Eurovision Song Contest 1990 — 35th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
The 35th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Yugoslavia, was the first staged in the Balkans and the only held in a socialist state.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 35th Eurovision Song Contest
- Date
- 5 May 1990
- Venue
- Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Zagreb
- Winning song
- "Insieme: 1992" by Toto Cutugno (Italy)
- Participating countries
- 22
- First age limit introduced
- Minimum age of 16 within contest year
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Yugoslavia's Riva won the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Rock Me', earning the country the right to host the following year's contest. The EBU and host broadcaster RTV Zagreb organised the event on behalf of Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija, marking the first time the contest would be held in a Balkan or socialist nation.
On 5 May 1990, twenty-two countries competed at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb, hosted by Oliver Mlakar and Helga Vlahović. Italy's Toto Cutugno performed 'Insieme: 1992', winning the contest. France and Ireland shared second place, with Iceland achieving its best result to that point. The contest also debuted a mandatory minimum age of sixteen for all performers.
Italy claimed its second Eurovision victory, and the contest's new age restriction reshaped eligibility rules for future editions. The event's location in a socialist Yugoslavia remained historically unique, as political upheaval in Yugoslavia would prevent any repeat hosting. Iceland's strong showing signalled its growing competitiveness in the contest.
Work
Eurovision Song Contest 1990
First Eurovision held in the Balkans and a socialist state; introduced a minimum performer age of 16, setting a lasting precedent for contestant eligibility.