Tonight, RTVE has confirmed that the participants for Benidorm Fest 2023 will be revealed on October 25 at 22:25CEST, two days earlier than its original announcement where the participants were to be revealed on October 27.
Special programming to reveal the participants
In its confirmation, the broadcaster has revealed that a special program, will air at 22:25CEST on La1 and RTVE Play, where Inés Hernand will reveal which of the 876 submissions recieved, have made it to the final 16 that would be competing in next year’s competition.
With this announcement, the special programming, hosted by Inés Hernand and Rodrigo Vázquez, which will introduce the competing artists has been moved from October 27th, to October 29th.
Benidorm Fest 2023 will have its two semi-finals on January 31 & February 2, with the Grand Final set on February 4, where Spain’s Eurovision 2023 representative will be selected. Tickets for next year’s shows will go on sale on November 1.
Spain’s Eurovision Journey
Spain debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 with Conchita Bautista’s “Estando Contigo”. The country earned its first win in 1968 with Massiel’s “La La La”, and won again in 1969 with Salome’s “Vivo Cantando” in an infamous four-way tie. Although they have yet to win again, Spain earned several 2nd place finishes, most famously with Mocedades’ “Eres tu” in 1973 and Anabel Conde’s “Vuelve conmigo” in 1996.
Spain has been less successful in recent years. Although they achieved two 10th place finishes in 2012 and 2014, the country has not finished above 20th place since 2015, including one last-place in 2017. This poor running streak was broken, however in 2022, when Chanel finished in 3rd place with 459 points from the jury and televoters with her song “SloMo”.
Are you happy that Benidorm Fest is returning in 2023? Who do you want to see take part? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as we gear up for Eurovision 2023.
News Source: RTVE
Photo Credit: EBU/ Corinne Cumming
