From Benidorm with Love (and €150,000): Spain’s Boldest Eurovision Move Yet
Spain’s Eurovision dreams were a soap opera, Benidorm Fest 2026 would be the juiciest season yet. Forget what you knew about the festival – RTVE has decided to give its national selection a full facelift, complete with new producers, fresh talent, and enough cash prizes to make even the most reluctant stars say, “Where do I sign?”
Out with the Old, In with the Sparkling New
Boomerang TV? Out. Sold Out, Spain’s live entertainment powerhouse? In. And it’s not just a change of production house; it’s a full-blown rebrand. The man steering this glittering ship is none other than Sergio Jaén, the 23-year-old wonder boy who directed Austria’s winning Eurovision 2025 staging and brought magic to Finland’s UMK.
Joining him are big names like executive producer José María Payueta, visual mastermind Ari Levelä, and TV director Mercè Llorens. If that doesn’t scream “we’re coming for the Eurovision crown,” nothing does.
The Prize That’s Turning Heads
Spain is finally putting its money where its mouth is. This year’s prize fund? A juicy €150,000 – €100,000 for performers and €50,000 for songwriters – plus 100% of publishing rights for the authors. Translation: no more “cheap and cheerful” entries; this is a proper musical battle.
And because more drama is always good TV, RTVE has confirmed the return of the demoscopic vote. Yes, that means angry fan tweets, over-analysed voting patterns, and at least one conspiracy theory involving Catalan separatists, Madrid, and glitter.
Oh, and the participant list? Expect up to 20 acts if the quality is right. More acts, more meltdowns – we can’t wait.
Save the Dates (and Your Nerves)
Mark your calendars: 10, 12 and 14 February 2026, Benidorm becomes the capital of musical chaos once again. Submissions are open until 24 September, giving artists, songwriters, and Eurovision dreamers just enough time to polish their three-minute masterpieces… or rush in something they’ll regret.
Will this be the year Spain finally stops breaking our Eurovision hearts? Or are we in for another season of fabulous disasters? Either way, stock up on popcorn – Benidorm Fest 2026 is going to be glorious.
Source: Eurovision-Spain
