Portugal: Festival da Canção 2026 with new selection processes

Festival da Canção is returning in 2026 with renewed energy and new ways of bringing emerging talent to the spotlight. The competition, which has long been a launchpad for portuguese music, promises a celebration of diversity, innovation and national artistry.

The first major step begins today, september 16, with the introduction of significant changes to the selection process.

Debut of the 'Prova de Acesso'

For the first time, the Festival is opening its doors through a special “Prova de Acesso” (Access Audition), designed for students from specialized music schools. In this inaugural edition, RTP partnered with ETIC – Escola de Tecnologias, Inovação e Criação in Lisbon, and ESMAE – Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo in Porto.

Each school nominated students or groups working in composition, creation and production. A dedicated jury has already chosen five finalists, and now the public will decide the winner. Voting opened today on the Festival’s official website and runs until September 30. Each finalist performs both a cover and an original song (the latter not intended for competition). The winner will earn a place among the 2026 Festival contestants.

New role for previous winners

Another major change debuts this year: from now on, the winner of the previous Festival will have the opportunity to invite one contestant directly to the following edition. For 2026, the band NAPA – winners of the 2025 Festival da Canção – will extend this invitation, strengthening the continuity between generations of artists.

New online voting introduced

Another major change for 2026 concerns the voting system. Each of the two semifinals will feature eight songs, with five advancing to the Grand Final. Four qualifiers will be decided through a 50/50 combination of jury and public vote, while the fifth qualifier will be chosen exclusively by the public.

For the first time, the public vote will be counted not only through traditional televoting but also through an official online voting platform. Votes cast by phone and online will be added together and then converted into points: the song with the most votes will receive 12 points, the second 10 points, the third 8 points, and the remaining songs between 7 and 3 points.

This marks the debut of online voting as part of the official selection process, expanding participation and giving audiences more ways to influence the outcome.

Open song submissions

As in previous years, the Festival also maintains its open submissions, available to all portuguese citizens and residents, both in Portugal and abroad. Applications are open until October 31.

Alongside the Access Audition winner and the artist chosen by NAPA, RTP will invite eight authors directly, who may either perform their own songs or select interpreters. With six entries coming from open submissions, the 2026 Festival will feature a total of 16 competing songs.

Public voting for the Access Audition finalists is now open at rtp.pt/festivaldacancao, while open submissions remain available until October 31.