Festival da Canção 2018 running order of the final revealed by RTP

Host broadcaster RTP has revealed the line up for Sunday’s final of Festival da Canção 2018, including who will replace Diogo Piçarra, along with what to expect in the interval of their late night extravaganza.

Diogo Piçarra withdraws

After the breaking news on Tuesday evening that the big favourite Diogo Piçarra had announced via his social media that he would withdraw from the final over the plagiarism claims, the host broadcaster RTP decided to advance another act to the final. Therefore, Susana Travassos and her song “A mensageira”, which finished eighth and originally just missed out on qualification in the second semi-final last weekend, will now take Diogo’s spot in the final.

Running order revealed

Keep your strongest caffeinated drinks on standby as the final will be aired Sunday 4th March (10:15pm CET). The 14 acts below will be competing for the honour of being Portugal’s first host entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon as well as their 50th entrant at the contest.

1. Rui David “Sem medo”
2. Susana Travassos “A mensageira”
3. Peter Serrado “Sunset”
4. Joana Espadinha “Zero a zero”
5. Lili “O vôo das cegonhas”
6. Catarina Miranda “Para sorrir não preciso de nada”
7. Joana Barra Vaz “Anda estragar-me os planos”
8. David Pessoa “Amor veloz”
9. Minnie & Rhayra “Patati patata”
10. Janeiro “(sem título)”
11. Maria Inês Paris “Bandeira azul”
12. Anabela “Para te dar abrigo”
13. Cláudia Pascoal “O jardim”
14. Peu Madureira “Só por ela”

The final

As confirmed in July last year the final will be held at the Multiusos de Guimarães in Guimarães as RTP seeks to turn Festival da Canção into a regional event. Guiding the viewers through the twilight hours will be hosts Filomena Cautela and Pedro Fernandes. Of course many will recognise Fiolomena as one of the future hosts we’ll see in Lisbon for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. In addition there will be performances to honour Simone de Oliveira (Eurovision 1965 and 1969) and the group Doce (1982).

The winner will be determined by the combined results of 50% regional juries and 50% public televoting. In the result of a tie the song with the highest televote will win. Catch up with the semifinal 1 performances here and the semifinal 2 performances here.

Will you be watching the FdC 2018 final? Who is your favourite amongst the fourteenacts in Festival da Canção? Let us know in the comments or on social media @ESCXTRA!