Portugal: Here are the first finalists of Festival da Canção 2021
The first five finalists of Portugal's Festival da Canção have been announced. The winner will represent the country in Eurovision 2021
Eurovision fans' late nights are back with Portugal's national selection: Festival da Canção.
The country held the first semi-final of the 55th edition of the show and the public, along with the jury, selected the first five finalists: Valéria, Karetus & Romeu Bairos, The Black Mamba, Fábia Maia and Sara Afonso.
Festival da Canção 2021 – Semi-final 1 result
The results were announced in a random order and were decided by public voting (50%) and jury (50%).
Festival da Canção 2021 – Semi-final 1 Qualifiers
Tonight's jury consisted of:
- Marta Carvalho (Portugal 2020, composer);
- NBC (Festival da Canção 2019)
- Rita Guerra (Portugal 2003);
- Paulo de Carvalho (Portugal 1974 & 1977);
- Vanessa Augusto (radio host);
- Rita Carmo (photographer).
This Semi-final was hosted by Jorge Gabriel and Sónia Araújo in RTP's studios in Lisbon and featured performances by Elisa (Portugal 2020) and Dora (Eurovision 1986 and 1988).
Festival da Canção 2021
This year's Festival da Canção will have all of its shows being held in RTP's studios in Lisbon due to the COVID-19 situation around the world.
The 55th edition of Portugal's national selection will have three shows:
20 February 2021: Semi-final 1- 27 February 2021: Semi-final 2
- 6 March 2021: Final
Portugal in Eurovision Song Contest
Portugal has participated 51 times since 1964. It was a very bad start, as they managed to get Zero Points in the debuting year.
Before Eurovision 2017 they have never won the contest, and never made the top-5. In fact Portugal held the record for most appearances in the contest without a win!
But that changed in 2017, where Salvador Sobral won with "Amar Pelos Dois".
Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Portugal only qualified for the Grand Final 5 out of 14 times.
