The Sanremo Music Festival 1990 (Italian: Festival di Sanremo 1990), officially the 40th Italian Song Festival (40º Festival della canzone italiana), was the 40th annual Sanremo Music Festival, held at the Teatro Palafiori in Sanremo between 28 February and 3 March 1990 and broadcast on Rai 1. The show was presented by Johnny Dorelli and Gabriella Carlucci (the former having won the festival in 1958 and 1959). Adriano Aragozzini served as artistic director.[1] The venue was a provisional structure built in the area of the Sanremo flower market, since the Teatro Ariston, serving as the venue for the event since 1977, was undergoing renovation works.[2]
According to the rules of this edition, each song of the Big Artists section was presented in a double performance by a non-Italian singer or group, and adapted in their foreign language.[1] The winner of the Big Artists section was the band Pooh with the song "Uomini soli", while Mia Martini won the critics award with the song "La nevicata del '56". Marco Masini won the Newcomers section with the song "Disperato".[1]