Portugal will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 even if its representative is not necessarily the winner of the traditional Song festival, where the public and the jury choose, each year, the voice that will carry the Portuguese flag in the competition. This is the formula found by … Public Radio Television (RTP) in response to the boycott launched by the majority of selected artists, who announced that in the event of victory, they would not represent the country. This is a protest against Israel’s participation in the music competition, after RTP confirmed that it was not withdrawing from the competition, as Spain and other countries have done.
In an official press release, the Portuguese public channel emphasizes that “whatever the decision of the artists who signed the declaration, whose position we understand, RTP “reaffirms that it will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, just like the vast majority of member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).” The message conveyed calm and made it clear that, with or without a winner available, Portugal would not be left behind.
The Festival da Canção regulations allow that, if the winner does not want or cannot represent the country, RTP can “turn to other participants”. In practice, this means that whoever finished second or third could be invited. However, nothing prevents RTP from choosing a representative outside the final rankingalways according to our own editorial criteria. The priority, they insist, is to guarantee the Portuguese presence in Sweden in May 2026.
The Portuguese competition is divided into two semi-finals and a grand final, scheduled for March. As Portugal is not part of the “Big Five” group, it is obliged to first pass a semi-final at Eurovision to be able to reach the world final. However, this year the whole process could become more unpredictable than ever.
After learning of RTP’s determination to continue its participation, eleven of the sixteen artists selected for the Festival da Canção signed a joint declaration announcing that they would not represent Portugal if they won. A few days later, a twelfth artist joins the boycottleaving only four participants available to potentially accept the application.
Among those keeping the door open is the group Singing Banditsone of the proposals invited by RTP. In a note published on its social networks, the group declares: “If one day the public and the jury understand that one of our songs must win, we will represent Portugal with responsibility, respect and dignity. We will take with us what defines us: the song of Alentejo, our roots, friendship and the dream of bringing Alentejo to the four corners of the world.
Despite its availability, the group recognizes the sensitivity of the moment: “Eurovision is celebrated in a difficult period, marked by pain and violence in various parts of the world. It is normal that many artists feel the need to transform this concern into concrete gestures, including boycott“. They nevertheless emphasize that they respect the decision of others, but that they remain available to travel to Sweden.
In February, the sixteen artists will take the RTP stage to compete in the semi-finals in front of the jury and the public. However, there is no guarantee that the winning song for March will be the one that ultimately makes it to Eurovision. The duo Agridocewho did not sign the boycott, has already warned that, for the moment, he is concentrating on preparing for the show. “If we win, we will decide. Until then, nothing is closed,” they admit. If the few available artists ultimately refuse to represent Portugal, RTP ultimately has the power to choose any artist.
For their part, network workers and musician Salvador Sobral, winner of Eurovision in 2017, joined the protests against Portugal’s decision. They created an online petition, which already has more than twelve thousand signatures, to demand the withdrawal of the next edition of Eurovision. “National television broadcasts a concert in favor of Gaza and at the same time it is afraid to do the right thing,” criticized Salvador Sobral in a video shared on his social networks.
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