The fifth year of the Benidorm Fest, Spain’s popular music competition, is set to go ahead independently of the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time ever. RTVE, Spain’s public broadcaster, decided not to participate in Eurovision 2026 for political reasons. Despite this, organisers have stressed that the Benidorm Fest will move forward as a standalone celebration of Spanish music.
The event is scheduled for February 10, 12, and 14, at the Palau Municipal d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm. It will feature two semifinals and a grand final, with more finalists than in previous years. This edition introduces several improvements, including a revamped Golden Mermaid trophy, a €100,000 prize for the winner, and €50,000 for the songwriters. The contest looks to be a diverse lineup of genres, from indie and pop to urban and Latin sounds.
A notable new feature allowed ticket holders to purchase access to the general rehearsal for the grand final, originally planned for Friday, February 13. This rehearsal would have given audiences a chance to see the 12 finalists fine-tune their performances ahead of the Saturday showdown for the La Sirenita de Oro trophy.
Tickets will be refunded
However, organisers have now canceled the public rehearsal. Ticket buyers received emails stating that, due to “technical organisational reasons,” the session is suspended. The rehearsal will, nonetheless, take place, but behind closed doors without an audience. Affected attendees will receive full refunds and a Benidorm Fest CD as compensation. Specific details about the technical issues have not been disclosed, though reports indicate the problems stem from organisational logistics rather than issues with the venue or artists.
According to the Eurovision Spain website, tickets for the rehearsal had not yet sold out at the time of the announcement. The decision has caused disappointment among fans who were looking forward to this unique preview opportunity, marking one of the few setbacks in an otherwise ambitious year.
As the Benidorm Fest detaches from Eurovision, it positions itself as the premier platform for emerging and established Spanish talent, focusing purely on musical excellence and local celebration with all world politics aside. The contest remains on track to deliver high-energy performances and vibrant shows in the coming weeks.