{"id":410203,"date":"2025-09-09T10:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410203\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T10:35:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:35:10","slug":"spain-benidorm-fest-to-go-ahead-even-if-spain-withdraws-from-eurovision-2026-eurovision-news-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410203\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain: Benidorm Fest to go ahead even if Spain withdraws from Eurovision 2026 &#8211; Eurovision News | Music"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"482\" data-end=\"890\">RTVE has confirmed that the <strong data-start=\"510\" data-end=\"532\">Benidorm Fest 2026<\/strong> <strong>will take place regardless of whether Spain ultimately competes in the Eurovision Song Contest next year.<\/strong> The broadcaster, <a href=\"https:\/\/eurovisionfun.com\/en\/2025\/09\/spain-minister-of-culture-warns-of-withdrawal-unless-israel-is-banned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">while still undecided about its participation in Eurovision if Israel remains in the lineup<\/a>, emphasized that its flagship music competition has already evolved into a festival with its own identity and will continue to move forward.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"892\" data-end=\"1317\">Speaking at a press briefing with Spanish media, Mar\u00eda Eizaguirre (Director of Communication and Participation at RTVE) and C\u00e9sar Vallejo (Head of Delegation and Director of Benidorm Fest) outlined the <strong>broadcaster\u2019s long-term vision for the event<\/strong>. They made clear that the Benidorm Fest is no longer conceived merely as a Eurovision preselection, but as a music brand in its own right, inspired by Italy\u2019s Sanremo Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Timeline and Key Dates<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1461\">While no official calendar has been confirmed yet, RTVE expects to follow a similar schedule to previous years:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1462\" data-end=\"1602\">\n<li data-start=\"1462\" data-end=\"1513\">\n<p data-start=\"1464\" data-end=\"1513\"><strong data-start=\"1464\" data-end=\"1484\">Artists revealed<\/strong>: first half of <strong data-start=\"1500\" data-end=\"1511\">October<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1558\">\n<p data-start=\"1516\" data-end=\"1558\"><strong data-start=\"1516\" data-end=\"1534\">Songs released<\/strong>: before <strong data-start=\"1543\" data-end=\"1556\">Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1559\" data-end=\"1602\">\n<p data-start=\"1561\" data-end=\"1602\"><strong data-start=\"1561\" data-end=\"1570\">Shows<\/strong>: February 10, 12 and 14, 2026<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1604\" data-end=\"1750\">For the first time, RTVE also plans to <strong data-start=\"1643\" data-end=\"1688\">open the general rehearsals to the public<\/strong>, following the model of the Eurovision Song Contest itself.<\/p>\n<p>A new stage concept<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"2182\">The 2026 stage design will be centered on a <strong data-start=\"1822\" data-end=\"1850\">pentagonal main platform<\/strong>, recalling the look of the very first edition. Two side catwalks will extend the performance space, and a large LED screen will dominate the backdrop. The overall concept draws inspiration from the <strong data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2065\">compass rose<\/strong>, symbolizing direction and diversity. Importantly, the design also aims to increase the arena\u2019s audience capacity.<\/p>\n<p>Selection process and candidates<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2223\" data-end=\"2465\">RTVE confirmed that the <strong data-start=\"2247\" data-end=\"2286\">selection committee will be renewed<\/strong>, with its members coming from the music and radio industries. Decisions will be taken by quorum voting rather than point allocation, ensuring stronger consensus among jurors.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2467\" data-end=\"2723\">As for the lineup, RTVE continues to seek a mix of <strong data-start=\"2518\" data-end=\"2561\">emerging talent and established artists<\/strong>. To guarantee strong live performances, the broadcaster may conduct <strong data-start=\"2630\" data-end=\"2653\">in-person auditions<\/strong> for candidates whose vocal ability in a live setting raises doubts.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"3002\">Although the rules allow for up to 20 participants, RTVE does not currently plan to expand beyond the traditional <strong data-start=\"2839\" data-end=\"2853\">16 entries<\/strong>. Unlike past editions, no direct invitations were sent this year, though major record labels have been informed about the open submission process.<\/p>\n<p>Artistic team and production<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3039\" data-end=\"3354\">Sergio Ja\u00e9n will serve as <strong data-start=\"3065\" data-end=\"3086\">artistic director<\/strong> of Benidorm Fest, while Finnish designer <strong data-start=\"3128\" data-end=\"3142\">Ari Level\u00e4<\/strong> will oversee the visual and stage design, drawing on his extensive experience with Finland\u2019s UMK and several Eurovision productions. <strong data-start=\"3276\" data-end=\"3293\">Merc\u00e8 Llorens<\/strong> will once again direct the broadcast, ensuring continuity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3356\" data-end=\"3671\">Choreographer <strong data-start=\"3370\" data-end=\"3385\">Borja Rueda<\/strong>, known for his work on La Voz and\u00a0Tu Cara Me Suena\u00a0will coordinate staging concepts alongside RTVE\u2019s production team. Staging remains the responsibility of each artist, but will be closely monitored for feasibility and safety.<\/p>\n<p>Prize money for the winner<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3706\" data-end=\"3905\">The winner of Benidorm Fest 2026 will also receive a <strong data-start=\"3759\" data-end=\"3785\">\u20ac150,000 prize package<\/strong> \u2013 \u20ac100,000 for the artist and \u20ac50,000 for the songwriting team \u2013 to help sustain their career beyond the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Eurovision participation still uncertain<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3954\" data-end=\"4180\">RTVE has already confirmed its preliminary registration for Eurovision 2026, but the final decision will only be made in <strong data-start=\"4075\" data-end=\"4087\">December<\/strong>, once the full list of participants is known. Until then, all options remain on the table.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4182\" data-end=\"4362\">Regardless of that outcome, RTVE insists that the <strong data-start=\"4232\" data-end=\"4270\">Benidorm Fest 2026 is here to stay<\/strong>: a festival to showcase Spanish music, elevate new talent, and build a legacy of its own.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4182\" data-end=\"4362\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escplus.es\/eurovision\/2025\/todas-las-novedades-del-benidorm-fest-2026-habra-ensayos-con-publico-y-conocemos-las-claves-sobre-su-escenario\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESCplus.es<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RTVE has confirmed that the Benidorm Fest 2026 will take place regardless of whether Spain ultimately competes in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":391481,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5312],"tags":[61537,2000,299,60803,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-410203","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-spain","8":"tag-benidorm-fest-2026","9":"tag-eu","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-eurovision-2026","12":"tag-spain"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/391481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}