Boa noite Europe! Portugal has officially kicked off its quest to search for the 2019 Eurovision Portuguese representative, the act who will follow Claudia Pascoal’s footsteps. Tonight saw Lisbon host Festival Da Cançao’s first semi-final, where the first set of finalists were determined.

Eight acts battled for the golden ticket to the Grand Finale of Festival da Cançao 2019 during tonight’s show, but only four made it to Portimao.

Tonight’s semi-final was held tonight at RTP’s Studio 1 in Lisbon and was hosted by Sónia Araújo & Tânia Ribas de Oliveira . The 4 lucky finalists were determined via a special jury/public televoting deliberation.

The first 4 finalists

• Ana Claudia- Inercia
  
• Calema-A dois
• Conan Isiris- Telemoveis
• Matay- Perfeito

The Results

Conan Isiris won the public televoting and placed 2nd with 19 points behind Matay who won tonight’s semi-final with 22 points, after achieving the jury’s highest vote.

Calema placed 3rd with 18 points followed by Ana Claudia who placed 4th with 13 points.

Festival da Canção 2019

The 2019 FdC will consist of three shows ( two semi-finals and a grand final) scheduled to run from February-March.

A total of 16 acts will battle for the golden ticket to Tel Aviv, 8 acts will compete in each semi-final, the top 4 entries from each semi-final will proceed to the Grand Final of FdC.  Hence 8 acts will fight for the right to represent Portugal at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in the Portuguese national final.

• 16/02/2019- Festival da Cançao Semi-final 1
• 23/02/2019-Festival da Cançao Semi-final 2
• 02/03/2019-Festival da Cançao Grand Final

The semi-finals will be held at the RTP Studios in Lisbon whilst the venue and host city for the grand final will be held in Portimão.

Portugal in Eurovision

Portugal debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 and has won the competition once, namely in 2017 with Salvador Sobral‘s Amor pelo dois. The country successfully hosted the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

Portugal has competed 50 times in the Eurovision Song Contest and will see its 51st participation in Tel Aviv next year.

In 2018 Claudia  Pascoal & Isaura were crowned the winners of Festival da Cançao and had the honour to defend the Portuguese colours at the Eurovision Song Contest on home soil with their entry O Jardim. Despite a beautiful peformace the 2018 ESC host nation finished last in the Grand Final.