Musical excitement is once again building in Spain as the countdown to the fifth edition of the Benidorm festival begins, an event that has already become an integral part of the countryβs cultural life. It is here that the artist who will have the honor of representing the kingdom at Europeβs main song contest will be chosen. The national broadcaster RTVE is preparing to lift the veil of secrecy and announce the names of those lucky enough to have passed the preliminary selection.
All this preparation is unfolding against the backdrop of a challenging international situation. Spainβs participation in the pan-European talent showcase was called into question due to the possible presence of Israel, which sparked heated debate in society. Nevertheless, RadiotelevisiΓ³n EspaΓ±ola decided not to cancel the popular format, which in recent years has brought the corporation much public acclaim and high ratings. The show must go on, and the country eagerly awaits new hits.
Interest in the contest this year has been tremendous. Over the 111 days of submissions, organizers received 870 entries. Notably, the submission period was 32 days shorter than last season, highlighting the growing popularity of the platform. The real frenzy came in the last 24 hours, when nearly 350 songs were submittedβas musicians rushed to make the final deadline.
The expert committee now faces a monumental task: out of hundreds of entries, only 16 of the best tracks must be selected. However, the festival rules allow the list of finalists to be extended to 20 if the quality of the musical submissions is deemed exceptionally high. The names of those who will compete for a ticket to the European stage will be announced very soonβon October 9. The participant announcement ceremony will be broadcast live on the RTVE Play digital platform and on the broadcasterβs social networks, with the broadcast scheduled to begin at 16:30 local time.
The competition itself will take place in February next year. Two semifinals are scheduled for February 10 and 12, culminating in a grand final on February 14. On that day, it will be revealed whose song will win the hearts of Spaniards and, possibly, all of Europe. Benidorm is once again preparing to become the epicenter of musical excitement and to introduce new names to a wide audience.
