Spain’s national broadcaster has unveiled the 18 artists competing in “Benidorm Fest 2026”, the show that will determine Spain’s entry for Eurovision 2026. Discover the full lineup and event dates.
Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE continues preparations for the upcoming “Benidorm Fest 2026”, the show that has chosen Spain’s Eurovision representative since 2022. This year, 870 songs were submitted – down from the record 1,000 entries submitted last year, yet slightly higher than 825 in 2024 and close to the 876 submitted in 2023.
A selection committee from RTVE listened to all submissions and chose the best 18 songs for the live festival. Today, the national broadcaster held a press conference revealing the names of the contestants. The participating songs will be officially released on December 18th, 2025.
Despite the recent statement by Spain’s board of directors that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate, RTVE continues preparations “as usual”. The broadcaster emphasized that the Benidorm Festival “has its own life and independent identity” and will be held independently of any final decision regarding Spain’s Eurovision participation in 2026.
Full List of Contestants For “Benidorm 2026”
- Asha
- Atyat
- Dani J
- Dora & Marlon Collins
- Funambulista
- Greg Taro
- Izan Llunas
- Kenneth
- Kitai
- KU Minerva
- Luna Ki
- Julia Medina & Maria Leon
- Albaro Mayo
- Mikel Herzog Jr.
- Miranda & Bailamama
- Rosalinda Galan
- The Quinquis
- Electroflamenco
Among the Participants, We Have Several Familiar Names:
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Luna Ki – previously selected for Benidorm Fest 2022 but withdrew before the live shows.
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Greg Taro – co-writer of “Always On The Run”, Germany’s Eurovision 2024 entry.
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Izan Llunas – son of Marcos Llunas, who represented Spain at Eurovision 1997 and finished in 6th place.
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Mikel Herzog Jr. – son of Mikel Herzog, who represented Spain at Eurovision 1998 and finished in 16th place.
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 18th, while the live shows will take place in February 2026.
The first semifinal will take place on February 10th, followed by the second on February 12th, and the grand final on February 14th. Each show will host nine songs. The voting system remains consistent with previous years: results in both semifinals and the final will be determined by a jury (50%), a demographic panel (25%), and a public televote (25%).
Spain initially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria, as early as June. However, about two months later, it withdrew its confirmation and threatened to withdraw entirely if Israel competes in the contest, a position supported by Spanish parliament members and the head of the national broadcaster.
Benidorm Fest 2026 Dates:
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Semi-Final 1 – Tuesady, February 10th, 2026.
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Semi-Final 2 – Thursday, February 12th, 2026.
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Grand Final – Saturday, February 14th, 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.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
