RTP the national broadcaster of Portugal have confirmed their representative for JESC 2026. Later this year Salvador Rio will take to the stage in Malta on October 24.
🇵🇹 Salvador Rio selected for Portugal
Following the conclusion of the latest series of The Voice Kids Portugal, Salvador Rio was declared the winner. During the televised final, the eight finalists were whittled down to four. The coaches chose one of their two remaining acts to progress to the second round. In the second round, Salvador Rio stood out from the final four and was announced as Portugal’s representative for the upcoming Junior Eurovision 2026 taking place in Malta on October 24. More details on the entry Inês will perform will be announced in the coming months.
Already a star in his homeland, Salvador has featured in numerous television adverts and shows, as well as being a voice actor taking on the role of Peter Pan.
Portugal in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Making their Junior Eurovision debut in 2006, Portugal has competed in the contest eleven times, having taken an extended break from the contest between 2008 and 2016 and on one more occasion, in 2020. Pedro Madeira represented Portugal on their debut appearance with “Deixa-me sentir” finishing in 14th place with 22 points. In 2024 Portugal achieved its best result to date. Once the votes were combined, Victoria Nicole received 213 points, placing second with, ‘Esperança’. This included victory in the online televote. Only the second time that Portugal have reached the top 10.
Last year, Inês Gonçalves represented the Iberian nation with, ‘Para onde vai o amor?’. During the Tbilisi contest, Inês obtained a total of 73 points, placing 13th in the contest.
Will Portugal earn their maiden victory in JESC 2026? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra.bsky.social on Bluesky, @escxtra on Instagram, @escxtra on TikTok and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as YouTube to see interviews and reactions to the latest Eurovision news.
