Portugal was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "O meu coração não tem cor" composed by Pedro Osório, with lyrics by José Fanha, and performed by Lúcia Moniz. The Portuguese participating broadcaster, Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP), organised the national final Festival RTP da Canção 1996 in order to select its entry for the 1996 contest in Oslo, Norway. The competition took place on 7 March 1996 where "O meu coração não tem cor" performed by Lúcia Moniz emerged as the winner following the votes from ten regional juries. The song competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 18 May 1996. Performing during the show in position 4, it placed sixth out of the 23 participating songs from different countries, scoring 92 points.

Background

Prior to the 1996 contest, Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Portugal thirty-one times since its first entry in. Its highest placing in the contest was seventh, which they achieved on two occasions: in with the song "A festa da vida" performed by Carlos Mendes and in with the song "Um grande, grande amor" performed by José Cid. Its least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on two occasions, most recently in with the song "E depois do adeus" performed by Paulo de Carvalho. The Portuguese entry has also received nul points once, in 1964 with the song "Oração" performed by António Calvário. RTP has traditionally selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest via the music competition Festival da Canção, with an exception in when it selected its entry internally. The broadcaster organized Festival RTP da Canção 1996 in order to select the 1996 Portuguese entry.

Before Eurovision

Festival RTP da Canção 1996

Festival RTP da Canção 1996 was the 33rd edition of Festival da Canção that selected the Portuguese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Ten entries, created by composers invited by RTP for the competition, competed in the final which took place at the Teatro Politeama in Lisbon on 7 March 1996, hosted by Carlos Cruz and Isabel Angelino and broadcast on RTP1 and RTP Internacional at 20:30 GMT. The winner, "O meu coração não tem cor" performed by Lúcia Moniz, was selected based on the votes of ten regional juries. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, among the artists which performed as the interval act included Portuguese Eurovision 1993 entrant Anabela.

At Eurovision

In 1996, all nations with the exceptions of the host country were required to qualify from an audio qualifying round, held on 20 and 21 March 1996, in order to compete for the Eurovision Song Contest; the top twenty-two countries from the qualifying round progress to the contest. During the allocation draw which determined the running order of the final on 22 March 1996, Portugal was announced as having finished in the top 22 and subsequently qualifying for the contest. It was later revealed that Portugal placed eighteenth in the qualifying round, receiving a total of 32 points. Following the draw, Portugal was set to perform in position 4, following the entry from Spain and before the entry from Cyprus. The Portuguese conductor at the contest was the co-composer of "O meu coração não tem cor" Pedro Osório, and Portugal finished in sixth place with 92 points. This was Portugal's best placing at the contest in its history until Salvador Sobral's victory 21 years later. In Portugal, the show was broadcast on RTP1 and RTP Internacional with commentary by Maria Margarida Gaspar. The Portuguese spokesperson, who announced the top 12-point score awarded by the Portuguese jury, was Cristina Rocha.

Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Portugal and awarded by Portugal in the qualifying round and the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to the Netherlands in the qualifying round and to the United Kingdom in the contest.

Qualifying round

Final