412,000 viewers tuned in in Portugal to watch the second semi-final of Festival da Canção 2026 yesterday on RTP 1.
An average of 412,000 viewers watched the second semi-final of Festival da Canção 2026, registering a rating of 4.2 and a share of 9.4%. This is a figure that, as in recent years, is growing and being higher than in the first semi-final of Festival da Canção. However, compared to last year, the second show lost approximately 81,000 viewers, as well as 0.8 points in average audience and almost 3% share.
The second semi-final of Portugal’s national selection took place tonight at Valentim de Carvalho studios in Lisbon. The show was hosted by Filomena Cautela, with Catarina Maia and Alexandre Guimarães connected from the Green Room, and it also featured guest performances by Edmundo Inácio and by Tatanka, who represented Portugal at Eurovision 2021 together with The Black Mamba.
A total of eight artists took part, with five artists qualifying for the final. The results of the first semi-final were as follows:
| Artist | Song | Result |
| Gonçalo Gomes | “Doce ilusão” | Finalist |
| Silvana Peres | “Não tem fim” | Finalist |
| Sandrino | “Disposto a tudo” | Finalist |
| Francisco Fontes | “Copiloto” | |
| Bandidos do Cante | “Rosa” | Finalist |
| Jacaréu & Ana Margarida | “O-pi-ni-ão” | |
| João Ribeiro | “Canção do querer” | Finalist |
| Inês Sousa | “Um filme ao contrário” |
The Grand Final will take place on March 7, live on RTP1 and RTP Internacional, and will be hosted by Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim. The running order of the final is expected to be revealed soon, with the winner being determined by a combination of regional juries and public voting.
NAPA represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song “Deslocado”. They finished in 21st place with 50 points.
Source: ESC38n
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 represented by António Calvário. The country finished last, scoring nul points. Before 2017, Portugal’s best result was 6th place, which came in 1996 when Lúcia Moniz performed “O meu coração não tem cor” in Oslo. In 2017, Salvador Sobral took home the crystal microphone with his song “Amar pelos dois”, ending a 53-year wait for a Portuguese win. The 2018 contest was held in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for the first time.
