by Maor Heumann Comment Closed




870 songs were submitted to RTVE for Benidorm Fest 2026, which will take place on February 14th

RTVE closed on Wednesday the submission window for entries to Benidorm Fest 2026, the Spanish Eurovision pre-selection. According to the national broadcaster, around 900 songs were received, nearly 350 of them within the final 24 hours. This marks a lower number compared to last year, when approximately 1,000 songs were submitted, but still higher than the 825 entries received in 2024.

Rising Popularity and Audience Success

The overwhelming success of Benidorm Fest 2025 has clearly influenced the interest in the next edition. The number of submissions for Benidorm Fest 2026 remains impressively high due to the competition’s rapidly growing public appeal.

The 2025 final, which topped television ratings throughout the week, was a massive success with a 17.1% viewing share and around 1,938,000 viewers. That made it the second most-watched edition in the festival’s history. At peak broadcast moments, nearly 5 million people tuned in to watch the announcement of Melody’s victory, underlining the immense popularity the festival has gained among the Spanish public.

Now that the submission period has closed, the national broadcaster’s selection committee will review all the entries and listen carefully to each. The committee will choose at least 16 songs to compete in Benidorm Fest 2026, with the possibility of up to 20 if the overall quality proves exceptionally strong. Six additional songs will be held as backups in case of withdrawals. Some of these selected songs will reach the grand final scheduled for February 14th, where Spain’s Eurovision representative will be chosen through a combined voting system: 50% judges, 25% representative sample, and 25% general public.

Festival Will Go Ahead Regardless of Eurovision

Despite uncertainties over Spain’s participation in Eurovision 2026, the national broadcaster has clarified that Benidorm Fest will be held as planned, regardless of whether the country ultimately competes in Vienna. RTVE has indicated it is seriously considering withdrawing from Eurovision should Israel participate, a position publicly supported by several senior politicians who have spoken out against continued participation.

However, the broadcaster emphasized that the festival has grown into an independent musical brand with a strong cultural identity, and will continue regardless of Spain’s Eurovision status.

As part of its ongoing enhancements, the broadcaster announced a new financial prize of €150,000 for the festival winner, aimed at supporting the artist’s musical career development and providing resources to expand internationally. The incentive reflects the broadcaster’s long-term investment in the musical scene, should Spain remain in the contest.

Spanish Eurovision Pre-Selection Dates

  • Semi-final 1 – February 10th, 2026
  • Semi-final 2 – February 12th, 2026
  • Grand Final – February 14ht, 2026



Spain in Eurovision 2025

“Esa Diva” (in English: “That Diva”) is the title of the song performed by singer Melody, who represented Spain at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

Spain finished 24th with 37 points – 27 points from the juries, placing 21st, and only 10 points from the televotes, placing 22nd. In the last 20 years, Spain managed to finish only 3 times in the top 10.

Eurovision 2026: This will be Spain’s 66th participation in Eurovision. Spain joined the competition in 1961 and won it twice consecutively in 1968 and 1969. Spain has hosted the contest on its territory only once in 1969 and since then holds the longest waiting time since its last victory – 56 years.