Following a momentous day for the Eurovision Song Contest and the outcome of the 95th EBU General Assembly this evening, RTP has confirmed its commitment to participate in the upcoming contest in Vienna, Austria next May.
🇵🇹 RTP WILL participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Following a monumental day for the Eurovision Song Contest. RTP the national broadcaster of Portugal, has confirmed it will participate in the upcoming contest in Vienna, Austria next May. This news was confirmed during the evening RTP news live on air after the 95th EBU General Assembly. Thus, the national selection Festival da Canção 2026 continues as intended. It had been previously announced that winning the national selection would not be tied to Eurovision representation.
During the General Assembly all EBU members were invited to vote on the recently announced rule changes proposed by the EBU. These included the return of juries to the Semi-Finals, a reduction in the number of votes from 20 to 10 and strong safeguards to the voting procedures and abilities of governments to campaign for entries. The new rules passed the vote with 738 votes in favour of the new measures, 264 against and 120 abstentions.
This news comes following the shock withdrawals of Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia. Meanwhile, Finland have tonight confirmed they will continue in the contest.
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