Boa noite Europe! Portugal has officially kicked off its quest to search for the 2018 Eurovision Portuguese representative, the act who will follow Salvador Sobral’s footsteps. Tonight saw Lisbon host Festival Da Cançao’s first semi-final, where the first set of finalists were determined.

Thirteen acts battled for the golden ticket to the Grand Finale of Festival da Cançao 2018 during tonight’s show, but only seven made it to Guimarães.

Tonight’s semi-final was held tonight at RTP’s Studio 1 in Lisbon and was hosted by Jorge Gabriel and Jose Carlos Malato. The 7 lucky finalists were determined via a special jury/public televoting deliberation.

The first 7 finalists

• Peu Madureira (Diogo Clemente) – Só Por Ela (22 points)
  
• Catarina Miranda (Júlio Resende) – Para Sorrir Eu Não Preciso de Nada (16 points)
• Janeiro (Janeiro) – sem título (16 points)
• Anabela (Fernando Tordo) – Para te Dar Abrigo (13 points)
• Joana Barra Vaz (Francisca Cortesão) – Anda Estragar-me os Planos  (8 points)
  
• Joana Espadinha (Benjamin) – Zero a Zero (7 points)
  
• Rui David (Jorge Palma) – Sem medo ( 7 points)

Peu Madureira won the semi-final tonight

The Jury

The special jury  played a key role in selecting the first set of Festival da Cançao 2018 finalists. The combined vote of the jury and public televoting determined the 7 lucky hopefuls who will battle for the golden ticket to Lisbon. 7 acts from each semi-final will proceed to the Grand Finale.

• Júlio Isidro (chairperson of jury)
  
• Ana Bacalhau (singer)
  
• Carlão (singer)
  
• Luísa Sobral (singer/Portugal 2017)
  
• Sara Tavares (singer/Portugal 1994)
  
• Ana Markl (radio host)
  
• Mário Lopes (journalist)
  
• Tozé Brito (composer)
  
• António Avelar Pinho  (composer)

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 first 2 shows of FdC 2018 will be held at the RTP studios in Lisbon, whilst the grand final will be travelling outside the Portuguese capital, namely to Guimarães.

We will be heading to the north of Portugal in order to select the 2018 Eurovision hopeful who will follow Salvador Sobral’s footsteps.

A total of 26 acts will participate in the forthcoming 2018 Portuguese national selection Festival da Cançao 2018. Six hosts will be hosting the national selection (2 hosts per show).

The Grand Final of Festival da Cançao will take place on 4 March at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Guimarães in Guimarães. A total of 14 acts will fight for the right to fly the Portuguese colours at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. The gala will be hosted by Filomena Cautela (Eurovision 2018 host) and Pedro Fernandes

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 regional jury-televoting deliberation)