Spain Eurovision 2026: Benidorm Fest Prizes & Changes

The landscape of Spanish music competition has shifted dramatically. While 2026’s Benidorm Fest will proceed as planned, Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) has announced that Spain will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation, a decision that has significantly altered the stakes for the Benidorm Fest.

For the past several years, Benidorm Fest has functioned as the Spanish national selection process for Eurovision, a high-profile platform that propelled winning artists onto the international stage. Now, with Spain’s withdrawal from Eurovision, Benidorm Fest is evolving into a standalone music festival with significantly increased rewards for the winning act.

The most visible change is the introduction of the “Sirenita de Oro” (Golden Mermaid) award, which will now be the primary prize for the Benidorm Fest winner. But the financial incentives have also been substantially boosted. The winning artist will receive €150,000, a considerable increase from previous years. The songwriter behind the winning song will receive €50,000.

Beyond the cash prizes, RTVE is offering unique opportunities for career development. The winning act will secure a record deal to produce an album with Spotify. The winning song will be further developed with a dedicated production session in Miami with a professional music producer.

Benidorm Fest, which began in 2022, was inspired by the earlier Benidorm International Song Festival, created in 1958 and modeled after the Italian Sanremo Music Festival. The current iteration, held annually in Benidorm at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm, has quickly become a significant event on the Spanish music calendar.

The 2026 edition of the festival, currently underway, features an expanded line-up and structural changes, signaling RTVE’s commitment to elevating the event even without the Eurovision connection. The competition format remains consistent: two semi-finals, scheduled for February 10th and February 12th, will narrow down a field of 18 entries to 12 finalists. The final performance is slated for February 14th.

The voting system will continue to employ a combined approach, weighting the opinions of a professional jury at 50%, a demoscopic jury (representing public opinion) at 25%, and public televoting at 25%. This ensures a balance between industry expertise and popular appeal.

The presenting team for this year’s Benidorm Fest includes Jesús Vázquez, Javier Ambrossi, Inés Hernand, and Lalachus. María Eizaguirre is serving as the executive supervisor, and César Vallejo is the director, with Sergio Jaén as the artistic director.

RTVE received a staggering 870 submissions for the 2026 edition, demonstrating the continued interest in the festival despite the altered circumstances. This high volume of entries underscores the growing prestige of Benidorm Fest as a platform for emerging Spanish musical talent.

The decision to withdraw from Eurovision, while controversial, appears to be driving a strategic refocusing of Benidorm Fest. By increasing the prize money and offering substantial career-building opportunities, RTVE is positioning the festival as a destination in its own right, rather than simply a stepping stone to a larger international competition. This move could attract a wider range of artists and elevate the overall quality of the competition, solidifying Benidorm Fest’s place as a key event in the Spanish music industry.

The shift also highlights the complex interplay between national broadcasting organizations, international competitions, and the evolving political landscape. RTVE’s decision reflects a growing willingness among broadcasters to prioritize ethical considerations, even at the expense of participation in high-profile events. The long-term impact of this decision on both Benidorm Fest and the broader Eurovision Song Contest remains to be seen.