Category: Portugal

 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After 13 contestants in Portugal’s "Festival da Canção" threatened a boycott over Israel’s participation, Bandidos do Cante say they want to represent Portugal at Eurovision 2026 and remind everyone – music comes first. For the first time since the contestants for Portugal’s Festival da Canção were announced, one competing act has declared that it will not boycott Eurovision 2026. The group Bandidos do Cante are the first - and so far the only - contestants to state openly: If we win, we will represent Portugal on the Eurovision stage in Vienna, Austria. The band’s statement comes after 13 other contestants in the competition announced that they would boycott Eurovision in protest of Israel’s participation. Within this charged climate, the members of Bandidos do Cante choose a different path – conciliatory, unifying, and above all optimistic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Believe in the power of songs to bring people together” Bandidos do Cante are made up of five childhood friends from...

 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The drama at Festival da Canção continues: Dinis Mota joins the artists’ revolt and declares he will refuse to represent Portugal at Eurovision following the decision to allow Israel to take part in Eurovision 2026. Will the revolt affect Portugal’s selection process? Two days ago (Tuesday), the artist Dinis Mota, who is competing in Festival da Canção 2026, announced on social media that he will not represent Portugal at the upcoming contest in Vienna, Austria if he wins the festival, following the decision that Israel will take part in Eurovision 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “I Can't Ignore the Injustices Being Committed in Gaza” In a post on his Instagram page, the artist stated that he will not represent Portugal if he wins the festival, because he feels that he “Cannot continue to go about daily life as usual in light of Israel’s fighting in Gaza”. “As a citizen, a musician and a human being, I cannot ignore the injustices being committed in...

 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Portugal's RTP confirms Eurovision 2026 participation despite a massive artist boycott at Festival da Canção. Learn the latest on the controversial selection  Portugal's national broadcaster, RTP, confirmed participation in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, despite a protest from 11 of the 16 national pre-selection artists. The national broadcaster's statement is as follows: “Regardless of the decision of the artists who signed the declaration, the contents of which we understand, RTP will once again organize Festival da Canção and confirms its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, along with the overwhelming majority of EBU member countries”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The statement from the national broadcaster, RTP, comes in the wake of a declaration signed by 11 of the national pre-selection participants. “Silence Makes Us Complicit in Tragedy” The declaration reads: “Collectively, in a coordinated position among current and future creators and performers, we declare our refusal to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should the song of one of us win...

 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); An unprecedented number of contestants in "Festival da Canção" declare they will refuse to represent the country if they win, protesting Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. During the past weekend, Portugal’s national broadcaster RTP announced that it had voted in favor of the new contest regulations and supported Israel’s participation during the General Assembly of the EBU. The broadcaster has since faced internal backlash from its employees over this decision. Now, 11 out of 16 songwriters participating in the Portuguese Eurovision preselection “Festival da Canção 2026” have jointly declared that they will refuse to represent Portugal at Eurovision following the decision that Israel will take part in Eurovision 2026. This stance was made possible by a newly added clause in the festival’s regulations stipulating that the local winner is not obligated to represent Portugal at Eurovision - a contrast to previous years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In their joint statement, the eleven participating artists expressed unusually strong criticism of Israel, saying...

 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Portugal’s national broadcaster faces internal protests after supporting Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, amid growing European calls for boycotts Over recent months, numerous voices in Portugal urged the country not to support Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. Contestants in the Portuguese national selection announced they would withdraw if Israel took part, and Spain openly called on Portugal to join its stance. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); However, during Thursday’s conference, Portugal voted in favor of the new regulations and Israel’s continued participation in the competition. Internal Backlash at RTP Following the decision, Portugal’s national broadcaster RTP now faces growing internal conflict. According to local reports, several employees have expressed strong opposition to the network’s stance and to the decision not to withdraw from the contest under the current circumstances. The employees argue that Eurovision is entering one of the most polarized and controversial seasons in its history. They urge RTP’s management to reconsider its support and align with Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and...