The Croatian band Bandidos do Cante advances to the Eurovision semifinals

Bandidos do Cante consists of five musicians from Portugal: Miguel Costa, Duarte Farias, Francisco Raposo, Luís Aleixo, and Francisco Pestana. The group formed not long ago but has already become very popular at home.

Their main feature is the combination of modern pop sounds with Cante Alentejano. This is a traditional singing style from the Alentejo region, which is included in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

It is this folk singing that forms the foundation of the band’s music. But Bandidos do Cante don’t make “old-fashioned” folk music. They blend tradition with modern beats, electronic elements, and pop arrangements.

The band’s real breakthrough came after the release of their debut song, “Amigos Coloridos.” The track quickly made its way into rotation on Portuguese radio stations and became one of the most popular in the country. After that, people began talking about the band far beyond Portugal’s borders. They started getting invited to major festivals and concerts, and their monthly streaming audience exceeded 200,000.

In January 2026, the band released their first album, Bairro das Flores. The musicians say it is a very personal work in which they wanted to showcase modern Portugal through traditional music. “We don’t want to copy the past. We want to breathe new life into it,” the band members said in an interview.

Some fans of traditional Cante Alentejano believe the musicians have “modernized” folk singing too much. There have even been discussions on social media about whether the genre is losing its authenticity due to pop music and electronic elements. Some critics have claimed that the band is creating a “commercial version” of folk culture.

The musicians themselves respond to this calmly. They say that this is exactly how the younger generation can rediscover traditional Portuguese music. “If young people start listening to folk singing because of us—then we’re doing everything right,” said one of the band members.

The band also enjoys strong support from young listeners. Their performances often go viral on TikTok, and their concert videos quickly rack up views.

At Eurovision 2026, Portugal is banking not on a flashy show or special effects, but on atmosphere and emotion. According to fans of the contest, this is exactly what makes Bandidos do Cante one of the most unusual acts of the season. The band promises a performance full of raw energy, ethnic motifs, and powerful vocals. At the same time, the staging will remain modern, without any “museum-style” folklore.

Today, Bandidos do Cante will perform in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 as the fifth act. A total of 15 participants will take the stage this evening to compete for a spot in the contest’s grand final.

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