Sanremo Music Festival 1989 Winners Anna Oxa and Fausto Leali

The 39th Sanremo Music Festival took place from 21 to 25 February 1989 at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, Italy. The event was presented by a quartet of hosts – Rosita Celentano, Paola Dominguín, Danny Quinn and Gianmarco Tognazzi – under the artistic direction of Adriano Aragozzini.

Anna Oxa and Fausto Leali won the competition with the ballad “Ti lascerò”. The runner‑up was Toto Cutugno with “Le mamme”, followed by Al Bano and Romina Power in third place with “Cara terra mia”. Although the winning song did not become a timeless classic, a song that finished ninth on the chart later became a lasting cultural touchstone of the 1989 edition.

The festival also featured three categories – Campioni, Emergenti and Novità – and showcased a broad mix of established and emerging Italian artists.