Portugal was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 with the song "Não sejas mau para mim", written by Guilherme Inês, Zé Da Ponte, and Luís Manuel de Oliveira Fernandes, and performed by Dora.

Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) held the Festival RTP da Canção 1986 at its studios in Lisbon on 22 March 1986, hosted by Henrique Mendes and Maria Helena Fialho Gouveia, who hosted the very first Portuguese national final in 1964.

Mendes and Fialho Gouveia introduced and made light commentary on the songs, which were taped in advance for the television audience.

Each television region in Portugal (Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Porto, and Lisbon) submitted three songs for this year's Festival.

The winning entry was one of the songs from Lisbon, "Não sejas mau para mim", performed by Dora and composed by Guilherme Inês, Zé Da Ponte, and Luís Manuel de Oliveira Fernandes.