Benidorm Fest 2025: Voting via App is Here!

RTVE opened the application period for the Benidorm Fest 2025 on Monday, May 20, at 10:00 CET. This competition will determine Spain’s representative for the next Eurovision Song Contest, expected to be held in May 2025 in Switzerland, following the victory of Nemo and The Code last week in Malmö. Artists interested in submitting their entries have until October 10, 2024, at 23:59 CET.

Benidorm Fest 2025 Rules

As promised by RTVE, the major innovation for this edition is the possibility for 25% of the public vote to be conducted via a mobile application. The voting system for the two semi-finals and the grand final will be as follows:

• 50% Jury Vote: Comprised of national and international professionals, including heads of delegations, journalists, artists, musicians, and other experts.
• 50% Public Vote:
  • 25% via televote or voting through the mobile app.
  • 25% by a jury composed of a sample of the Spanish population, selected using statistical and demographic rules.

In case of a tie, the candidate with the highest score from the professional jury will win. In the event of technical failures, the score from the professional jury will prevail.

Key Dates of the Process

Artists participating in the Benidorm Fest 2025 must adhere to the following dates:

• November 7: Submission of the premaster to RTVE.
• November 28: Submission of the final version of the song to RTVE.
• Late November to mid-December: Meetings for staging preparations with the semifinalists.

As in the previous edition, RTVE will select 16 semifinalists and 6 alternates. There will be two semifinals with eight participants each, and the top four from each semi-final will advance to the grand final, resulting in a final with eight candidates. The process is open to any artist who wishes to submit their application via a form, in addition to personal invitations extended to established artists.

Contest Rules

The Benidorm Fest 2025 rules include the following key points:

1. Eligibility: Artists over 16 years old with Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain can participate.
2. Song Format: Songs must be original and not published or performed before September 1, 2024. The maximum duration allowed is 3 minutes.
3. Language: Songs can be in any official language of Spain. Lyrics in other languages are permitted as long as they do not exceed 40% of the total.
4. Selection Process: A committee from RTVE will select the semifinalists based on the originality, quality, and potential of the song for Eurovision.
5. Rights: Participants grant RTVE the rights to broadcast and exploit the songs submitted to the competition.
6. Rehearsals and Preparation: Semifinalists must participate in rehearsals and meetings organized by RTVE for staging.

History of Benidorm Fest Winners at Eurovision

Since its inception, the Benidorm Fest has been a crucial platform for selecting Spain’s representative for Eurovision. Some winners have left a significant mark on the European competition:

• Chanel (2022): With her explosive performance of «SloMo,» Chanel brought Spain to third place, its best result in decades, demonstrating that meticulous preparation and impactful choreography can captivate both the audience and the jury.
• Blanca Paloma (2023): With «Eaea,» Blanca Paloma stood out with her fusion of flamenco and contemporary music. Although she only achieved 17th place at Eurovision, her performance left a mark with its unique style.
• Nebulossa (2024): With «Zorra,» Nebulossa finished in 22nd place at Eurovision. Despite the result, their presence and distinctive style on stage captured the attention of fans, turning their song into an empowerment anthem.

Conclusion

The Benidorm Fest 2025 promises to be an exciting and competitive event, offering new opportunities for both emerging and established artists to represent Spain on the prestigious Eurovision stage. With innovations in the voting system and a rigorous selection process, RTVE continues its commitment to showcasing the best of Spanish musical talent in the international competition. Let the countdown begin to find the next Eurovision star!