Portuguese broadcaster RTP has officially released the song “Alma”, to be performed by 12-year-old Salvador Rio at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Ta’ Qali.
About “Alma”
The song, whose title translates to “Soul”, is a soulful and intimate ballad with a very dynamic and contemporary chorus that allows Salvador to showcase his tender voice. Fully in Portuguese, it talks about inner strength and how music helps people express their feelings.
Salvador Rio was selected by RTP after winning the seventh season of ‘The Voice Kids Portugal,’ earning him the honour to represent his country at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Malta.
Junior Eurovision 2026 continues to take shape
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is due to take place at 21.00 CEST, on Saturday 24 October, live from the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali. Malta’s broadcaster PBS are hosting the contest for the third time, having done so previously in 2014 and 2016.
The full list of the 16 competing broadcasters is as follows:
- 🇦🇱 RTSH (Albania) – Eslin Kurti – “Kërce me mua”
- 🇦🇲 AMPTV (Armenia) – Naré – “BOO!”
- 🇨🇾 CyBC (Cyprus) – Harry Georgiou – “Who I Can Be”
- 🇫🇷 France Télévisions (France) – Alec – “Comment Tu Vas ?”
- 🇬🇪 GPB (Georgia) – Davit Lomidze – “Sun on the Rooftops”
- 🇮🇪 TG4 (Ireland)
- 🇮🇹 Rai (Italy) – Matteo – “Che cos’è l’amore?”
- 🇲🇹 PBS (Malta – host) – Beppe Caruana
- 🇲🇪 RTCG (Montenegro) – Mija Mujović – “Muzika Nas Spaja”
- 🇳🇱 AVROTROS (Netherlands) – Maria – “Stronger Together”
- 🇲🇰 MKRTV (North Macedonia) – Ana Stojanoska – “Idnata jas”
- 🇵🇱 TVP (Poland) – Wiktor Sas – “Gravity”
- 🇵🇹 RTP (Portugal) – Salvador Rio – “Alma”
- 🇸🇲 SMRTV (San Marino) – Violamarie
- 🇪🇸 RTVE (Spain) – Lucas Paulano – “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”
- 🇺🇦 Suspilne (Ukraine)
Portugal’s Junior Eurovision journey
Portugal first took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, with Pedro Madeira singing his song “Deixa-me sentir”. At the close of voting, Portugal finished 14th in a field of 15 participants with a total of 22 points. Portugal participated once more in 2007, before taking a 10 year break and returning to the Contest in 2017.
Portugal was represented by Inês Gonçalves with her song “Para onde vai o amor?” at the 2025 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Tbilisi, Georgia. At the close of voting, she finished in 13th place with a total of 73 points. Of this, 41 points came from the online vote while 32 came from the professional juries.
What do you think of “Alma”? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Junior Eurovision 2026!
News Source: Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Photo Credit: RTP