RTP organised the national final Festival da Canção 2001 in order to select the Portuguese entry for the 2001 contest in Copenhagen, Denmark.

After five semi-finals and a final which took place between October 2000 and March 2001, "Só sei ser feliz assim" performed by MTM emerged as the winner after achieving the highest score following the combination of votes from 20 regional juries.

[1] Its highest placing in the contest was sixth, achieved in 1996 with the song "O meu coração não tem cor" performed by Lúcia Moniz.

Its least successful result has been last place, which it has achieved on three occasions, most recently in 1997 with the song "Antes do adeus" performed by Célia Lawson.

[5] Marisa Mena, who competed under the moniker Izamena, would later go on to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as Mimicat.

[9] The ten entries that qualified from the five preceding semi-finals competed and the winner, "Só sei ser feliz assim" performed by MTM, was selected based on the votes of 20 regional juries.