Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE will reveal the 16 participants of Benidorm Fest 2026 this Thursday—despite earlier threats to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel takes part.
Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE has announced that on Thursday, October 9th, it will publish the list of 16 artists competing in the fifth edition of Benidorm Fest 2026.
Despite a previous statement from the network’s board declaring that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate, RTVE continues preparations for the festival as planned.
The network emphasized that Benidorm Fest has “its own life and identity” and will be held independently of any final decision regarding Spain’s Eurovision participation in 2026.
Eurovision-Style Production and Open Rehearsals
The upcoming edition of Benidorm Fest will feature major production upgrades and a format more closely aligned with the Eurovision Song Contest itself.
For the first time, public open rehearsals will be held, marking a step toward a more immersive and international experience.
The early announcement of artists and songs allows participants to prepare their performances in advance. The competing entries will be released to the public before Christmas, on December 18, while the live shows will take place in February 2026.
Benidorm Fest 2026 Dates:
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Semi-Final 1 – February 10th, 2026
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Semi-Final 2 – February 12th, 2026
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Grand Final – February 14th, 2026
Almost Two Million Viewers for Benidorm Fest 2025
RTVE reported 870 submissions this year – slightly fewer than last year’s 1,000, yet higher than the 825 received for the 2024 edition. The continued popularity of Benidorm Fest 2025 significantly boosted interest in the new edition, maintaining high submission rates amid unprecedented enthusiasm for the competition.
The 2025 grand final dominated viewership ratings throughout the week, achieving a 17.1% audience share and nearly 1,938,000 viewers – making it the second most-watched edition in the festival’s history. At the broadcast’s peak, nearly five million viewers tuned in to witness Melody’s victory, a moment that underscored the festival’s soaring popularity among Spanish audiences.
Will Spain Boycott Eurovision 2026?
As of now, Spain has not yet made a final decision regarding its participation in Eurovision 2026. The country is awaiting the EBU vote in November, which will determine whether Israel remains eligible to compete.
Nevertheless, RTVE’s full-speed preparations for Benidorm Fest suggest that Spain is determined to preserve its musical and cultural tradition, even amid the ongoing political controversy.
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.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
