The wait is finally over! Portuguese broadcaster RTP held a press conference today in Lisbon to announce the 2018 Festival da Cançao acts. Discover them here!

Here are the artists competing in the Portuguese national selection, along with the name of the respective composer and the title of the song:

First semi-final – 18 February

• Peu Madureira (Diogo Clemente) – Só Por Ela
• Anabela (Fernando Tordo) – Para te Dar Abrigo 
• Joana Barra Vaz (Francisca Cortesão) – Anda Estragar-me os Planos
• Janeiro (Janeiro) – Oficialmente (sem título)
• Rui David (Jorge Palma) – Sem Medo
• José Cid & Gonçalo Tavares (José Cid) – O Som da Guitarra é a Alma de Um Povo 
• JP Simões (JP Simões) – Alvoroço
• Catarina Miranda (Júlio Resende) – Para Sorrir Eu Não Preciso de Nada
• Joana Espadim (Benjamin) – Zero a Zero
• Beatriz Pessoa (Mallu Magalhães) – Eu Te Amo
• Bruno Vasconcelos (Nuno Rafael) – Austrália
• Maria Amaral (Paulo Praça) – A Mesma Canção
• Rita Dias (Rita Dias) – Com Gosto Amigo 

Second semi-final – 25 February

• Susana Travassos (Aline Frazão) – A Mensageira
• Lili (Armando Teixeira) – O Voo das Cegonhas
• Sequin (Bruno Cardoso) – All Over Again
• Tamin (Capicua) – Sobre Nós
• Diogo Piçarra (Diogo Piçarra) – Canção do Fim
• David Pessoa (Francisco Rebelo) – Amor Veloz
• Cláudia Pascoal (Isaura) – O Jardim
• Rita Marques (João Afonso) – Anda Daí
• Dora Fidalgo (Miguel Ângelo) – Arco-Íris
• Minnie & Rhayra (Paulo Flores) – Patati Patata
• Maria Inês Paris (Tito Paris) – Bandeira Azul
• Daniela Onís (Daniela Onís) – Para Lá do Rio 
• Peter Serrado (Peter Serrado) – Sunset

A couple of notable comebacks are present in this selection. José Cid represented Portugal in Eurovision 1980 with the song Um grande, grande amor. Anabela went to Eurovision in 1993 with A cidade (até ser dia).

Festival da Cançao 2018

The 2018 edition of Festival da Cançao (FdC) will consist of 3 shows which will be aired on 18, 25 February (semi-finals) and 4 March (Grand Final).

The two semi-finals will take place in Lisbon, at the RTP studio. Guimarães will have the honour to host the grand final.

A total of 26 composers have created the entries for the Festival da Cançao 2018. Each composer has selected the singer/singers to sing his/her own entry in the Portuguese national selection.

Festival da Cançao 2018 agenda

• 18/02: Semi-final 1 (13 participants, 7 finalists)
• 25/02: Semi-final 2 (13 participants, 7 finalists)
• 04/03: Final (14 finalists, 50/50 combined vote to deliberate winner)

What do you think of the Portuguese national selection? Let us know with a comment below!