Vasco Palmeirim, Filomena Cautela, Catarina Maia and Alexandre Guimarães
Since RTP adopted its current format, never has a final had so few viewers. 13 programs were ahead.
Another year, another edition of Song Festival. This time the trophy went to Alentejo, to the group Bandidos do Cante.
The final was held in Lisbon, last Saturday, once again taking advantage of RTP’s anniversary, which turned 69 on March 7th.
But this year’s event did not convince viewersjudging by the audiences: 409 thousand people saw the event through RTP.
And the lowest number in audiences since RTP assumed its current format – in 2017, when Salvador Sobral won.
Compared to last year, this is a drop of 41 thousand viewers (which had already been the lowest number up until then).
Indeed, since the 2020 Song Festival, audiences have always droppedyear after year – in 2020, 800 thousand viewers watched the final of the event; it is practically double the current numbers.
Returning to this year’s edition, and with a share of just 10.4%, the final was less viewed than the second semi-finala week earlier – which had registered 412 thousand viewers.
The final of the 2026 Song Festival was just the 14th most watched television program in Portugal last Saturday, points out .
