Tonight was the primary of three evening’s for Portugal’s nationwide closing, Festival da Canção 2026.
We noticed the primary eight acts carry out their songs tonight, with hopes of transferring onto to the Final in two weeks.
The first 4 acts to advance have been decided by a 50/50 cut up between public and jury voting. The 4 to not advance went to a second spherical of voting, with yet one more act advancing decided by by way of 100% public vote.
Festival da Canção 2026 – Semi-final 1
First spherical of voting
4 finalists decided by 50% jury and 50% public voting
Second spherical of voting
1 finalist decided by 100% public voting
Tonight’s present happened at Valentim de Carvalho studios in Lisbon and was hosted by Vasco Palmeirim; alongside the inexperienced room hosts, Alexandre Guimarães and Catarina Maia.
Next week would be the second Semi-final, the place the remaining eight acts will carry out and the final five acts to advance to the Final will likely be decided.
Festival da Canção 2026
Festival da Canção 2026 happen over three reveals: two Semi-finals and the Final.
Both Semi-finals will see eight acts, with five advancing to the Final from every one. Four acts will likely be chosen by a 50/50 cut up between jury and public votes, with the final one chosen by way of 100% public vote from the remaining songs.
The Final will see 10 acts trying to obtain the Festival da Canção victory. The winner will likely be determined by a 50/50 cut up between regional juries and public vote.
The winner will take the Eurovision 2026 stage in the event that they haven’t chosen to decide out of taking part. If the winner chooses not to head to Eurovision 2026, the broadcaster will choose an act to journey to Vienna as an alternative.
Portugal in Eurovision
Portugal has participated within the contest 56 occasions since 1964. It was a really unhealthy begin, as they managed to get zero factors of their debut yr.
Before Eurovision 2017, that they had by no means gained the competition, and had by no means made the highest 5. In reality, Portugal held the report for many appearances within the contest and not using a win!
But that modified in 2017, when Salvador Sobral won with “Amar Pelos Dois.”
Since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004, Portugal has solely certified for the Grand Final 10 out of 19 occasions.
