RTP has announced the first guest performers for the Portuguese Eurovision selection, Festival da Canção 2026.
Júlio Resende and Paulo Lapa have been announced by RTP as performing in the first Semi-Final of Festival da Canção 2026. They will be performing a tribute to mark 50 years since Festival da Canção 1976.
Júlio Resende is a pianist and composer who has performed with the likes of Ana Moura and led Alexander Sancher, the band of which Eurovision 2018 winner Salvador Sobral is a member. While Paulo Lapa rose to prominence after appearing on The Voice Portugal in 2022.
Semi-Final One of Festival da Canção 2026 will be held on February 21. The participants are:
AGRIDOCE – “Onde quero estar” (Where I want to be)
André Amaro – “Dá-me a tua mão” (Give me your hand)
Bateu Matou – “Nos teus olhos” (In your eyes)
Dinis Mota – “Jurei” (I swore)
Evaya – “Sprint”
Marquise – “Chuva” (Rain)
Mario Marta – “Pertencer” (Belong)
Nunca Mates o Mandarim – “Fumo” (Smoke)
Festival da Canção 2026 will consist of two semi-finals on February 21 and February 28 and a final on March 7. All three nights will take place for the sixth consecutive year at the Valentim de Carvalho studios in Lisbon.
NAPA represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song “Deslocado”. They finished in 21st place with 50 points.
Source: RTP
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 represented by António Calvário. The country finished last, scoring nul points. Before 2017, Portugal’s best result was 6th place, which came in 1996 when Lúcia Moniz performed “O meu coração não tem cor” in Oslo. In 2017, Salvador Sobral took home the crystal microphone with his song “Amar pelos dois”, ending a 53-year wait for a Portuguese win. The 2018 contest was held in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for the first time.