Portugal: Listen to the songs competing in Festival da Canção 2021

We're a month away from Festival da Canção's first semi-final. Doesn't it sound like the perfect timing for the songs to be released?

Well, the Portuguese broadcaster RTP has thought so and has made available the 20 songs competing at this year's edition.

The usual press conference to announce the singers and the songs was held online to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also served to confirm the presenters of each semi-final and of the national selection's Grand Final.

Festival da Canção 2021

The 55th edition of Festival da Canção will consist in three shows: two semi-finals and a Grand Final.

Each semi-final will feature 10 songs where 5 will make it through the final round. The decision will be split between a jury panel and the public vote.

The hosts of each show have also been announced as well as the information that the three shows will be held in RTP studios, in Lisbon:

• Semi-final 1: 20 February 2021 (Jorge Gabriel and Sónia Araújo)
• Semi-final 2: 27 February 2021 (Tânia Ribas de Oliveira and José Carlos Malato)
• Final: 6 March 2021 (Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim)

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.