Benidorm Fest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benidorm Fest
Genre	Pop, Latin pop, rock, R&B, etc.
Created by	Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) Generalitat Valenciana
Based on	Benidorm International Song Festival
Presented by	Mónica Naranjo (2023−) Inés Hernand (2022−present) Rodrigo Vázquez (2023−) Màxim Huerta (2022) Alaska (2022)
Theme music composer	Pepe Herrero
Opening theme	"Vita est"
Country of origin	Spain
Original language(s)	Spanish
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	6
Production
Production location(s)	Palau Municipal d'Esports l'Illa de Benidorm Benidorm, Valencian Community
Production company(s)	RTVE Boomerang TV [es]
Release
Original network	La 1
Picture format	DVB-T 16:9 576i HDTV 1080i
Original release	26 January 2022 (2022-01-26) – present
Chronology
Related shows	Eurovision Song Contest

Benidorm Fest is a Spanish music contest. It is organized by RTVE, Spain's public TV and radio company. They work with the government of the Valencian Community.

The contest chooses Spain's song for the Eurovision Song Contest. It started in 2022. Benidorm Fest takes place in Benidorm, a city in the Valencian Community. The shows are held at the Palau Municipal d'Esports l'Illa de Benidorm.

Benidorm Fest is based on an older festival called the Benidorm International Song Festival. It has been updated for the Eurovision rules. The contest has two semi-finals and a final show. The winner is chosen by judges and public votes.

The first winner in 2022 was Chanel with her song "SloMo". In 2023, Blanca Paloma won with "Eaea". A new contest is planned for 2024.

History of Benidorm Fest

How Benidorm Fest Started

Benidorm Fest is inspired by a very old Spanish song contest. This contest was called the "Spanish Song Festival of Benidorm." It began in 1958. It was similar to the famous Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.

The old festival happened on and off until 2006. It had some breaks and format changes over the years.

The Contest Returns to Benidorm

After 15 years, the song contest came back to Benidorm. On July 22, 2021, RTVE announced its return. The president of the Valencian Community, Ximo Puig, and the mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, were there. The head of RTVE, José Manuel Pérez Tornero, also made the announcement.

They said the new contest would pick Spain's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. This started with the 2022 Eurovision. They promised new rules and a modern format. Both famous and new singers would compete. The big prize was representing Spain at Eurovision.

On September 29, 2021, the rules were shared. The new contest was named "Benidorm Fest." The first show was set for January 2022. RTVE signed a contract to hold the event for four years. The Valencian Community government invested about €968,000 in the event.

How Benidorm Fest Works

The contest has two semi-finals and one final. Singers, duos, or groups perform their songs live. In the first year, seven songs were in each semi-final. Eight songs competed in the final.

For the second year, there were nine songs in each semi-final. This made a total of eighteen songs. Eight songs made it to the final. For the third year, they plan to have sixteen songs in total. There will be eight songs in each semi-final.

The winner is chosen by a mix of votes. The public votes for their favorite songs. There is also a special group of Spanish citizens who vote. And a jury of music experts votes too. The song with the most points wins. That song then gets to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest.

How Voting Works

Voting in Benidorm Fest happens in three ways:

• Expert Jury (50%): This group includes music professionals. They are from Spain and other countries.
• Demoscopic Panel (25%): This is a group of Spanish people. They are chosen carefully to represent the whole country.
• Public Voting (25%): People can vote by phone or text message.

Presenters of the Show

What Makes Benidorm Fest Special

The Theme Music

The official song for Benidorm Fest is called "Vita est". This means "Life is" in Latin. It was written by a musician named Pepe Herrero. The RTVE Orchestra and Choir performs it.

The music is a grand orchestral piece. It is inspired by famous classical songs. It also has modern sounds like music by Hans Zimmer. The Latin lyrics talk about how music can bring people together. They say music can make people feel free.

Pepe Herrero made 15 different versions of the song. They have different lengths and instruments. This allows the music to be used for various parts of the show.

The Winner's Trophy

The winner of Benidorm Fest receives a special trophy. It is called the Bronze Microphone. A sculptor from Madrid, José Luis Fernández, created it.

The trophy is 30 centimeters tall. It is made of bronze. It is created using a special method called "lost-wax casting."

How Participants Are Chosen

RTVE asks artists, songwriters, and composers to send in their songs. RTVE can also invite famous singers directly. Music experts help to review all the songs and choose who gets invited.

To enter, performers or groups must be at least 16 years old. They must be Spanish citizens or live permanently in Spain. If it's a group, at least half of the members must meet this rule.

Songs must be new and original. They cannot have been shared or performed before September of the year before Eurovision. Each song must be between 2 and a half and 3 minutes long. Also, at least 60% of the lyrics must be in Spanish or other official languages of Spain.

Past Winners

See also

In Spanish: Benidorm Fest para niños