Portugal: RTP promises more diversity of songwriters in Festival da Canção 2019

RTP has recently confirmed the Portuguese participation in the Eurovision 2019, and Festival da Canção will once again be used to select the Portuguese representative. The national final will follow a similar format to the one used in the previous year. The 14 composers to compete in Festival da Canção 2019 were already chosen by RTP, with the promise of “greater diversity amongst them. After being hosted in Guimarães in 2018, the Grand Final will once again be hosted outside Lisbon. Any bets?

Festival da Canção  2019

The first edition of the contest goes back to 1964, when Portugal sent its first representative to Eurovision. The history of the Portuguese national final will have a new chapter this year, as it will once again be used to select the Portuguese song.

In previous years, the format has received critics due to the lack of diversity of the songs in the competition. RTP has paid attention to those critics, promising “greater diversity” with “new music styles” for the upcoming year. 

The national final will have a similar format to the 2018 edition. Two semi-finals at RTP’s studios in Lisbon, and the Grand Final in another city. Let’s remember that after the Portuguese victory in Kiev, RTP promised an effort to decentralize the contest. The last edition was hosted in Guimarães and there is still no information about the chosen place for the upcoming edition.

The number of competing songs has decreased from 26 to 16, and 14 of them will be presented by composers invited by RTP. The two remaining places will be avaiable for public submissions.

Festival open to public submissions

The two places available for public submissions will be selected with two different formats:

• One of them will be selected in the “Master Class” radio program of Antena 1. Composers and authors with no published works yet can apply until October 31.  The winner will then have to submit a new song for the national final.
• The remaining slot will be selected through an open selection. All Portuguese citizens or residents can apply. If you are available to submit an entry, you can do so sending your song to [email protected] until October 31.