Portuguese broadcaster RTP has announced the 20 composers behind the songs competing in next year’s edition of Festival da Canção.
14 Invited, 6 Applicants
RTP have kept the same 14:6 ratio of composers who were personally invited to those who applied through the open submissions form, making for a total of 20 entrants, who can now choose either to perform the songs themselves, as all 20 of the composers did last year, or hand it over to a different performer, such as when Luísa Sobral invited her brother Salvador to sing Amar Pelos Dois.
The Composers
The 20 composers behind the songs in Festival da Canção 2025 are as follows:
| Composer | Source |
| A Cantadeira | Invited by RTP |
| Beato | Invited by RTP |
| Bluay | Invited by RTP |
| Bombazine | Invited by RTP |
| Emmy Curl | Invited by RTP |
| EU.CLIDES | Invited by RTP |
| Fernando Daniel | Invited by RTP |
| Jéssica Pina | Invited by RTP |
| Luca Argel | Invited by RTP |
| Marco Rodrigues | Invited by RTP |
| Margarida Campelo | Invited by RTP |
| Os Napa | Invited by RTP |
| Peculiar | Invited by RTP |
| Tiago Sampaio | Invited by RTP |
| Capital da Bulgária | Open Submission |
| Diana Vilarinho | Open Submission |
| HENKA | Open Submission |
| Inês Marques Lucas | Open Submission |
| JOSH | Open Submission |
| Xico Gaiato | Open Submission |
What is Festival da Canção?
Festival da Canção is a Portuguese music festival held every year. Artists apply, but they also get invited to take part in the festival by the broadcaster RTP. Festival da Canção selects the Portuguese representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.
This national final is one of the oldest national finals and has been going for 57 years. The first edition of Festival da Canção was all the way back in 1964. The festival was held in 1970 and 2000 despite the country not taking part in the contest, first due to a boycott, and then in 2000 due to be relegated from the contest.
Portugal’s Eurovision Journey
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest with António Calvário’s “Oração” in 1964. Since then, Portugal has participated in the competition 55 times – appearing the final 46 times. Their only win in the competition came in 2017 with Salvador Sobral, performing his heart-wrenching song “Amar Pelos Dois”.
Portugal’s most recent participation was with iolanda and the song “Grito”. iolanda managed to qualify for the Grand Final and once there, she finished in 10th place. She received a total of 152 points, of which 139 points came from the jury and 13 points came the televote.
What do you think of the 20 names? Do you think Portugal can keep up their qualification streak? As always let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Tumblr, Threads and Bluesky as we turn our attention to Eurovision 2025!
News Source – RTP
Photo Credit – RTP
Giwrgos Oiko 
Samantha