The participation of Portugal in the OTI Festival first began at the inaugural OTI Festival in 1972 which took place in Madrid.

Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP), member of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), was responsible for the Portuguese participation.

It participated in twenty-two editions and hosted the 1987 contest in Lisbon.

[1][2] Many of the names that took part in the OTI Festival for Portugal also represented the country in the Eurovision Song Contest, such as Anabela, Paulo de Carvalho, José Cid, Dora, Dulce Pontes, Adelaide Ferreira, Simone de Oliveira, and Tonicha.

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