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Spain’s Eurovision selection show, Benidorm Fest, has drawn 870 song submissions for its 2026 edition, RTVE has confirmed. The broadcaster closed the submission window on 24 September after a 111-day call that saw a surge of nearly 350 entries arrive in the final 24 hours.
The figure places this year’s contest in line with the festival’s recent trajectory. When the revamped Benidorm Fest debuted in 2022 it attracted 886 entries, followed by 876 in 2023. The number slipped to 825 in 2024, before climbing again last year when RTVE reported close to 1,000 submissions, its highest total to date. The 2026 haul therefore represents a slight dip from the 2025 peak but still sits comfortably above the early editions.
RTVE will now begin selecting the entries that will compete on stage in February. Sixteen acts are expected to be chosen, though the broadcaster has said it may expand the line-up to 20 if the quality of songs warrants it. The semi-finals are scheduled for 10 and 12 February, with the grand final taking place on 14 February.
The festival has quickly established itself as a central fixture in Spain’s music calendar and the sole gateway to Eurovision. Its growing popularity has encouraged a mix of established artists and newcomers to test their luck. For RTVE, the challenge is to whittle down a record-sized pool without losing sight of the contest’s balance between popular appeal and artistic ambition, while the chosen performers face a tight deadline to polish their staging ahead of February’s shows.
At present, Spanish broadcaster RTVE is poised to exit the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest should Israel take part. A vote by EBU members is scheduled for November.
