Portugal to select Junior Eurovision singer May 24

Portugal was set to select its singer for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Sunday, May 24, through the final of *The Voice Kids* on public broadcaster RTP, according to Eurovoix. Eight singers were due to compete in the televised final, with the winner earning the right to represent Portugal at this year’s contest in Malta. Eurovoix reported that the format would narrow the field to four acts in a second round before a final winner is chosen. RTP has used *The Voice Kids* as its Junior Eurovision selection method since 2021. ### Which show is deciding Portugal’s Junior Eurovision singer? *The Voice Kids* is the program Portugal is using to choose its 2026 Junior Eurovision act, Eurovoix reported in coverage of the season and its final. The broadcaster RTP began this year’s search with the first blind-audition episode on April 20, with coaches Nena, Miguel Cristovinho, Diogo Piçarra and Cuca Roseta returning for the new series. (eurovoix.com) Catarina Furtado returned as host, while Maria Petronilho served as digital presenter. Since 2025, Eurovoix said, Portugal has sent the outright winner of *The Voice Kids* to Junior Eurovision rather than selecting the highest-placed eligible singer. The show has been broadcast on RTP 1 and RTP Mundo on Sunday nights, according to the same report. ### How many singers were in the May 24 final? (eurovoix.com) Eight singers were set to compete in the May 24 final, Eurovoix reported in its preview of the show. An earlier Eurovoix report published on May 18 listed the finalists as Daniela Fontão, Madalena Chaves, Salvador Rio, Maria Luíza Pinheiro, Duarte Alves, Lara Ferreira, Vitória Fernandes and Ana Rita Torres. (eurovoix.com) The final was due to begin with all eight singers competing for four second-round places, Eurovoix said. One singer from each coach’s team would then advance to the last round, where one of the four would be chosen as the overall winner. ### What is at stake for the winner? (eurovoix.com) The winner of Sunday’s final will represent Portugal at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Malta, according to Eurovoix’s reporting on the Portuguese selection and the wider Junior Eurovision 2026 calendar. Eurovoix has separately reported that the 2026 Junior Eurovision contest is set to take place in October for logistical reasons. (eurovoix.com) Portugal has treated the contest as a regular part of its youth-music calendar in recent years. RTP’s archive page for Junior Eurovision programming also reflects the broadcaster’s continuing involvement in the event. ### How has Portugal performed at Junior Eurovision before? Portugal debuted in Junior Eurovision in 2006 in Bucharest, Eurovoix said in its background on the country’s participation. (eurovoix.com) The country placed second-last in 2006 and 2007, withdrew in 2008, and did not return until 2017. Mariana Venâncio represented Portugal on its return with “YouTuber” and finished 14th, according to Eurovoix. (media.rtp.pt) In 2024, Victoria Nicole delivered Portugal’s best result in the contest by finishing second, Eurovoix reported. In 2025, Inês Gonçalves represented Portugal with “Para onde vai o amor?” and finished 13th with 73 points. ### What happens after the singer is chosen? (eurovoix.com) May 24 is the immediate next step in Portugal’s Junior Eurovision cycle, with the winner of *The Voice Kids* taking the Portuguese spot for Malta 2026. Eurovoix’s reporting indicates the contest itself is scheduled for October, and the Portuguese representative selected on Sunday will move into preparations for that international event. (eurovoix.com 1) (eurovoix.com 2)