🇵🇹 Road to Basel: Portugal

Road to Basel: Portugal

Road to Basel: Portugal. As the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Portugal.

photo: EBU/Lucas Coelho

NAPA

NAPA is a Portuguese indie pop band originating from Madeira. The group comprises João Guilherme Gomes, João Lourenço Gomes, João Rodrigues, Diogo Góis, Francisco Sousa, and André Santos. Known for their harmonious melodies and introspective lyrics, NAPA has steadily gained recognition within Portugal’s vibrant music scene. Their unique blend of traditional Portuguese sounds with contemporary indie influences has endeared them to a growing fan base.

“Deslocado” (What does AI say?)

Their Eurovision entry, “Deslocado” (English: “Displaced”), is a heartfelt indie pop ballad that delves into themes of longing and the search for belonging. The song reflects the band’s personal experiences of moving from their native Madeira to mainland Portugal, encapsulating feelings of nostalgia and the quest for home. Upon its release on January 23, 2025, as part of the Festival da Canção 2025 compilation album, “Deslocado” resonated deeply with listeners, leading it to peak at number one on the Portuguese singles charts—a feat not achieved by a Portuguese Eurovision entry since 2017.

Festival da Canção 2025

Portugal selected its Eurovision 2025 representative through the esteemed national competition, Festival da Canção 2025. The 59th edition of this annual event featured two semi-finals on February 22 and March 1, culminating in the grand final on March 8, 2025. NAPA’s performance of “Deslocado” captivated both the jury and the public, securing their victory and the honor of representing Portugal in Basel. ​

Here are the full results:

  1. NAPA, “Deslocado
  2. Diana Vilarinho, “Cotovia
  3. Fernando Daniel, “Medo
  4. Henka, “I wanna destroy U
  5. Josh, “Tristeza
  6. Jéssica Pina, “Calafrio
  7. Bombazine, “Apago tudo
  8. Marco Rodrigues, “Minha casa
  9. Margarida Campelo, “Eu sei que o amor
  10. Peculiar, “Adamastor
  11. Emmy Curl, “Rapsódia da paz
  12. Bluay, “Ninguém
Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest

Portugal has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1964, achieving its first and only victory in 2017 with Salvador Sobral‘s “Amar pelos dois.” The country’s entries often showcase its rich musical heritage, blending traditional and contemporary styles. In recent years, Portugal has demonstrated a commitment to highlighting diverse musical genres and emerging artists through Festival da Canção.

A Random Portuguese Entry

Reflecting on Portugal’s Eurovision history, random.org chose the 1986 entry. Dora sang “Não sejas mão p’ra mim”. Dora didn’t dare to tell the press that her husband worked in a supermarket. Dora’s skirt was, to say the least, striking. Dora reached a 14th place and returned to Eurovision 2 years later.

​

Betting Odds

As of now, the betting odds are not too positive about NAPA’s “Deslocado”. They give it a 29th place in order to win the contest in Basel. For the results of semifinal 1, the song currently has a 14th place. It’s gonna be a tough job for Portugal. But a tough job doesn’t mean it’s impossible…​

We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing NAPA’s performance on the grand stage.

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It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. Belgium has officially joined the list of 2026 participants, and Israel intends to take part. The EBU shared a statement after recent discussions. Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark opened their national selection processes. Meanwhile, two Austrian cities exited the host city race, while two others moved forward with formal bids. Belgium Confirms, Israel Plans to Participate Belgium confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Broadcaster RTBF announced the decision and will later decide how it will choose its entry. The Flemish broadcaster VRT will not be in charge this time, following the usual alternation. source: escspot 📷 EBU/Sarah Bennett Israel also intends to take part. Public broadcaster KAN said preparations are underway for next year’s contest in Austria. Although discussions about Israel’s role in Eurovision have drawn attention recently, KAN made its stance clear. Israel joins over a dozen broadcasters that have already declared their intention to participate.  EBU Responds with Statement after Assembly The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) addressed recent concerns about Eurovision’s direction. During the General Assembly in London, members shared their views on the contest’s growing challenges in a complex global climate. The EBU released a statement afterward, recognizing that participation questions have become more sensitive and complicated. Broadcasters voiced many opinions and expressed support for KAN’s independence, especially under political pressure. To move forward, the EBU brought in a former senior television executive to lead a structured dialogue with its members. This process will include further discussions and a report with recommendations, expected in the autumn. Countries Start Their Search for 2026 Entries In this weekly update we also look at national selections. Several countries have now launched their search for Eurovision 2026 songs. Luxembourg opened its submission platform on 4 July. Songwriters and performers can submit entries online. The national final will take place on 24 January 2026 at the Rockhal Arena. source: RTL Austria also began preparing for next year. Broadcaster ORF opened submissions for artists and songwriters. The submission deadline is 15 September. Last month, ORF hosted a songwriting camp in Vienna. Artists and producers worked together, creating 18 new songs. Some of these songs could be selected internally to represent Austria. source: Merci,Cherie In Denmark, broadcaster DR opened submissions for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026. Composers can send in their songs until 2 November. A professional jury will select eight finalists. The national final is set for 14 February 2026 in Frederikshavn. The winner will represent Denmark at Eurovision 2026. source: DR 📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Vienna and Innsbruck Submit Host Bids The list of potential host cities is getting shorter. Wels and Linz, who planned a joint bid, decided not to move forward. Technical issues and high costs led them to withdraw. Their venue, the TipsArena, didn’t meet key Eurovision requirements. source: OTS At the same time, Vienna and Innsbruck submitted official bids to host the contest. Vienna proposed the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue it used in 2015. Innsbruck chose the Olympiaworld complex. Both cities confirmed their bids with detailed proposals. ORF, the Austrian broadcaster, will now review the applications. A decision on the 2026 host city is expected by 8 August. That’s all for this weekly update. Stay tuned for another weekly roundup next week as the road to Eurovision 2026 continues! Share

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