Benidorm Fest 2026 Kicks Off with Jury Controversy and €100,000 Prize
Benidorm, Spain – The fifth edition of Benidorm Fest, the annual television song contest organized by Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), began February 10, 2026, amidst a debate over the selection process and a significant increase in prize money. The competition, which determines Spain’s potential entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, is scheduled to run through February 14, 2026, at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm.
This year’s festival features 18 competing songs, divided into two semi-finals, with 12 acts ultimately advancing to the final round. The voting system combines the opinions of a professional jury (50%), a demoscopic jury (25%), and public televotes (25%).
RTVE has introduced new incentives for participants, offering a €100,000 prize to the winning act and €50,000 for the songwriters. This move underscores the growing importance of the festival as a platform for Spanish music. The announcement comes as Benidorm Fest continues to gain prominence in the European music scene.
However, the festival has not been without its challenges. Earlier in the week, Luna Ki unexpectedly withdrew from the competition during the gala, prompting an announcement from presenter Inés Hernand.
Adding to the scrutiny, RTVE has taken steps to isolate the judging panel, a decision that has drawn criticism. According to reports, the move aims to ensure impartiality and prevent external influences on the jury’s decisions. “We want to configure the Benidorm Fest as a global music market,” said festival director César Vallejo, emphasizing the goal of expanding the festival’s reach beyond Eurovision. “We want this to be a festival that starts to expand. We want to build a festival for the artists.”
Vallejo further explained that the judges are “all great professionals who fight for Spanish music,” representing both mainstream and independent genres. The selection of the jury is intended to elevate the festival and reinforce the careers of participating artists.
The competition was initially intended to select the Spanish entry for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. However, RTVE announced it would not participate if Israel is allowed to compete due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, though the Benidorm Fest will proceed regardless.
Presenters for this year’s Benidorm Fest include Jesús Vázquez, Javier Ambrossi, and Inés Hernand. Viewers can tune in to La 1 to watch the first semi-final, which began February 9, 2026, at 11:00 PM local time.
