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Portuguese broadcaster RTP has announced changes for Festival da Canção 2026. For the contest’s 60th edition, Portugal will be using four distinct methods to pick its competing songs.
In a Facebook post, the broadcaster confirmed a revolutionary four-pathway system that fundamentally changes how Portugal will select its Eurovision entry.
Four ways to qualify
Here’s the new structure in full:
- Open Submissions (Livre Submissão) – the familiar process remains, allowing any Portuguese citizen or resident to submit songs. The closing date is 31 October and six of the songs will feature in the FdC final.
- Access Competition (Prova de Acesso) – brand new, with music school students competing for a place in the line-up. Partner schools are ETIC (Lisbon) and ESMAE (Porto), and the public vote is already open at rtp.pt/festivaldacancao. Those in the running are: 1poucodesol, Dinis Mota, Diogo Catanho, Polar Opposites and Tilde. One of these will enter a (new) song and win a place in the final 16.
- Previous Winner’s Invitation (Convite do Vencedor) – also brand new. 2025 winners NAPA will directly invite one competitor of their choice, adding a mentorship and legacy element to the contest. One finalist selected this way (obvs).
- RTP Direct Invitations – the traditional system of hand-picking established artists continues. Eight of the 16 finalists will be picked this way.
How it looks in 2026
16 songs in total will compete. The format remains: two semi-finals and a grand final, staged in Portugal during February and March.
RTP has yet to directly confirm participation in Vienna, and is likely to remain ‘on the fence’ until the EBU December deadline.
