benidorm fest 2023

Eurovision 2022 might just have ended, but in Spain engines are already back up and running. As the nation processes Chanel’s bronze placing — the best Spain has done since 1995 — Spanish broadcaster RTVE and the Generalitat Valenciana have already given fans what they needed: new details about Benidorm Fest 2023.

Benidorm Fest 2023 was confirmed last February, just days after Benidorm Fest 2022 took place. With or without the drama, Spain will deliver a second edition next year. And from what we can tell, it’s going to be bigger and even more memorable.

Benidorm Fest 2023 preparations underway

The Generalitat Valenciana has got to work to ensure that the next edition of Benidorm Fest has maximum impact — both for fans and the host city.

The plan comes with two big developments. First, Palau L’Illa de Benidorm – the host venue – will be expanded to welcome more fans to the live shows. Second, the Generalitat will establish the Benidorm Fest Village, a special space where fans can meet and experience Eurovision with a variety of different events. It’s sort of like the Eurovision Village, but with distinct Benidorm flair.

According to the General Director of Tourism, Herick Campos, the Generalitat will work to boost the promotion of the Festival in specialized fairs and at LGTBI music and tourism events. Because they don’t expect new restrictions or limits results from Covid, Benidorm Fest will become a proper week-long celebration with more musical performances and cultural events across the city, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the Festival.

As Eva Mora – the new HoD of Spain – commented back in February, there’s already excitement for Benidorm Fest 2023. That means the team will have had extra time for planning and execution, allowing for plenty of tweaks and amendments to last year’s formula.

Eurovision during 2022: A ratings success for RTVE

Benidorm Fest was a huge ratings achievement for the Spanish broadcaster. The final that saw Chanel reach the top drew 2.97 million viewers. That represents a 21% share of the TV viewing audience. For comparison, RTVE typically earns a 7 to 8% share. Accounting for all three Benidorm Fest 2022 shows, the Festival drew nearly 10.8 million viewers.

Likewise, RTVE felt the love during Eurovision this year. From north to south, west to east, 6.8 million viewers watched this year’s Eurovision 2022 in Spain – that’s the 5th highest rating in their history. Despite not reaching the ESC 2002 ratings achieved in the year of OT and Rosa López, RTVE still managed an impressive 50.8% share and about 15 million people connected with Turin at some point during the show. What’s more, Chanel’s “SloMo” performance drew 7.26 million people to the TV.

What do you think about Spain’s plans for Benidorm Fest 2023? Do you plan on coming? Let us know in the comment section below!

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Andi
Andi
1 year ago

“Expect it bigger and better”….. well, yes I do, but most of all “fairer” would also be nice, thank you.

Gino
Gino
1 year ago

I know it seems unlikely with Alaska being a host but i would love for Fangoria to take part.

Cookie Nation
Cookie Nation
1 year ago
Reply to  Gino

Omg, that means you never heard Alaska singing live ?

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

The acts this year were really good. One of the best selections. I think that Tanx should come back with another song, though it’s VERY discouraging to the pro-ethnic song community that Fuelenn did badly because many consider it to have been better than Terra. I think with every pop or bop song should follow either a much slower song like a ballad or some kind of ethnic song so that’s what I hope for Spain next year, but we’ll see.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago

I agree.

Steffan
Steffan
1 year ago

I dont think that many people considered Fulenn to be better then Terra.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Steffan

I agree with you as well, lol. I think that it’s not only the song, it’s also the interpreters. Tanxugueiras have much more strength, better voices and charisma than Ahez.

Cookie Nation
Cookie Nation
1 year ago

Well, Tanxugeiras’ televoting result was probably hijacked en masse by one of Spain’s peripheral nations and they have been very sour after the result (unlike Rigoberta), so I don’t think they are ever coming back. I wouldn’t either expect a ballad to win unless there’s some Arcade there because in the Spanish mindset ballads are not suitable for today’s ESC.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago
Reply to  Cookie Nation

I guess that the demographic jury was also hijacked (source: your imagination).

Stop bullying Tanxugueiras. They have been supporting Chanel all this time but you are still obsessed with them.

Please, move on.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Alex

Thank you! I find it really annoying. It’s like people don’t know that you can support two performers at the same time. And even three or even one hundred, people!!! In ESC, you can even support more than one country if you like their entries or you can support a country one year and the next year think that their new entry is no good at all. As an example, myself with France 2021 and 2022. What annoys me the most is when I say that Tanxugueiras are much better than Alvan & Ahez and Chanel supporters are against my… Read more »

Richard
1 year ago

The standard was very high this year, and Ay Mama remains my favourite song from the whole 2022 selection, but there were plenty of others, including Chanel, that were great. Spain are often under rated so great to see such a strong result for them.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard

Yes, I think this year about 5/6 songs could have been out of the bottom 5 at ESC (which is a lot considering from where Spain came).

Eurotoxics
Eurotoxics
1 year ago

Germany should visit Benidorm Fest and take some ideas… A country of 80.000.000 ppl can’t be last or almost last every year…

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxics

They’re last deliberately, it’s known they discard potentially winning songs among the submissions they receive every year just because they want to make sure they don’t win

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  ete sech

This is what we used to say in Spain about RTVE. But really, it is not true. They are not better because they don’t know how to or they don’t want to work to be better. Don’t forget snyone that Germany had a top 5 four years ago.
I wish Germany do better, I lived there and love the country and its music. I’d love to see a song in German in the near future.

eywe sech
eywe sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

But with Germany it isn’t a rumor, it’s actually a known fact and something confirmed by NDR itself

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxics

I think Germany should simply stop putting the song selection in the hands of NDR. Back in the early 2000’s and a small few years prior, Stefan Raab came with some really successful acts for Germany in Eurovision. Guildo Horn in 1998 (7th), he himself in 2000 (5th), Max Mutzke in 2004 (8th), and of course, Lena who gave Germany their second victory with another top 10 finish when she represented Germany again on home soil. I hope Germany will just alter its selection method and stop looking for songs that are merely ‘radio-friendly’ and instead are fit to be… Read more »

Mr X
Mr X
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

You are absolutely right ! Germany at the ESC is a big shame

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

The problem is, NDR is too strict with what they send through. Being ‘radio-friendly’ doesn’t mean it’ll do well at Eurovision. A lot of good songs probably didn’t get through.

voix
voix
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxics

Germany needs to change every single person involved in their eurovision selection, they are ridiculing their country on purpose

Go_A Stan
Go_A Stan
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxics

Benidorm has proved that it’s about interest, not amount of people, Germany has excellent artists, but they aren’t as into Eurovision as some others. See Iceland, they do really well despite having 0.4% of Germany’s population but one of the best fanbases

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurotoxics

Felicia Lu and Callboy were legitamately ROBBED.

dygh
dygh
1 year ago

Already excited! Benidorm Fest is something you should expect from a Big 5 country. I hope Benidorm Fest can grow to the status of San Remo. I also hope Germany, France and the UK learn from it.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  dygh

At Sanremo Festival they would never let win a song like SloMo. Neither the Public, the music critics or the demoscopic jury would vote for that kind of music!

Sesil
Sesil
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

Sanremo elitists have got to be the most annoying fans in the Eurovision fandom, up there with the Spanish extremist fans.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Sesil

Chanel bashers that turned into Chanel supporters are the most hypocrite ones.

Sesil
Sesil
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

You literally just bashed Chanel in your last comment?? I swear you can’t make this up

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Sesil

I didn’t bash anyone. It was Chanel that was bashed after Benindorm by Spanish people and she had to block her social accounts for 3 days.

dygh
dygh
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

That doesn’t matter. Both competitions should have their own identity and I hope the other Big 5 countries find theirs.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  dygh

Exactle, just as the UK did good without a festival, trusting professionals in music. Each country has to find its way.

BjorkLord
BjorkLord
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

True enough. A woman won’t be winning San Remo any time soon and there is precisely zero chance of one winning with an uptempo song.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  BjorkLord

Recent uptempo song winners: Zitti e buoni 2021, Occidentali’s Karma 2017.
Many women have won Sanremo. There is not a gender quota in Sanremo, it is a music festival, not a gender parade!

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  BjorkLord

A woman won only last year.

Cookie Nation
Cookie Nation
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

Well, it did pretty well at Eurovision and that’s what counts.

Noah
Noah
1 year ago
Reply to  dygh

San Remo is the worst music festival, it goes on forever in days and more than half of the festival time is commercials. It’s horrible, I tried to see it but Morpheus wrapped me up.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Noah

5 days actually. You tried to watch with zero knowledge in Italian? I understand if you listen to just the songs, but if you don’t know the language or you aren’t learning the language, how the heck you understand something which involve so many acts (like comedy sketch, civic education intervals, interviews, actors launching new movies, foreign guests and so on) and not just singing? I guess it is like start to have a conversation with a Chinese without speaking the language! Pretty brainless…

Heurve
Heurve
1 year ago

Do it for you loveeeer!

Sammy
Sammy
1 year ago

Why not a 30% public Televote, 20% Demoscopic and 50% INTERNATIONAL Jury, to avoid controversy ?

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago

Despite being a little flawed, RTVE nailed it and I’m happy that BeFest proved to be an instant success!
I’ll be looking forward for next year’s edition bc I trust it’ll be even better!

Azan
Azan
1 year ago

OMG, I’m so excited!!!

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago

and after chanel’s success, i feel like they’ll keep the controversial voting method that allowed them to finish 3rd and prevented an inevitable bottom 5 crash with tanxugueiras

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

Terra was a good song but it appears a lot of the hype came from a Gallicia-skewed voting register.

Zisk
Zisk
1 year ago

I wonder if next year will have some really big names with how much publicity Eurovision is getting in Spain this year with Chanel and how a good song does actually carry you to a good result?

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Zisk

I wonder the same too, and there’s already rumors that Belinda will take part of it next year now that she broke up with Nodal and wants to relaunch her career

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  ete sech

I know she was born in Madrid, but does Belinda have Spanish nationality? In the last year of BF’s edition, participants needed to either being Spanish or habing resided in Spain in the last two years (as Chilean Javiera Mena).

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

Yes, her father is Spanish and her mother is half Spanish half French, they just moved to Mexico when she was a little girl. But tbh her music is pretty bland and uninspiring and she is just known for being a child actress and for having a “rivalry” against Danna Paola and for being in an on-and-off relationship with Christian Nodal.

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago

And also because before Nodal she had already been in very advertised relationships (Criss Angel, Lupillo Rivera, Giovani dos Santos come to mind).

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago

Talking about Danna Paola, it’d be great if she took part too! She became a Spanish citizen before the pandemic and Spaniards love her (at least it looks like that in social media), but her discography is kind of a hit-or-miss too

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
1 year ago
Reply to  ete sech

Really? I don’t think Paola became a Spanish citizen. She only had a work permit that allowed her to live in Madrid while doing Elite. She lives in Mexico nowadays.

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago

ngl I can’t recall were I read it but it seems to be true bc it’s rumoured she’ll come back to work to Spain soon.
I won’t dismiss the possibility that the news I read back in the day was fake, though.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

Who is Belinda?

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

I know her from featuring in La Niña de la Escuela (Lola Índigo).

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

A Spanish singer who moved to Mexico at a very early age and made a career there, though it’s been years since her last album and the little she’s released has been bland

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

Yes, she does. Her dad’s from Spain too and her mom is French

Okay
Okay
1 year ago

Have a better looking trophy next time

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Okay

Old Benidorm Fest’s trophy used to be a mermaid. I wish they had modernised that one instead of getting inspired by ESC.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago

Eh, remember when Spanish fans were threating Chanel after she won? And now they LOVE her. Damn, never change Spain, never change.

BjorkLord
BjorkLord
1 year ago

Considering Chanel only got 3% of the televote at this year’s edition, best give the public as smaller say as possible if they want another good result.

BjorkLord
BjorkLord
1 year ago
Reply to  BjorkLord

Perhaps people hitting dislike could convince me that Terra would have done better than Chanel. Would love to hear the reasoning.

Clara
Clara
1 year ago
Reply to  BjorkLord

I’m always amazed at how much the musical taste of the Spanish public differs from the rest of Europe. If it was up to just the audience, they would only send some random reggaeton artist or some politically minded entry about an issue that’s only relevant in Spain. Thank god for the juries!

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  BjorkLord

You are absolutely right… And the problem is that Spanish people never admit it… When ‘Do it for your lover’ was chosen to go to the National Final people said that it was a fresh and current song that Europe will appreciate, when they choose ‘Tu canción’ they said that Europe will be sooo moved and touched by the couple ‘magical love story’… Spanish people also said that Europe would be thrilled by a song sung in Galician and by a feminist song about tits… Spanish people are good for clapping and cheering but disastrous for choosing songs.

John
John
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

Well literally nobody in Spain wanted Do it for your lover that went to Eurovision because of juries. Mirela was the one the audience voted for

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  John

Exactly. Now people want no televote because we had a good result with a song chosen by the juries. We forget too fast. The best is the combination of juries and televotes. But I would increase the number of jurors from one side and limit the number of televotes that can be done with each telephone number from the other side.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

Nobody in Spain liked Do it for your lover… As per Tu Canción, I agree, OT’s fans made it to the top. Non OT fans preferred Lo Malo though.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

The year of Do it for your lover there was first an online voting where people chose the songs that were going to the Final. If Do it for your lover was in the Final was because people voted for it online.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago

I reallyreallyreallyyreally hope that next year at BeFest we can just see songs… No natinalistic bullsh*t, no feministic or my ass messages. Just songs and performances.

Ethan
Ethan
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

Do you want a list of feminist, reivindicate or otherwise protest songs that did quite well in Eurovision, or you can check them by yourself?

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Ethan

I dont give a sh*t about how well this message songs did. They are crap anyway and already forgotten.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

Well maybe not crap… Just songs that suit the current stupidity… Why are people afraid of our boobs and stupid pseudo feminism like this… May i remind you that the same people who were so moved and touched by the feminist message of Ay mama were the same ones who criticize and speak badly of Chanel and Slomo… Song messages are ok unless they are intended for a brainless audience who just react without being able to think for themselves.

Mary M.
Mary M.
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

To be honest… I just want politics out of it.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

What topics will you allow? Love, broken hearts, love, love… and then some more love?

Heurve
Heurve
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

And peace! More peace for everybody!

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

No. Tits is much better.

BimBamBoum
BimBamBoum
1 year ago

Spain, thank you for the amazing show. Benidorm Fest was the most exciting and passionate NF of the past season. I followed all the steps from the early seaside July press conference (that seems a long time ago right^^) until the big January week fest and ofc Chanel’s ESC performance and result. Even though I would have voted to see Ay mama on the Turin’ stage, it didn’t avoid me on enjoying the diversity of Spanish flavours through these 14 songs. Great staging, likeable hosts, exciting voting sequence and fan involvement turned out onto something I didn’t expected from our… Read more »

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  BimBamBoum

Thank you! Your words are so kind… I’m impressed you even liked the hosts lol

BimBamBoum
BimBamBoum
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

Your welcome. For real, I still remember Ines changing clothes and hairstyle between approximately every act she was interviewing lol. Alaska being flawlessly iconic and the other guy (I forgot his name sorry) who didn’t take him too seriously but knew to stay professionnal when it was required. I think what also took me into the shows was that 3 of them felt accessible for foreign viewers like me and even though I don’t speak Spanish, gave me the feeling of understanding what they were talking about (Spanish past winners, some jokes about Niña Polaca who are not Polish JESC… Read more »

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  BimBamBoum

Alaska is a living legend. Inés is a new talent. The guy is Máximo Huerta, writer and the shortest during Minister of a Spanish Government ever (he was Culture Minister for less than one week). Yes, they were good. If any, I would substitute Máximo.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  BimBamBoum

Ay mama going to ESC would have proved how stupidity and derangement is king nowadays. Now we had people commenting that Chanel was showing her ass and she was sexualized but a gigantic boob onstage would have been the summum of feminism.
Showing ass, tits or whatever part is sexualizing unless you sing something weird as why are people scared of women’s tits, asses…
Why showing a boob and singing why are people afraid of boobs is ok but showing ass and singing something else is bad?

Kredential
Kredential
1 year ago

This year’s Benidorm Fest was such a diverse lineup with some quality entries. If Spain keeps it up, I see BF becoming one of the big NFs of the season to follow like MF and Sanremo. Very excited to see what Spain has to offer next year.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

Benidorm was the best national final of 2022. ALL of the songs were great and modern. Awesome tunes and performances. I would only prefer a bigger stage/arena and a more diverse jury.

RTVE nailed it this year.

I hope they make some necessary changes next year and increase the number of songs.

Oh god, I am tempted to travel to Benidorm, great weather/place and Eurovision bliss!

Gurl
Gurl
1 year ago

This sounds soooo promising! Glad to see Spain back in the competition.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

I want Anabel Conde back. Not necessarily to win, just take part. Throw in Eva Santamaría while you’re at it. Sanremo-style respect.

xelx
xelx
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I think they will include a comeback in the lineup, as they did with Azúcar Moreno. They do take notes from MF and Sanremo. Probably not Conde or Santamaría, sadly they are not well known by the general public. Karina submitted a song for 2022, she could be an Eva & Ewa/Gianni Morandi moment. Soraya has expressed interest, she could pull an Anna Bergendahl with the right song. From the most recent entrants, Alfred or Miki could be interested, Miki could be a co-host as well.

Sesil
Sesil
1 year ago
Reply to  xelx

Barei has also shown interest in participating 🙂

xelx
xelx
1 year ago
Reply to  Sesil

RTVE owes her one, the previous delegation did her dirty with the staging.

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  xelx

Indeed! Barei deserves a second chance 🙂

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  xelx

I think Miki would be a great co-host. It would be great if he had the chance to co-host a Eurovision in the next future!
As per Alfred, he is composing beautiful songs and he showed great respect towards the ESC (not as the other part of Almaia), so I wish he could show how good he is with a song of his own.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  xelx

Alfred? Interested? I suppose it is now bc when he took part in the Festival he despised it. No Alfred please.
People dont have memory or what?

Sesil
Sesil
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

He has never said that, in fact, he defended Eurovision back when people were saying it was rigged/political after they got the bad result. Amaia, on the other hand…

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Sesil

Ok. Fine. Whatever. But no Alfred. Bad choice. Objectively speaking.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

He is writing beautiful songs, really. Maybe he does not have the best voice, but could take part as a writer, for example.
But yes, please, no Amaia, no Natalia Lacunza, or her friend (I don’t remember her name). All those who once understimate or even felt to be too good for the ESC, can stay home.

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Ruth Lorenzo will probably take part, I can even predict her participating with a Rayden’s song or even with a duet of them two.
Not as probable, but I would love to see Sergio Dalma as well.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago
Reply to  Lorena

I think that next year we should bring something in the line Mojinos Escozíos ?

Lorena
Lorena
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

Lol, I don’t think so. I think a good ballad (but a good one!) could be a nice idea, to differentiate from SloMo. Something like El Patio, by Pablo López.

RedRobin
RedRobin
1 year ago

May Benidorm Fest become to spanish people what Sanremo is to us italians: 5 days of crazyness and fun capable of unite the whole Country 😉 (minus the part where we stay up until 1 am every night lol)

Edgar
Edgar
1 year ago

Yeees! Vamos España! <3

Jake
Jake
1 year ago

Portugal changed their National selection process and got first. Spain changed their National selection process and got third. Countries should invest in national selectional processes with professional musicians who know how to perform, tour and gig.

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago
Reply to  Jake

Ireland, Denmark and Latvia: take notes!

But also, artists don’t have to be ‘professional’ to take part in a Eurovision national final, just look at Lena Meyer-Landrut. If anything, having some undiscovered/bedroom artists participating in NFs adds to the dynamism.

nikki
nikki
1 year ago

So excited, YESSSSS

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

I hope they include more songs this year and really fix the voting issue because overall BF was one of the best NFs of the entire season

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
1 year ago

Just keep the quality! 8 songs or 20, it’s the quality that matters
And I’m all in for a Spanish victory soon or at least another top 5!

Ukraine stan
Ukraine stan
1 year ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

The quality seems to be staying, this amount of interest will undoubtedly drive some of the best music to the benidorm stage. Spain will for sure win this decade

Vamoss
Vamoss
1 year ago

I cant wait to watch it, I am sure it’s gonna be even better than last year. What I am not looking forward is the toxicity by a big part of Spanish fandom. Hope they learned their lesson and they won’t bully the next winner. Chanel is a champ not only for her performance but also for the amount of hate she received but she never gave up and proved them wrong.

xelx
xelx
1 year ago
Reply to  Vamoss

I think the big lesson was to not get too fixated with favorites and narratives before watching the live shows.