Portugal
The basics Full country name Portuguese Republic Capital Lisbon Facts First participation 1964 (António Calvário) Victories 2017 (Salvador Sobral) Hosts Lisbon 2018
Portugal joined the Eurovision family in 1964 and held the record for the most appearances in the Eurovision Song Contest without a win until 2017 when Salvador Sobral lifted the trophy in Kyiv.
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, (RTP), is responsible for organising the Portuguese Eurovision Song Contest and uses Festival da Canção as its national selection. Over the years the format has changed to include semi-finals as well as different voting combinations.
Portugual is the most westerly country in mainland Europe and has only missed five contests since joining Eurovision; 1970, 2000, 2002, 2013 and 2016. In 2008 Portugal won the Marcel Bezençon Press Award with Vânia Fernandes and the song Senhora do mar (Negras águas). In 2017 Salvador Sobral won the Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award and the Marcel Bezençon Composer Award with his song Amar Pelos Dois.
The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon following Salvador Sobral's victory in the 2017 competition.
