Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

ESC National Year
Year = 1996
Country = POR
Preselection = Festival da Canção 1996
Preselection date = March 7 1996
Entrant = Lúcia Moniz
Song = "O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor"
Final result = 6th, 92 points

Portugal selected their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 through the annual Festival da Canção.

Festival da Canção 1996

Festival da Canção 1996 was held on 7 March 1996 and was hosted by Carlos Cruz and Isabel Angelino. The winner was selected through the votes of 10 regional juries of Portugal.

The winner was Lúcia Moniz with the song "O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor" (My Heart Has No Colour).

At Eurovision

Due to news rules implemented in this year, Moniz's was required to pass through a preliminary round of voting, to bring down the 30 countries that applied to participate to 23 for the contest. Portugal passed through this preliminary round.

On the night of the contest, Moniz performed 4th, following Spain and preceding Cyprus. Despite coming second in the voting at points of the contest, Moniz finished 6th with 92 points. However this was, and still is as of 2008, Portugal's best placing at the contest in its history.