The Second Step Toward Eurovision Glory

The journey to select Portugal's Eurovision 2026 representative continues with the second semi-final of Festival da Canção 2026, taking place on Saturday, 28 February 2026, at the Valentim de Carvalho Studios in Paço de Arcos. Following the excitement of the first semi-final on February 21, this second evening of competition brings eight more exceptional Portuguese acts to the stage, each vying for one of five coveted spots in the Grand Final on March 7.

This 60th edition of Portugal's historic Eurovision selection is broadcast live on RTP 1, RTP Play, and RTP International, ensuring fans across Portugal and the global Portuguese diaspora can participate in this crucial step toward Vienna 2026. The show is presented by Filomena Cautela, with Catarina Maia and Alexandre Guimarães covering the Green Room.

Official Running Order

The eight competing acts perform in the following official order:

Gonçalo Gomes – "Doce Ilusão" (Sweet Illusion)
Silvana Peres – "Não Tem Fim" (There's No End)
Sandrino – "Disposto a Tudo" (Willing to Do Anything)
Francisco Fontes – "Copiloto" (Co-pilot)
Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa" (Rose)
Jacaréu & Ana Margarida – "O-pi-ni-ão" (Opinion)
João Ribeiro – "Canção do Querer" (Song of Desire)
Inês Sousa – "O Filme ao Contrário" (The Movie in Reverse)

The Eight Competing Acts

Gonçalo Gomes – "Doce Ilusão"

Gonçalo Gomes opens the show with "Doce Ilusão" (Sweet Illusion), a public submission that made it through RTP's rigorous selection process. The poetic title hints at themes of hope, dreams, and the bittersweet nature of aspirations — subject matter that could resonate deeply with Eurovision audiences who appreciate emotional storytelling.

Silvana Peres – "Não Tem Fim"

Silvana Peres brings "Não tem fim" (There's No End), exploring themes of infinity and endlessness — potentially either an uplifting message about eternal love or a contemplative reflection on life's continuous journey. Selected through public submission.

Sandrino – "Disposto a Tudo"

Sandrino presents "Disposto a tudo" (Willing to Do Anything), promising passionate commitment and determination. The all-or-nothing title suggests the kind of emotional intensity that Portuguese entries are known for. Selected through public submission.

Francisco Fontes – "Copiloto"

Francisco Fontes performs "Copiloto" (Co-pilot), one of six entries selected through the public submission process. The song's title suggests themes of partnership and shared journeys, potentially offering an emotionally resonant message.

Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa"

Bandidos do Cante brings "Rosa" (Rose), representing one of RTP's direct invitations to established Portuguese artists. Notably, Bandidos do Cante has publicly confirmed their willingness to represent Portugal at Eurovision 2026 if selected — a significant commitment given that many competing acts initially stated they would not participate in Eurovision if they won. This dedication makes their entry particularly meaningful for fans hoping to see Portugal compete in Vienna.

Jacaréu & Ana Margarida – "O-pi-ni-ão"

Jacaréu & Ana Margarida collaborate on "O-pi-ni-ão" (Opinion). The creative syllabic spelling of the title signals a playful or thought-provoking approach. This entry represents the collaborative spirit that often produces memorable Eurovision moments. Selected through public submission.

João Ribeiro – "Canção do Querer"

João Ribeiro performs "Canção do querer" (Song of Desire), tapping into universal themes of longing and desire — emotions that have powered countless successful Eurovision entries. Selected through public submission.

Inês Sousa – "O Filme ao Contrário"

Inês Sousa closes the semi-final with "O filme ao contrário" (The Movie in Reverse), one of RTP's invited entries. The intriguing title suggests a narrative that plays with time and perspective — a unique conceptual approach that could stand out both in the national final and at Eurovision.

Innovative Voting System

Festival da Canção 2026 introduces online voting for the first time in the competition's 60-year history, complementing traditional televoting. The five qualifying spots work as follows:

Four qualifiers advance based on a 50/50 combination of public votes (televoting + online) and professional jury votes
One additional qualifier is determined exclusively by public voting — ensuring audience favourites have a guaranteed path to the final
In the event of a tie for the fifth spot, the jury vote acts as tiebreaker

The Venue: Valentim de Carvalho Studios

The Valentim de Carvalho Studios in Paço de Arcos host Festival da Canção 2026, connecting the competition to Portugal's rich musical heritage. The complex's history dates to 1824, but the modern era began in 1963 when Valentim de Carvalho opened a pioneering audio studio modelled after London's Abbey Road — where legendary fado singer Amália Rodrigues recorded. Studio 3, opened in 1999, is Portugal's largest television studio with a 1,500 m² plateau and capacity for 12 simultaneous cameras.

The Selection Process

The 16 acts across both semi-finals were selected through four pathways: eight RTP invitations to established composers and artists, six public submissions from open calls, one NAPA invitation (the 2025 winner selected a competing act), and one Entry Exam selection chosen by public vote from music school students.

Looking Ahead: Grand Final on March 7

The five qualifiers from this semi-final join the five from Semi-Final 1 for the Grand Final on 7 March 2026. Portugal has been allocated to Eurovision's first semi-final on May 12 in Vienna, meaning the Festival da Canção winner will need to qualify to reach the Grand Final on May 16. For full information, visit the official RTP website and Eurovision.com – Vienna 2026. See the Events Calendar for all upcoming Eurovision 2026 events.

Event Results

This event concluded on 28 February 2026. Five acts advanced to the Grand Final on 7 March 2026. The voting used two rounds: Round 1 combined 50% expert jury and 50% public televote to select the top four qualifiers; Round 2 used 100% public televote to select one additional wildcard qualifier from the remaining acts.

Direct Qualifiers (Round 1: 50% Jury + 50% Public)

Silvana Peres – "Não tem fim"
Bandidos do Cante – "Rosa"
João Ribeiro – "Canção do querer"
Sandrino – "Disposto a tudo"

Wildcard Qualifier (Round 2: 100% Public Televote)

Gonçalo Gomes – "Doce ilusão" advanced via the televote wildcard round.

Eliminated

Francisco Fontes – "Copiloto"
Jacaréu & Ana Margarida – "O-pi-ni-ão"
Inês Sousa – "Um filme ao contrário"

View the full official results on the official RTP Festival da Canção article – 10 finalists revealed.

What's Next?

These five qualifiers join the five qualifiers from Semi-Final 1 in the Festival da Canção 2026 Grand Final on 7 March 2026. The winner will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – Semi-Final 2 in Vienna.