RTP, Portugal’s national public broadcaster, has revealed the semi-final allocations for the 16 acts set to take part in this year’s edition of Festival da Canção, as well as the date for the competing songs to be released.
Following the allocation draw at RTP headquarters, the line-ups for the two semi-finals featuring the participating composers have been determined.
Semi-final 1:
- AGRIDOCE
- Evaya
- Marquise
- Djodje
- Dinis Mota
- Bateu Matou
- André Amaro
- Nunca Mates o Mandarim
Semi-final 2:
- Bandidos do Cante
- Cristina Branco
- Inês Sousa
- Sandrino
- Jacaréu
- Francisco Fontes
- Gonçalo Gomes
- Rita Dias
Additionally, Maria Ferreira, Head of Music and Performing Arts and producer of Festival da Canção, confirmed that the competing songs will be released on 22 January, alongside further details about the performing artists and hosts.
These announcements come against the backdrop of a sustained and highly visible backlash over RTP’s decision to remain in the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite a joint statement from Festival da Canção 2026 composers, a public petition signed by nearly 30.000 people, opposition from RTP workers’ representative bodies, and criticism from prominent figures such as former Eurovision winner Salvador Sobral, Nicolau Santos, Chair of RTP’s Board of Directors, has reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to Eurovision 2026, following the most recent EBU General Assembly.
As it stands, 13 of the 16 participating composers have publicly stated they would boycott Eurovision 2026 should they win Festival da Canção. Only Bandidos do Cante have openly confirmed they would participate if selected, aligning themselves with RTP’s controversial stance.
Festival da Canção 2026 is scheduled to take place in late February, with the semi-finals on 21 and 28 February, and the grand final on 7 March.
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