RTP, the Portuguese national broadcaster, has unveiled the composers of the 16 competing songs at Festival da Cançao 2026 and confirmed the dates of the competition.
Festival da Cançao 2026 will consist of three live televised shows: two semi-finals and a grand final scheduled to be held on 21, 27 February and 07 March 2026. All three shows will be broadcast live on RTP 1, RTP Play and RTP International.
- 21/02/2026- FdC 2026 Semi-final #1
- 27/02/2026- FdC 2026 Semi-final #2
- 07/03/2026- FdC 2026 Grand Final
FdC 2026 composers
- André Amaro (invited by RTP)
- Bandidos do Cante (invited by RTP)
- Bateu Matou (invited by RTP)
- Cristina Branco (invited by RTP)
- Djodje (invited by RTP)
- EVAYA (invited by RTP)
- Inês Sousa (invited by RTP)
- Marquise (invited by RTP)
- AGRIDOCE (selected via public submission)
- Francisco Fontes (selected via public submission)
- Gonçalo Gomes (selected via public submission)
- Jacaréu (selected via public submission)
- Rita Dias (selected via public submission)
- Sandrino (selected via public submission)
- Nunca Mates o Mandarim (selected by NAPA)
- Dinis Mota (selected via an Entry Exam)
Festival da Canção 2026
The 2026 Fdc will consist of three shows ( two semi-finals and a grand final) scheduled to be broadcast live in February and March.
A total of 16 acts will compete in the semi-finals, the top 5 acts from each semi-final will proceed to the Grand Final. A total of 10 acts will battle for the Grand Prix at the Grand Final of FdC 2026.
RTP has used three mechanisms to determine the 16 competing acts:
- 8 acts via an invitation to composers
- 6 acts via a public open song submission window
- 1 act via an invitation extended by NAPA
- 1 act via an Entrance Exam selection
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 56 times in the Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2025 NAPA represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel with their epic entry ‘ Deslocado’.
