RTVE received 876 applications for Benidorm Fest in 2023, a hundred fewer than the prior edition, yet the pool of applicants featured the most familiar faces to date. One artist earned the right to represent Spain at Eurovision 2023, with the contest scheduled to take place in Turin in May 2023. The event is set to unfold in Liverpool on May 13, marking a vibrant chapter for Spain in the competition.
RTVE concluded the nomination process for Benidorm Fest 2023 at 11:59 PM on Monday. In a formal statement, the broadcaster described the total as similar to the first edition, yet with a notable rise in professional involvement from record labels and publishers, and a higher level of proposal quality among the applicants for the Spanish Eurovision preselection. The message highlighted stronger engagement from the music industry and more well-known participants among the competing acts.
During the submission period, 455 songs arrived via the web form, 27 by email, and 394 were delivered directly by record companies and publishers. That total doubles the number seen in 2022. Looking back further, 2021 yielded 886 songs, with 692 submitted online and 194 sent by labels.
Currently, the RTVE Eurovision working group is in the process of listening carefully to the submissions to determine the final lineup for the Benidorm Fest. Sixteen top contenders will take part in the Benidorm Fest semi-finals and compete for a place in the grand final on January 31 and February 2 respectively.
Television praised the initiative for the reception it received, noting the enthusiasm from the start. The first bid arrived two minutes after the process opened, and the last submission came in just a few minutes after the window closed at 23:56. It is also observed that many artists rushed to submit their nominations at the last moment, with nearly 150 candidates arriving in the final 24 hours.
Another noteworthy point is that submissions have been standardized across both professional artists and amateurs through the open form on the RTVE website, ensuring accessibility and consistency in the intake process.
more familiar faces
In this edition, the field includes a mix of previously little-known acts and emerging talent, alongside a noticeable increase in nominees with established reputations. There are artists linked to talent shows, rising promises, and even Eurovision veterans from other releases. The cast advantageously balances new names with familiar voices.
Young performers stand out as a strong presence, alongside independent artists and groups that achieved success in the 90s and 2000s. Some competitors aim to revisit last year’s Benidorm experience, while others, following the trajectory seen in the United Kingdom, bring sizable communities on platforms like TikTok. The presence of such artists mirrors the broader trend of social media driving contemporary music discovery and fan engagement, with examples of artists who rose through these channels to achieve mainstream success in major events such as the Turin edition.
Competitors span a wide age range, from artists who will be under 18 in 2023 to seasoned professionals celebrating milestones and turning 76 this year. The diversity reflects an attempt to capture a broad audience and showcase a wide spectrum of musical styles.
Stylistically, the lineup covers a spectrum similar to recent years. Expect everything from commercial pop and emotive ballads to folk influences, flamenco, fusion, rock, and Latin sounds. Among the genres popular with younger audiences, rap and reggaeton are represented as part of a rich, contemporary mix.
After a thorough review, RTVE plans for the selected artists to deliver the final master tracks during November, enabling the production teams to begin preparing the various premieres that La 1 will unveil as the competition draws near.
Eight songs will compete in the first semi-final on January 31, with another eight in the second semi-final. The top four from each semi-final will advance to the Grand Final on a Saturday, culminating in the selection of Spain’s next Eurovision entry during the final showdown. The overall winner will be determined by the combined verdict of the public and a professional jury, ensuring a balanced outcome that reflects both popular support and artistic merit.