Boa noite Europe, we have a winner! Portugal has determined the act who will follow into Claudia Pascoal’s footsteps, Conan Isiris will defend the Portuguese colours at the forthcoming 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv next May.

Conan Isiris was crowned the winner of Festival da Cançao 2019 with Telemoveis and will represent Portugal at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.

The 2019 Portuguese Eurovision representative was determined via 50/50 regional jury-public televoting deliberation.

About the show

The Grand Final of Festival da Cançao was held at the Portimao Arena in Portimao in the southern coast of Portugal . A total of 8 acts battled for the right to fly the Portuguese flag at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon during tonight’s gala. The show was hosted by Filomena Cautela (Eurovision 2018 hostess) and Vasco Palmeirim.

RTP invited several former Portuguese Eurovision hopefuls to perform at the show: Vania Fernandes (2008), Anabela (1993),  Armando Gama (1982), Claudia Pascoal and Isaura (2018). The broadcaster paid special tribute to the former Portuguese Eurovision entries and the history of Festival da Cançao throughout the show via skits, parodies and special videos taking the audience back in time. The hosts also asked  the participants to sing their all time favourite Portuguese Eurovision entries.

Vasco, Ines and Filomena also performed the 1981 Eurovision entry Playback.

Festival da Cançao 2019

The 2019 edition of Festival da Cançao (FdC) consisted of 3 shows: 2 semi-finals, which were held at the RTP’s Studio 1 in Lisbon, and a grand final which was held in Portimao.

A total of 16 acts  participated in the 2019 Portuguese national selection Festival da Cançao 2019. 4 acts from each semi-final proceeded to the Grand Final.

Portugal in Eurovision

Portugal debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 and has won the competition once, namely in 2017 when Salvador Sobral took Europe by storm with Amar pelos dois.

Until 2017 LuciaMoniz retained the country’s best result in the competition, a 6th placing at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with O meu coraçao nao tem cor.

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

Portugal will compete in the second half of the First Semi-final of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest on 14 May in Tel Aviv.