The 2026 edition of Benidorm Fest arrived at an unusual moment for Spanish music. For the first time since the festival was created, its winner would not go on to represent Spain at Eurovision.
Why Spain is out
Spanish broadcaster RTVE decided to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest at Israel’s participation. The decision followed Spain’s disappointing result in 2025, when Melody’s “Esa diva” finished near the bottom of the table.
Even without a Eurovision ticket at stake, RTVE kept Benidorm Fest, presenting it as Spain’s main showcase for new pop music and reporting growing audience engagement in the run-up to the final.
What the winners receive
The winning act takes home the festival’s trophy, a cash prize of €150,000 and a trip to Miami to record and promote new music.
The contenders
The line-up featured a mix of emerging artists and established names, covering styles from flamenco-influenced urban music to electropop, rumba and ballads. Among the favourites were producer Tony Grox and singer Lucycalys, whose song blending flamenco and urban sounds had gained strong traction on streaming platforms — and who went on to win the final.
Several entries addressed social themes, including gender violence and women’s rights, reflecting a wider trend in Spanish pop.
Would they have succeeded at Eurovision?
That is the question many fans asked. Spain has struggled at Eurovision in recent years despite strong entries, with Chanel’s third place in 2022 the main exception. Some observers believe that several of this year’s songs, with their mix of Spanish roots and contemporary production, could have done well. Others point out that Eurovision success depends as much on staging, televoting and international appeal as on the song itself.
The future
RTVE has said that Eurovision remains part of its DNA and that it hopes to return in future. In the meantime, Benidorm Fest has shown it can stand on its own as a platform for new Spanish artists — though its audiences, without the lure of Eurovision, have been smaller.
