PORTUGAL in the Eurovision Song Contest – Participation history

Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participating broadcaster
Participation summary
Appearances
First appearance
Language
National Selections National final
Internal selection
Hostings
Highest placement Top 5 FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Highest placement Top 10 FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Worst placement (Bottom) FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Times qualified – Qualifiying rate
Victories
Nul points (Nil points) FINAL SEMI-FINALS

Participation history

Note: Entries scored out signify where Armenia did not compete
Years

1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 •  
Artists António Calvário • Simone de Oliveira • Madalena Iglésias • Eduardo Nascimento • Carlos Mendes • Simone de Oliveira • Tonicha • Carlos Mendes • Fernando Tordo • Paulo de Carvalho • Duarte Mendes • Carlos do Carmo • Os Amigos • Gemini • Manuela Bravo • José Cid • Carlos Paião • Doce • Armando Gama • Maria Guinot • Adelaide • Dora • Nevada • Dora • Da Vinci • Nucha • Dulce (Dulce Pontes) • Dina • Anabela • Sara (Sara Tavares) • Tó Cruz • Lúcia Moniz • Célia Lawson • Alma Lusa • Rui Bandeira • MTM (Marco, Tony e Música) • Rita Guerra • Sofia Vitória • 2B • Nonstop • Sabrina • Vânia Fernandes • Flor-de-Lis • Filipa Azevedo • Homens da Luta • Filipa Sousa • Suzy • Leonor Andrade • Salvador Sobral • Cláudia Pascoal [feat. Isaura] • Conan Osíris • Elisa • The Black Mamba • MARO • Mimicat • Iolanda •  
Songs “Oração” • “Sol de inverno” • “Ele e ela” • “O vento mudou” • “Verão” • “Desfolhada portuguesa” • “Menina do alto da serra“ • “A festa da vida“ • “Tourada” • “E depois do adeus“ • “Madrugada“ • “Uma flor de verde pinho“ • “Portugal no coração“ • “Dai-li-dou” • “Sobe, sobe, balão sobe“ • “Um grande, grande amor” • “Playback” • “Bem bom“ • “Esta balada que te dou“ • “Silêncio e tanta gente“ • “Penso em ti, eu sei“ • “Não sejas mau p’ra mim“ (Não sejas mau para mim) • “Neste barco à vela“ • “Voltarei“ • “Conquistador“ • “Há sempre alguém“ • “Lusitana paixão“ • “Amor d’água fresca“ • “A cidade (até ser dia)” • “Chamar a música“ • “Baunilha e chocolate“ • “O meu coração não tem cor“ • “Antes do adeus“ • “Se eu te pudesse abraçar“ • “Como tudo começou“ • “Só sei ser feliz assim“ • “Deixa-me sonhar“ (Deixa-me sonhar (só mais uma vez)) • “Foi magia“ • “Amar“ • “Coisas de nada“ (Coisas De Nada (Gonna Make You Dance), Coisas De Nada (Eu vou te fazer dançar) • “Dança comigo“ (Dança comigo (vem ser feliz)) • “Senhora do mar (negras águas)“ • “Todas as ruas do amor“ • “Há dias assim“ • “A luta é alegria“ • “Vida minha“ • “Quero ser tua“ • “Há um mar que nos separa“ • “Amar pelos dois“ • “O jardim“ • “Telemóveis“ • “Medo de sentir“ • “Love Is on My Side” (O Amor Está Do Meu Lado) • “Saudade, saudade“ • “Ai coração“ • “Grito“ •  

 

  • Emittente televisiva: RTP
  • Processo di Selezione: Selezione Nazionale (Festival da Canção 1964–1969, 1971–1999, 2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2012, 2014–2015, 2017–2020) | Selezione Interna ()
  • Organizzazione concorso – Paese ospite: 1 (ESC Lisbon 2018)
  • Numero di partecipazioni: 51 (42 finali)
  • Lingue:  Inglese ()
  • Prima partecipazione: ESC Copenhagen 1964: António Calvário | Oração
  • Miglior piazzamento: Top 5: FI:  | SF: 
  • Miglior piazzamento Top 10: FI: 
  • Peggior piazzamento (Bottom): FI: | SF: 19th (SF): 2006
  • Average place: 13,44
  • Qualificazioni per la Finale: 5 su 14 (dal 2004)
  • Numero di vittorie: 1 (ESC Kyiv 2017: Salvador Sobral | Amar Pelos Dois)
  • Nul points (Nil points): FI:1964, 1997| SF: 

Portugal joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 when António Calvário performed his ballad ‘Oração’ (‘Prayer’) which finished in last place in Copenhagen.

This maritime nation held the record for the most Contest appearances without a victory (over 53 years) until Salvador Sobral lifted the trophy in 2017.

“Amar Pelos Dois” (‘To Love For The Both of Us’) won in spectacular style, topping both the jury and televote, and scoring a record-breaking 758 points in the process.

When Lisbon hosted the following year, broadcaster RTP went all out on showcasing their seafaring history, from the Contest’s slogan ‘All Aboard!’ to using twelve supplemental marine theme motifs including plankton and seaweed.

Portugal has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 55 times since its debut at the 1964 contest. Since then it has missed five contests (1970, 2000, 2002, 2013, and 2016). The current Portuguese participant broadcaster in the contest is Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), which select its entrant with the national selection Festival da Canção. Portugal won the contest for the first time in 2017 and hosted the 2018 contest in Lisbon.

Portugal finished last on its debut in 1964 and again in 1974, before achieving its best result of the 20th century in 1996, with “O meu coração não tem cor” performed by Lúcia Moniz finishing sixth. The country then finished last for the third time in 1997. Having not appeared in the final since 2010 and as holders of the record for most appearances in the contest without a win, Portugal won at the 49th attempt, when “Amar pelos dois” by Salvador Sobral won the 2017 contest, Portugal’s first top-five result in the contest. As hosts in 2018, the country finished last in the contest for a fourth time.

History

[edit]

Salvador Sobral (right) at a press conference following his win at the 2017 contest, with his sister Luísa (left)

Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) was a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It participated in the contest representing Portugal since its ninth edition in 1964. Since 2004, after a restructuring that led to the incorporation of RTP into the current Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), it is the latter who participates representing Portugal.

Portugal’s debut entry was “Oração” by António Calvário. It was not a successful debut for the country, with Calvário coming last in the contest. Since then, Portugal has come last on three further occasions, in 1974 with “E depois do adeus” by Paulo de Carvalho, in 1997 with “Antes do adeus” by Célia Lawson, and in 2018 as a host country. Despite its last-place finish in the contest, “E depois do adeus” gained notability for being used as the radio musical signal to begin the Carnation Revolution against the Estado Novo regime, being played at 22:55 on 24 April 1974.[1] Prior to its sixth-place finish for “O meu coração não tem cor” by Lúcia Moniz in 1996, Portugal’s best result in the contest was two seventh-place finishes, for Carlos Mendes in 1972 and José Cid in 1980. Despite prior poor results, the 1990s were the most successful decade for the country, with four recorded finishes in the top 10. Portugal was relegated in 2000 due to insufficient points accrued, and withdrew in 2002 due to financial difficulties (allowing Latvia, who ultimately won, to compete).

Since semi-finals were introduced in 2004, Portugal has failed to reach the final eight times, including from 2004 to 2007. In 2008, “Senhora do mar” by Vânia Fernandes finished 13th, Portugal’s best result since 1996. The country continued to be present in the final until 2010. In 2017, Portugal reached the finals with “Amar pelos dois” by Salvador Sobral, ending a 6-year non-appearance in the finals, as it did not participate in the contest in 2013 and 2016 and did not qualify for the finals in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, finally winning the contest for the first time ever, earning 758 points, setting the record for the highest number of points in the history of the competition, topping both the televoting and jury voting for the first time since Austria‘s “Rise Like a Phoenix” in 2014. It was the first winning song entirely performed in a country’s native language since Serbia‘s “Molitva” in 2007. As the host country in 2018, Portugal came last for the fourth time in the contest, and for the first time in a non-joint last position. This was the third instance of a host country placing in the bottom five since 2015. Following a non-qualification in 2019, Portugal recorded a 12th-place finish in 2021, a ninth-place finish in 2022, a 23rd-place finish in 2023, and a tenth-place finish in 2024.

Absences

[edit]

Portugal has been absent from five contests since their first participation. The country’s first absence was in 1970, where Portugal, along with four other countries, boycotted the contest due to the result of the previous year, when four countries were announced the winner.[2]

Portugal missed the 2000 contest due to their poor average results over the past five years. Despite being eligible to enter the 2002 contest, RTP declined to enter, and was replaced by eventual winner Latvia.[3]

The fourth absence was in 2013, when Portugal didn’t participate for financial reasons.[4]

The fifth absence was in 2016.[5] RTP stated that this break was needed in order to facilitate a content renewal for its national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Festival da Canção.[6]

Festival da Canção

[edit]

Main article: Festival da Canção

Festival da Canção (sometimes referred to as “Festival RTP da Canção”) is the Portuguese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, organized by RTP, and is normally held between February and March of the year of the contest. It is one of the longest-running Eurovision selection methods. Previously a number of regional juries selected the winner, however, the winner has been selected through televoting in recent years. In 2009, 2010 and since 2017, a 50/50 system between regional juries and televoting has been used.

In the years when Portugal does not participate in the contest, Festival da Canção was not held, except in two occasions: in 1970, when Portugal boycotted the contest, and in 2000, when the country was relegated.

Participation overview

[edit]

Table key
1 First place
2 Second place
◁ Last place
X Entry selected but did not compete
† Upcoming event

Note: Edizione | # | Artista (i) | Canzone [Musica (m) / Texto (t)] | Lingua (Traduzione) | Punteggio | Posizione | Processo di Selezione

NOTES:

  1. a Performance contains uncredited live vocals from Isaura
  2. b^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. c^ Voted by commentators.
  4. d^ All conductors are of Portuguese nationality unless otherwise noted.

Photo gallery

Hostings

[edit]

Year Location Venue Presenters Image
2018 Lisbon Altice Arena Catarina Furtado, Daniela Ruah, Filomena Cautela and Sílvia Alberto

Awards

[edit]

Marcel Bezençon Awards

[edit]

Further information: Marcel Bezençon Awards
Year Category Song Composer Performer Final Points Host city Ref.
2008 Press Award “Senhora do mar (negras águas)“ Andrej Babić, Carlos Coelho Vânia Fernandes 13 69 Serbia Belgrade
[8]
2017 Artistic Award[c] “Amar pelos dois“ Luísa Sobral Salvador Sobral 1 758 Ukraine Kyiv
[9]
Composer Award
[9]

Barbara Dex Award

[edit]

Further information: Barbara Dex Award
Year Performer Host city Ref.
2006 Nonstop Greece Athens
[10]
2019 Conan Osiris Israel Tel Aviv
[11]

[edit]

Conductors

[edit]

Year Conductor[d] Notes Ref.
1964 Denmark Kai Mortensen [12]
1965 Fernando de Carvalho
1966 Jorge Costa Pinto
1967 Armando Tavares Belo
1968 Joaquim Luis Gomes
1969 Ferrer Trindade
1971 Jorge Costa Pinto [13]
1972 United Kingdom Richard Hill
1973 Jorge Costa Pinto
1974 Jose Calvario
1975 Pedro Osorio
1976 Germany Thilo Krasmann
1977 Jose Calvario
1978 Germany Thilo Krasmann
1979
1980 Jorge Machado [14]
1981 Shegundo Galarza
1982 Luis Duarte
1983 United Kingdom Mike Sergeant
1984 Pedro Osorio
1985 Jose Calvario
1986 United Kingdom Colin Frechter
1987 Jaime Oliveira
1988 Jose Calvario
1989 Luis Duarte
1990 Carlos Alberto Moniz
1991 Fernando Correia Martins
1992 Carlos Alberto Moniz
1993 Armindo Neves
1994 Germany Thilo Krasmann
1995
1996 Pedro Osorio
1997 Germany Thilo Krasmann
1998 United Kingdom Mike Sergeant

Additionally, there was an orchestra present at the Portuguese national final in 1999 and 2001, where the winning entries were conducted by José Marinho and Rui Filipe Reis, respectively.

Commentators and spokespersons

[edit]

Year Television commentator Radio commentator Spokesperson Ref.
1963 Federico Gallo Unknown Did not participate
1964 Gomes Ferreira Maria Manuela Furtado
1965
1966 Fialho Gouveia
1967
1968
1969 Henrique Mendes
1970 Did not participate
1971 No spokesperson
1972 Amadeu Meireles
1973 Artur Agostinho
1974 Unknown Henrique Mendes
1975 Júlio Isidro Amadeu Meireles Ana Zanatti
1976 Unknown
1977 José Côrte-Real
1978 Eládio Clímaco Isabel Wolmar
1979 Fialho Gouveia Unknown João Abel da Fonseca
1980 Isabel Wolmar Teresa Cruz
1981 Eládio Clímaco Margarida Andrade
1982 Fialho Gouveia
1983 Eládio Clímaco João Abel Fonseca
1984 Fialho Gouveia Eládio Clímaco
1985 Eládio Clímaco Maria Margarida Gaspar
1986 Fialho Gouveia Fialho Gouveia Margarida Andrade
1987 Maria Margarida Gaspar Unknown Ana Zanatti
1988 Margarida Andrade Maria Margarida Gaspar
1989 Ana Zanatti Margarida Andrade
1990 Ana do Carmo João Abel Fonseca
1991 Maria Margarida Gaspar
1992 Eládio Clímaco Ana Zanatti
1993 Isabel Bahia Margarida Mercês de Mello
1994 Eládio Clímaco Isabel Bahia
1995 Ana do Carmo Serenella Andrade
1996 Maria Margarida Gaspar Cristina Rocha
1997 Carlos Ribeiro
1998 Rui Unas Lúcia Moniz
1999 João David Nunes Manuel Luís Goucha
2000 Eládio Clímaco Unknown Did not participate
2001 Margarida Mercês de Mello
2002 Did not participate
2003 Margarida Mercês de Mello Helena Ramos
2004 Eládio Clímaco Isabel Angelino
2005
2006 Cristina Alves
2007 Isabel Angelino, Jorge Gabriel Francisco Mendes
2008 Teresa Villa-Lobos
2009 Hélder Reis No radio broadcast Helena Coelho
2010 Sérgio Mateus Ana Galvão
2011 Sílvia Alberto Joana Teles
2012 Pedro Granger
2013 Sílvia Alberto Did not participate
2014 Joana Teles
2015 Hélder Reis, Ramon Galarza Suzy
2016 Hélder Reis, Nuno Galopim (final) Did not participate
2017 José Carlos Malato, Nuno Galopim Filomena Cautela
[15][16]
2018 Hélder Reis, Nuno Galopim Noémia Gonçalves, António Macedo, Tozé Brito Pedro Fernandes
2019 José Carlos Malato, Nuno Galopim Unknown Inês Lopes Gonçalves
[17]
2021 Elisa Silva
2022 Nuno Galopim Pedro Tatanka
2023 José Carlos Malato, Nuno Galopim Maro
[18]
2024 No radio broadcast Mimicat
[19][20]

Portugal’s average distribution of the given points (2010-2015)

# 2010 2010 SF1 2011 2011 SF1 2012 2012 SF2 2014 2014 SF1 2015 2015 SF2 Total Partici-
pations		 Average
1 Spain 12 X 12 X 12 X X 3 X 39 5 7,80
2 Netherlands X X X X X 10 12 X X 22 3 7,33
3 Sweden X X X 3 10 8 8 8 12 49 7 7,00
4 Bulgaria X X X X X 6 X X X X 6 1 6,00
5 Italy X X 10 X 2 X X 12 X 24 4 6,00
6 Israel X X X X X X X 7 10 17 3 5,67
7 Belgium 5 12 X X X X X 5 X 22 4 5,50
8 Moldova 6 8 5 X 6 X X X X 25 5 5,00
9 Slovakia X 5 X X X 4 X X X X 9 2 4,50
10 Greece 8 10 12 X X X 30 7 4,29
11 Estonia X 4 X 7 12 X 1 X 24 6 4,00
12 Austria X X X X X 12 X X 12 3 4,00
13 Russia 2 1 3 8 X 2 5 10 X 31 8 3,88
14 Romania 10 X X 4 X 1 X 4 X 19 5 3,80
15 Norway 3 X X 2 3 3 X 6 8 25 7 3,57
16 Latvia X X X X X X 3 2 7 12 4 3,00
17 Switzerland X X 5 X X 7 X X 12 4 3,00
18 Ukraine X 7 X 1 2 7 X X 17 6 2,83
19 Montenegro X X X X X X 6 5 11 4 2,75
20 Hungary X X X 6 10 X 16 6 2,67
21 Iceland 6 4 10 X 1 X 21 8 2,63
22 Azerbaijan X 8 7 X 2 3 20 8 2,50
23 Serbia 2 1 5 8 X X X 16 7 2,29
24 Denmark 4 X X X 5 X X X 9 4 2,25
25 Germany 1 X X 10 X X X 11 5 2,20
26 Lithuania X X 6 7 X X 13 6 2,17
27 Finland X 8 X X X X X 8 4 2,00
28 France 7 X 2 X X X X 9 5 1,80
29 Belarus 7 X X X X X X 7 4 1,75
30 Armenia X X X X 4 4 X 8 5 1,60
31 Ireland X 6 X X X X X 6 4 1,50
32 Cyprus X X X X X X 6 6 4 1,50
33 Czech Republic X X X X X X X X X 1 1 1 1,00
34 Bosnia & Herzegovina X 5 X X X X 5 5 1,00
35 Slovenia X X 1 X X X 4 5 5 1,00
36 Albania X 4 X X X 4 6 0,67
37 United Kingdom X 3 X X X X 3 5 0,60
38 Malta X 3 X X X 3 6 0,50
39 Poland X X X X X 2 2 5 0,40
40 Georgia X X 1 X X X 1 5 0,20

Portugal’s average distribution of the received points (2010-2015)

# Country 2010 2010 SF1 2011 2011 SF1 2012 2012 SF2 2014 2014 SF1 2015 2015 SF2 Total Partici-
pations		 Average
1 ES Spain 12 8 X 8 X X 16 6 2,67
2 FR France 8 X 8 5 X X 13 6 2,17
3 SK Slovakia 4 X 5 X X X X X 5 3 1,67
4 CH Switzerland X 4 X X 6 X 10 6 1,67
5 ME Montenegro X X X X 3 4 X 7 5 1,40
6 NL Netherlands X X 6 2 X X 8 6 1,33
7 BA Bosnia & Herzegovina 3 X 4 X X X X X 4 3 1,33
8 BE Belgium 4 X X 6 X X 6 5 1,20
9 SI Slovenia X X 3 X 4 X 7 6 1,17
10 AL Albania 5 4 X 1 X X 5 6 0,83
11 HR Croatia X 3 X X X X X 3 4 0,75
12 NO Norway X 5 X X 5 7 0,71
13 DE Germany 10 X 3 X 1 X 4 6 0,67
14 AM Armenia X X X 3 X X 3 5 0,60
15 DK Denmark X X X 3 X X 3 5 0,60
16 MD Moldova 5 X X 3 X X 3 5 0,60
17 GB United Kingdom X 3 X 1 X 4 7 0,57
18 SE Sweden X X 4 X 4 7 0,57
19 AZ Azerbaijan X X 1 3 X 4 7 0,57
20 GE Georgia X 2 X X X 2 6 0,33
21 TR Turkey X 1 X X X X X 1 4 0,25
22 GR Greece 1 X X X X 1 5 0,20
23 LT Lithuania X 1 X X 1 7 0,14

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