Final Results

This event concluded on 7 March 2026 at the Valentim de Carvalho Studios in Paço de Arcos, marking the 60th anniversary edition of Festival da Canção. The winner was determined by a 50/50 split between public votes (combined televoting and online voting) and the votes of seven regional professional juries representing Norte, Centro, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Alentejo, Algarve, Açores and Madeira. Congratulations to the winner!

🏆 Winner: Portugal's Eurovision 2026 Representative

Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa"

The Beja-based group — formed by Miguel Costa, Duarte Farias, Francisco Raposo, Luís Aleixo and Francisco Pestana — carries the essence of Cante Alentejano, classified by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014, renewed through a compelling pop and contemporary sound. Their victory in the 60th anniversary edition of Festival da Canção marks a notable triumph for traditional Portuguese musical heritage on the Eurovision stage.

All 10 Finalists

Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa" 🏆 Winner
André Amaro – "Dá-me a Tua Mão"
Dinis Mota – "Jurei"
EVAYA – "SPRINT"
Gonçalo Gomes – "Doce Ilusão"
João Ribeiro – "Canção do Querer"
Marquise – "Chuva"
Nunca Mates o Mandarim – "Fumo"
Sandrino – "Disposto a Tudo"
Silvana Peres – "Não Tem Fim"

View the official coverage on RTP Media – "Rosa", dos Bandidos do Cante, vence o Festival da Canção 2026.

What's Next for Portugal?

Bandidos do Cante will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi-Final 1 on 12 May in Vienna, Austria. Portugal has been allocated to the first half of Semi-Final 1, meaning they will need to qualify through the semi-final to reach the Grand Final on 16 May. Visit the Events Calendar for all upcoming Eurovision 2026 events.

The Culmination of Portugal's Eurovision Journey

The Grand Final of Festival da Canção 2026 represents the pinnacle of Portugal's quest to select their Eurovision 2026 representative. Taking place on March 7, 2026, at the prestigious Valentim de Carvalho Studios in Paço de Arcos, this climactic evening brings together the ten best acts from the two semi-finals in a celebration of Portuguese musical excellence. The winner will earn the honor of representing Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria, continuing a legacy that includes one of Eurovision's most memorable victories.

This 60th edition of Festival da Canção marks a milestone in Portuguese broadcasting history, combining tradition with innovation through the introduction of online voting alongside traditional methods. The Grand Final will be broadcast live on RTP 1, RTP Play, and RTP International, ensuring maximum accessibility for Portuguese audiences worldwide and international Eurovision fans eager to discover Portugal's 2026 entry.

The Ten Finalists

The Grand Final features ten exceptional acts – five qualifiers from the first semi-final and five from the second. The lineup represents a brilliant cross-section of classic Portuguese sounds and contemporary creativity:

André Amaro – "Dá-me a tua mão"
Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa"
Dinis Mota – "Jurei"
Evaya – "Sprint"
Gonçalo Gomes – "Doce ilusão"
João Ribeiro – "Canção do querer"
Marquise – "Chuva"
Nunca Mates o Mandarim – "Fumo"
Sandrino – "Disposto a tudo"
Silvana Peres – "Não tem fim"

The diversity of the lineup reflects the four distinct selection pathways used for Festival da Canção 2026: RTP-invited artists, public submission winners, the NAPA selection, and the Entry Exam winner. This multi-faceted approach ensures the final represents the full spectrum of Portuguese musical creativity.

The Historic Venue

The Valentim de Carvalho Studios provide a fitting backdrop for this historic final. The venue's connection to Portuguese music history runs deep, with roots extending back to 1824 and the founding of Salão Neuparth. The modern studio complex, established in 1963, was deliberately modeled after London's legendary Abbey Road Studio 2, signaling Portugal's ambition to create a world-class recording facility.

Over the decades, these studios have hosted some of Portugal's most iconic musical moments. The legendary Amália Rodrigues, queen of fado, recorded here, cementing the venue's place in Portuguese cultural heritage. The facility's expansion in the 1990s transformed it into a comprehensive audiovisual production center, culminating in the 1999 opening of Studio 3 – Portugal's largest television studio.

According to Valentim de Carvalho, Studio 3 features a 1,500 square meter plateau with capacity for 12 simultaneous cameras and a 98-channel digital sound mixing console, making it ideal for a production of Festival da Canção's scale and prestige.

Your Hosts: A Dream Team

The Grand Final will be presented by an all-star hosting team: Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim, two of Portugal's most beloved television personalities, will guide viewers through the evening's proceedings. Their chemistry and professionalism, combined with their deep knowledge of Portuguese music and Eurovision culture, promise an engaging and entertaining broadcast.

Catarina Maia and Alexandre Guimarães return to cover the Green Room, having built rapport with the competing artists throughout the semi-finals. Their behind-the-scenes coverage will provide intimate insights into the artists' experiences and emotions as they await the final verdict.

Revolutionary Voting System

Festival da Canção 2026 makes history as the first edition to incorporate online voting alongside traditional televoting. This technological advancement, combined with professional jury input, creates the most accessible and balanced voting system in the competition's 60-year history.

The Grand Final voting process combines three elements:

Public televoting via traditional phone lines
Online voting through RTP's digital platforms
Professional jury votes from seven regional juries across Portugal and its archipelagos

The winner will be determined by a 50/50 split between combined public votes (televoting and online voting) and the regional jury votes. This balanced approach ensures that Portugal's Eurovision representative has both broad popular appeal and the professional qualities necessary to succeed on the international stage.

Portugal's Eurovision Legacy

Portugal's Eurovision story is one of perseverance, artistic integrity, and ultimate triumph. After participating since 1964, Portugal finally achieved victory in 2017 with Salvador Sobral's "Amar pelos dois", which earned a record-breaking 758 points – the highest score ever achieved under the current voting system. As documented by Eurovision.com, this victory ended a 53-year wait and proved that authentic artistry could triumph in modern Eurovision.

The Festival da Canção has been instrumental in Portugal's Eurovision journey, consistently producing entries that showcase Portuguese musical traditions while embracing contemporary sounds. From fado-influenced ballads to modern pop, rock, and experimental music, the competition reflects Portugal's diverse musical landscape and willingness to take artistic risks.

The Road to Vienna

The winner of Festival da Canção 2026 will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, hosted by Austria in Vienna following their 2025 victory. The contest will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle from May 12-16, 2026, with two semi-finals (May 12 and 14) and the Grand Final on May 16.

Portugal has been allocated to compete in the first half of the first semi-final on May 12, 2026. This means the Festival da Canção winner will need to qualify through the semi-final to reach the Grand Final. Performing at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna holds special significance, as Austria is hosting the contest for the first time since 2015, when Portugal's own Alice Tumler served as one of the hosts.

60 Years of Festival da Canção

The 2026 edition marks the 60th anniversary of Festival da Canção, making this Grand Final a celebration of six decades of Portuguese musical excellence. Since its inception, the competition has evolved from a simple song contest to a sophisticated showcase of Portuguese artistry that commands respect throughout the Eurovision community.

Over these 60 years, Festival da Canção has reflected Portugal's changing musical landscape, from traditional fado influences to modern pop, rock, electronic music, and experimental sounds. This anniversary edition, with its innovative voting methods and prestigious venue, honors that legacy while looking toward the future of Portuguese music and Eurovision participation.

Join the Grand Final Experience

Tune in to RTP 1 or stream via RTP Play on March 7, 2026, to witness the crowning of Portugal's Eurovision 2026 representative. Your vote will help determine who carries Portuguese musical traditions to Vienna – don't miss this opportunity to be part of history!

For more information about Festival da Canção 2026 and Portugal's Eurovision journey, visit the official RTP website and Eurovision.com.