Promised debt fulfilled: Benidorm Festival returns as a major musical event starting January 29, featuring a blend of live concerts, culinary experiences, red carpets, a tapas route, and massive screens for the second edition. The promise was made by RTVE and the regional government after the inaugural edition drew millions of viewers and crowned Chanel as the winner.
The competition will select Spain’s Eurovision entry in a compact window of about two weeks, beginning January 29 and concluding on February 4 with the grand finale. This edition will be propelled not only by televised galas but also by a rich lineup of parallel programming. Casual attendees without gala tickets can enjoy concerts, a tapas route, and various public events surrounding the festival.
The RTVE Director of Communications and Engagement announced these plans in Madrid yesterday. Presenters for the event are set to be announced, while various speakers and representatives linked to RTVE Originals will participate in the event, alongside the festival’s organizing team.
Benidorm Fest 2023: Contestants for each semi-final
The organization has disclosed the lineup for the semi-finals. In the first semi-final, performers include Agoney, Alice Wonder, Aritz Aren, Fusa Nocta, Megara, Meler, Sharonne, Sofia Martín, and Twin Melody. The second semi-final will feature Alfred García, Blanca Paloma, E’Femme, and Famous from Elche, along with additional artists such as José Otero, Karmento, Rakky Ripper, Siderlan, and Vicco. The exact performance order, jury lineup, and guest artists for the galas remain to be announced. Each semi-final will be preceded and followed by themed programming.
Parallel activities
Organizers highlighted that the festival will kick off with a Sunday event featuring the orange carpet, where hosts, contestants, and familiar faces from the network will mingle. The gatherings will take place at Benidorm Palace, an arena designed to host multiple festival activities this year. There will be a private reception behind closed doors for Valencian performers, alongside appearances by Carlos Higes, the nation’s recent Eurojunior representative, and contributions from the Benidorm Music Association and Societat Musical La Nova de Benidorm, who will perform songs linked to the Eurovision tradition.
Benidorm Fest 2023: YouTube favorites
On Monday, the EuroClub doors will open at RTVE, welcoming bands, singers, and artists who previously participated in the festival and will again be part of the Benidorm Fest experience at Benidorm Palace on both Monday and Wednesday. Artists such as Sara Deop, Bel, Carmen Puente, Álvaro Montes, Adonay Santana, Nena Daconte, and Azúcar Moreno are among those anticipated to appear. Names like Kingdom, Gatica, Ernesto Alonso, Borja Escalona, Karina, Juana, Juanma Fernández, El Guapo Calavera, Tanxugueiras, and Ruth Lorenzo are scheduled for performances on Wednesday, February 1. RTVE is issuing tickets for two events starting at noon that day.
Free concerts
On Friday, February 3, a free concert will take place featuring Soraya Arnelas from Benidorm, Marta Sango, Gonzalo Hermida, Ronela, and the performer behind the festival’s theme song WRS. The event will be streamed across multiple screenings in the city and region, including live coverage of the semi-finals and final at various locations in Alicante. The entire parallel program will be broadcast by RTVE, with organizers expressing strong enthusiasm for the show.
Additionally, in collaboration with RTVE Communications and Engagement, the Benidorm Mayor and the Generalitat Valenciana’s tourism representative announced that 18 venues in Benidorm will participate in a new edition of Tapa Fest, a culinary route weaving through the town.
Regarding the competition venue, a space totaling 3,200 square meters has been divided to host a main stage of 360 square meters and a secondary stage of 458 square meters, plus a green room, jury area, and presentation spaces. The next Fitur issue will offer a chance to win two tickets to the event, with the result announced by the national broadcaster.
Participants are expected to deliver memorable staging and originality. Co-hosts for the event express their excitement and lighthearted humor about the festival’s continuity, underscoring the energetic mood around this year’s lineup.