TVE is wrapping up ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’ in a hurry, putting both the semifinal and the final on back-to-back nights. Hosted by Jesús Vázquez, the show ends its first season just three weeks after launch, following a strong start in ratings.
TVE is moving fast to end ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’. Both the semifinal and the grand final will air on back-to-back nights next week. The network has set the semifinal for Tuesday, 22 September at 23:00. The final follows right after, on Wednesday, 23 September. RTVE says both episodes will run after ‘La Revuelta’ on La 1. The semifinal will cut the field from 16 contestants down to 8.
This sudden change comes only three weeks after the show’s debut on La 1. Jesús Vázquez has led the competition through a short but busy run. TVE’s decision to pack the ending into two nights shows it wants to keep the show’s momentum and avoid the crowded prime-time schedule. On semifinal night, ‘El túnel’ will compete with ‘En tierra lejana’ on Antena 3, ‘Código 10’ on Cuatro, and ‘Supervivientes All Stars: Tierra de Nadie’ on Telecinco. It’s a tough slot with plenty of rivals.
RTVE highlighted that the premiere of ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’ on 9 September achieved the best launch for a game show on La 1 in 2026, with a 12.2% share and 949,000 viewers.
Even with its short run, ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’ has pulled in solid numbers for TVE. The premiere grabbed a 12.2% audience share and 949,000 viewers, making it the best game show launch on La 1 in 2026. The second episode held steady, with a 10% share and 667,000 viewers. These numbers show the show found its audience, even as its run was cut short. RTVE says the show did especially well with viewers aged 25–44 (17.8%) and 13–24 (15.3%), and it led its slot among those aged 45–64 (12.7%).
RTVE made the schedule change public on its official X account: “¡Llega la semana decisiva en ‘El túnel’! El martes, la semifinal, y el miércoles, la gran final.” The message is clear: the season will end quickly and decisively. Independent media have also confirmed the channel sped up the show’s ending, with both the semifinal and final set for back-to-back nights.
With ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’ ending, TVE now faces a gap on Tuesday nights. ‘Dog House’ has already left a hole in the lineup, and ‘Al cielo con ella’ with Henar Álvarez still has no return date. TVE will have to work to keep viewers interested as it looks for the next show to anchor its prime time.
Recent audience reviews for the 16 September episode show a drop to a 10% share and 667,000 viewers, which may have influenced RTVE’s decision to accelerate the show’s finale. Several publications note that the final prize is set at 150,000 euros, though this figure should be verified with the official RTVE description for absolute accuracy.
TVE’s quick wrap-up for ‘El túnel: avanza y gana’ shows a practical approach in a tough TV market. By ending the season with a double event, the network uses the show’s early success and clears the way for new programs. TVE is moving fast, but the challenge of building long-running hits in Spanish prime time remains. For viewers, the message is simple: the finish line is here, and TVE is not slowing down.
