The show was presented by Pippo Baudo (who also served as the artistic director of the festival), assisted by Serena Autieri and Claudia Gerini.
[1] The winner of the Big Artists section was Alexia with the song "Per dire di no", while Sergio Cammariere won the Critics Award with the song "Tutto quello che un uomo".
Dolcenera won the Newcomers" section with the song "Siamo tutti là fuori".
[1] In addition to musical guests, the guests of this edition also included Sharon Stone, Mike Bongiorno (eleven-time host of the festival), Valentino Rossi, Mario Cipollini, Enrico Montesano, Nino Frassica, Giorgio Panariello, Lino Banfi, Massimo Ghini.
Nilla Pizzi received a career award and performed her hits "Grazie dei fiori" and "Vola colomba", with which she won the first two editions of the festival (1951 and 1952).