The show was presented by Pippo Baudo, who also served as the artistic director, with singer Anna Oxa (who had won the festival in 1989) and model Cannelle.
[1][2] The winner of the Big Artists section was Aleandro Baldi with the ballad "Passerà", while Giorgio Faletti ranked second and won the Critics Award with "Signor tenente", an anti-mafia rap song inspired by massacres of Capaci and Via D'Amelio.
Andrea Bocelli won the Newcomers section with the song "Il mare calmo della sera".
[1] After every night Rai 1 broadcast DopoFestival, a talk show about the Festival with the participation of singers and journalists.
The festival was also aired on Rai Internazionale Americas on delay via W13BF with the 1st and 2nd part of the final being broadcast.