13 January – The first edition of
TG5,
Canale 5's news program, was broadcast in Italy.
29 February – Sanremo: at the 42nd edition of the Italian Song Festival Luca Barbarossa wins with
Portami a ballare.
5 April – political elections: the Quadripartite obtains an absolute majority with 48.55% of the votes, but the growth of the
Lega Nord and the first investigations into bribes make it difficult to form a stable government.
31 October – the Catholic Church rehabilitates the Italian scientist
Galileo Galilei, convicted in 1633.