The Portuguese national final to select their entry, the Festival RTP da Canção 1979, was held on 24 February at the Cinema Monumental in Lisbon, and was hosted by José Fialho Gouveia and Manuela Moura Guedes.

Three semi-finals throughout the month of February narrowed the final selection from 27 eligible songs to nine; the top three winners in each of the three heats progressed to the final, which was broadcast nationwide. Twenty-two regional juries throughout Portugal, the Azores and the Madeira Islands picked the winner.

The winning entry was "Sobe, sobe, balão sobe," performed by Manuela Bravo and composed by Carlos Nóbrega e Sousa.

Manuela Bravo was the first performer on the night of the contest, preceding Italy. At the close of the voting the song had received 64 points, placing 9th in a field of 19 competing countries. It was the highest ranking Portugal had received since 1972.

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