to the grand final, however in , she managed to bring the nation to the final for the first time with "Maybe", placing 24th. The nation's next four entries, "Chain of Lights" performed by Anita Simoncini and Michele Perniola for , "I Didn't Know" by Serhat for , "Spirit of the Night" by Monetta and Jimmie Wilson for and "Who We Are" by Jessika featuring Jenifer Brening for , did not qualify for the grand final. San Marino's best placing up to 2020 was in the previous year's contest where Serhat appeared for his second participation and finished in 19th place in the grand final, singing "Say Na Na Na". San Marino RTV (SMRTV) Director General Carlo Romeo confirmed San Marino's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 on 25 May 2019, a week after the conclusion of the 2019 contest.