EXCLUSIVE - Portugal Quietly Confirms Eurovision 2026 Participation After EBU Rule Shake-Up

Portugal will be in Vienna after all. According to information obtained by The Portugal Post, Portugal’s public broadcaster RTP has internally approved the country’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, ending months of uncertainty following September’s boycott rumours regarding Israel’s place in the competition.

People familiar with the matter say RTP has already signaled its decision to the European Broadcasting Union. The move comes after sweeping voting reforms announced by the EBU and after the relative easing of regional tensions following the autumn ceasefire in Gaza.

From Boycott Talk to Quiet Participation

In September, Portugal was unexpectedly pulled into the political storm surrounding Eurovision.

When Spain’s broadcaster publicly linked its participation to Israel’s status, some reports suggested Portugal would join a coordinated withdrawal alongside several other Western European countries. RTP quickly denied these claims, calling the foreign reporting “false” and noting that no official position had been communicated to any broadcaster.

Still, RTP confirmed that it would meet with the EBU at the end of September to discuss concerns around Israel’s potential participation. At the time, the broadcaster insisted it would state its final stance “in due course.”

Sources now say that once the EBU’s reforms were finalized, Portugal’s internal debate ended as well.

Why the EBU’s Changes Mattered in Lisbon

The EBU’s announcement of significant voting reforms for Eurovision 2026 reshaped the conversation inside Portugal.

The changes include a reduction in the maximum number of public votes from 20 to 10, a move designed to curb bloc voting and encourage audiences to distribute their support more fairly.

Professional juries will return to the Semi-Finals, restoring a roughly 50/50 balance between jury and televote. Juries will also expand in size and diversity, including mandatory representation for younger jurors between 18 and 25. All jurors must sign formal independence declarations, addressing long-standing concerns about political coordination and fairness.

The EBU is also implementing tougher rules on third-party promotion, explicitly discouraging involvement by governments or politically motivated groups, and significantly enhancing safeguards against organized or fraudulent voting patterns. For Portugal, these measures were critical.

The Ceasefire Effect

The timing of the ceasefire in Gaza also played a role. While the situation remains unstable, its announcement reduced both political pressure and public expectation that broadcasters should take a protest stance.

In Portugal, parts of the left-wing political spectrum had become vocal supporters of a boycott. The combination of the ceasefire and the EBU’s reforms now enables those groups to claim their pressure achieved tangible results, while allowing RTP and the government to avoid a diplomatic collision with other European partners.

What Comes Next

Portugal is now effectively on track to appear in Vienna. Festival da Canção will proceed as planned, operating under the updated rule stating that its winner is not obligated to represent Portugal at Eurovision, preserving the festival’s independence regardless of geopolitical developments.

The EBU’s General Assembly in early December will serve as the first major test of the new reforms, as Member broadcasters assess whether these measures adequately address their concerns ahead of final confirmation of participants.

Some countries that previously threatened to withdraw have not yet formally changed their positions, and debates surrounding Israel’s eligibility are expected to continue.

But for Portugal, the matter seems settled. Assuming no unexpected reversal, Lisbon will once again take its place on the Eurovision stage next May — hoping that, this time, attention will shift back to the music rather than the politics that have overshadowed the contest for the past year.

Portugal in the Eurovision

In the past decade, Portugal has experienced a notable rise in its Eurovision profile. After decades without a victory, the country finally won the contest in 2017 with Salvador Sobral’s “Amar pelos dois,” a performance widely regarded as one of the most artistically influential entries of the modern era. Since then, Portugal has delivered a series of strong, distinctive performances that have earned increasing respect from Eurovision fans and juries alike. Although not always finishing at the top, the country has consistently showcased its musical identity, solidifying its reputation as one of the contest’s most authentic and artistically driven participants.

Last year Napa, whose innovative style and growing international following have helped broaden the country’s musical identity. Blending modern pop elements with distinctly Portuguese influences, Napa represents a new generation of performers gaining traction both domestically and abroad. His presence in the industry further reinforces Portugal’s reputation for creativity and artistic originality on the Eurovision stage and beyond.