Both the jury and the public televote have selected the first six finalists who have secured their ticket to the grand final on March 8.
Portugal is once again embracing the excitement of selecting its next Eurovision 2025 representative, with the national selection process, Festival da Canção 2025, unfolding over three weeks. The winner will go on to represent the country in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15, and 17.
The first semifinal took place on Saturday, February 22, at 22:00 CET in the RTP (Radio and Television of Portugal) studios, the venue that continues to host the event as in previous editions. The show was hosted by Jorge Gabriel and José Carlos Malato, while the green room was led by Alexandre Mesquita Guimarães, Catarina Maia, and Wandson.
The top five finalists, determined equally by the national jury and the televote, secured a direct spot in the final. The sixth finalist was chosen through a second round of televoting after the first five were announced.
Results of Festival da Canção 2025’s First Semifinal
The five finalists selected through the combined jury and televote were Jéssica Pina, JOSH, Marco Rodrigues, Bluay, and Margarida Campelo. The sixth finalist, chosen through the additional televote round, was Peculiar.
| Artist | Song | Phase I | Phase II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xico Gaiato | “Ai senhor!” | – | NQ |
| Rita Sampaio | “Voltas” | – | NQ |
| Du Nothin | “Sobre nós” | – | NQ |
| Marco Rodrigues | “A minha casa” | Q | – |
| Margarida Campelo | “Eu sei que o amor” | Q | – |
| Josh | “Tristeza” | Q | – |
| Capital da Bulgária | “Lisboa” | – | NQ |
| Bluay | “Ninguém” | Q | – |
| Jéssica Pina | “Calafrio” | Q | – |
| Peculiar | “Adamastor” | – | Q |
How Does Festival da Canção 2025’s Voting System Work?
The voting system consists of 50% jury votes and 50% televotes. In both semifinals, the RTP-selected jury and the public jointly decide the top five finalists. The sixth finalist is chosen via a second televoting round.
Once the second semifinal concludes on March 2, the running order for the grand final will be revealed. Throughout the following week, phone lines will be open for the public to vote for their favorite. During the grand final, the winner will be determined using the same method as in the semifinals: 50% from the regional jury (representing Portugal’s five regions and the autonomous islands of Azores and Madeira) and 50% from the televote.
The National Jury: The First Stage of Voting
The national jury for both semifinals consists of seven members from the music industry:
- Fábia Rebordão (Portuguese singer)
- Iolanda (Portuguese singer and Festival da Canção 2024 winner)
- Kady (Portuguese singer)
- Margarida Pinto Correia (actress, presenter, and journalist)
- Martim Sousa Tavares (music director)
- Miguel Ribeiro (Portuguese screenwriter)
- Tiago Nacarato (Portuguese singer)
Portugal at Eurovision: Quality Over Quantity
Portugal never fails to make an impact at Eurovision, consistently prioritizing musical excellence. The country’s sole victory came in 2017 with Salvador Sobral’s “Amar Pelos Dois,” which earned a record-breaking 758 points combined from the jury and televote. However, after this historic win, Portugal has struggled to maintain the same level of success, failing to reach the final in 2019 with Conan Osíris’ “Telemóveis.”
Portugal’s most recent representative, Iolanda, made waves in Mälmo with “Grito,” securing a spot in the final and achieving a Top 10 placement at Eurovision 2024. Similarly, Maro’s “Saudade, Saudade” reached the final in Turin 2022, but both artists faced televoting challenges, ultimately finishing in 10th place. Iolanda received 139 points from the jury but only 13 points from the televote. Will Portugal’s next representative in Basel follow the same formula or break new ground?