This Saturday, RTP will broadcast the first semi-final of Festival da Canção 2024. In some previous weeks on their Instagram, the Portuguese broadcaster has revealed all of the guests who will be making their appearance at Festival da Canção 2024. Today they have revealed the judges of the semi-finals of the show.

First edition of FdC took place in 1964, exactly 60 years ago. The show featured six artists performing two songs each and António Calvário won singing “Oração” so he became first Portuguese representative at the Eurovision Song Contest. In order to mark that celebration RTP will include a number of special artists who took part at previous editions of Festival da Canção either as hosts or contestants or won the show. The festival will mark its 56 edition this year and out of those selections only two years (1970 and 2000) Portugal wasn’t taking part at Eurovision so the winner of Festival da Canção 2024 will become their 54th representative at the Eurovision Song Contest. Portugal didn’t take part at the contest in 2002, 2013 and 2016 while for their entries in 1988 and 2005 they went with the internal selection.

The guests are as follows:

• António Calvário – Portuguese representative at their debut, Eurovision 1964;
• Simone de Oliveira – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1965 and 1969;
• Paulo de Carvalho – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1974 as a soloist and at 1977 as part of the group Os Amigos at Eurovision 1977. His entry “E depois do adeus” was one of the songs used during the beginning of the Carnation Revolution in Portugal;
• Anabela – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1993. Her entry “A cidade (até ser dia)” was co-written by Paulo de Carvalho;
• Tó Cruz – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1995;
• Adelaide Ferreira – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1995;
• Inês Santos – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 1998 as part of Alma Lusa;
• Rita Guerra – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2003;
• Rui Drumond – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2005;
• Vânia Fernandes – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2008;
• Filipa Sousa – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2012;
• Suzy – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2014;
• Isaura – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2018 with Cláudia Pascoal;
• Elisa – Portuguese representative for the cancelled Eurovision 2020;
• The Black Mamba – Portuguese representatives at Eurovision 2021;
• Mimicat – Portuguese representative at Eurovision 2023;
• Helena Isabel – Participant of Festival da Canção 1974 and 1983;
• Isabel Campelo – Participant of four editions of Festival da Canção;
• Herman José – Participant of Festival da Canção 1984 and host of FdC 1977 and 1995;
• Tozé Brito – Participant of 11 editions with 19 songs for Festival da Canção since 1978;
• Jorge Fernando – Participant of three editions of Festival da Canção;
• Delfins – Participants of Festival da Canção 1985;
• Milhanas – Participants of Festival da Canção 2022;
• Eládio Clímaco – host of Festival da Canção for 10 years since 1976;
• Margarida Mercês de Mello – host of Festival da Canção 1985 & 1993;
• António Vitorino D’Almeida –host of Festival da Canção 1989;
• Júlio Isidro – host of Festival da Canção 1991 and he hosted the show three more times;
• Sofia Morais –  host of Festival da Canção 1995;
• Ana Paula Reis – host of Festival da Canção 1991 and  1994;
• Manuel Luís Goucha – host of Festival da Canção 1999;
• Helena Coelho – host of Festival da Canção 2006;
• Sílvia Alberto – host of Festival da Canção seven times;
• José Nuno Martins – host of Festival da Canção  1975;
• António Sala – host of Festival da Canção 1993 and 1997;
• Pedro Granger – host of Festival da Canção 2012 and commentator of Eurovision 2012;
• Pedro Fernandes – host of Festival da Canção 2018;
• Isabel Angelino – presenter of Festival da Canção;
• José Carlos Malato – presenter of Festival da Canção;
• Tânia Ribas de Oliveira –presenter of Festival da Canção;
•  Sónia Araújo – presenter of Festival da Canção;
• Jorge Gabriel – presenter of Festival da Canção;
• Catarina Furtado – one of the hosts of Eurovision 2018 and presenter of Festival da Canção;
• Alex D’Alva Teixeira – singer;
• Luca Argel – Singer/songwriter from Brazil;
• Selma Uamusse – a Mozambican soul and gospel singer;
• Ana Lua Caiano – a music composer and audiovisual artist.

Judges of the semi-finals of Festival da Canção:

• Gisela João (Fado singer);
• Benjamim (Singer-songwriter);
• Lia Pereira (Journalist);
• Miguel Esteves Cardoso (Writer, translator, critic and journalist);
• Lura (Singer);
• Pedro Oliveira (Musician);
• Mimicat (Winner of Festival da Canção 2023)

 

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This years edition of Festival da Canção will feature 20 songs in two semi-finals scheduled for 24th of February and 2nd of March. Out of those songs which six songs per semi-final will qualify to the Grand Final of the show which is set to take place on 9th of March. You can listen to the competing entries below