Anticipation surrounded Melody’s Benidorm Fest entry, but its perceived lack of modernity and competitive edge led to a disappointing 37-point finish on May 17. This outcome contrasts sharply with recent fan-driven victories like Chanel’s “SloMo” (2022) and Nebulossa’s “Zorra” (2024). Meanwhile, RTVE reports significant engagement spikes ahead of the 2026 final – daily streams increased 23% year-over-year, while video views surged 63% according to their latest analytics dashboard. With the broadcaster withdrawing from Eurovision due to Israel’s participation controversy, all eyes now turn to Benidorm’s Palau Municipal stage.
Benidorm Fest 2026: The Stakes
Sixteen acts compete for three prizes: the Golden Mermaid trophy, €150,000 in production funding, plus recording contracts in Miami and Stockholm. RTVE confirms selected entries will receive promotional support during major 2026 events including the Paris Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Music journalist Elena Martínez notes: “This lineup balances nostalgia acts with Gen-Z disruptors – a strategic move following last year’s voter polarization.”
Contender Analysis
‘Te Amaré’ – Tony Grox & Lucycalys
This flamenco-urban fusion leads streaming charts with 2.3M Spotify plays in its debut week. Ethnomusicologist Dr. Carlos Ruiz observes: “Its palmas rhythm pattern mirrors Rosalía’s early work, creating instant familiarity while pushing boundaries.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=416g3MqhOM
‘Bailarte’ – Dani J
The bachata-inspired track draws mixed reactions. Latin GRAMMY® producer María López critiques: “While vocally competent, its derivative structure lacks the innovation that earned Juan Luis Guerra 14 Latin GRAMMYs.”
‘Rákata’ – Dora & Marlon Collins
This genre-blending experiment merges dembow with Balkan brass. Despite polarizing first listens, its Spotify skip rate drops 58% after the 1:10 mark – suggesting strong listener retention once acclimated.
‘Love Bomb’ – Luna Ki
The cyborg-pop artist faces technical constraints: Benidorm Fest’s 2026 rules prohibit autotune beyond 30% vocal processing. Her team has redesigned the staging to incorporate real-time harmonic synthesizers as a workaround.
‘Dopamina’ – Atyat
This Moroccan-Spanish collaboration blends guembri basslines with techno drops. Festival choreographer Sara Jiménez warns: “The complex 134BPM tempo requires pinpoint synchronization to avoid the 2019 ‘La Venda’ staging issues.”
‘Turista’ – Asha
The Mallorcan singer’s acoustic entry stands out with its rumba catalana foundation. Tourism Board data shows 83% of test audiences associate it with Mediterranean destinations – potential leverage for RTVE’s promotional commitments.
‘Velita’ – Greg Taro
This radio-friendly ballad ranks #3 in Shazam identifications but shows weak social traction – just 12K TikTok creations versus Miranda!’s 217K.
‘Los Ojos No Mienten’ – Kenneth
The trap-metal hybrid has sparked memes around its “demonic choir” breakdown. Streaming data shows unusual 48% male listenership – notable in a contest traditionally dominated by female audiences.
‘Qué Vas a Hacer?’ – Izan Llunas
Musicologists identify samples from 9 Billboard Hot 100 tracks (2018-2023). While catchy, its 27% originality score on AudioShake’s AI analysis tool raises questions about compositional integrity.
‘Damas y el Tramp’ – Julia Medina & María León
This feminist anthem’s lyrics underwent 11 revisions to balance empowerment messaging with broadcaster guidelines. Early focus groups report strongest resonance with women aged 35-54.
‘Señor, Fuera’ – Rosalinda
The industrial electronica piece features a 45-second modular synth solo – a technical risk that could alienate casual viewers despite critical acclaim.
‘Tócame’ – Mayo
Co-written with Eurovision-winning songwriter Jimmy Jansson (Sweden 2023), this trilingual track uses AI-assisted language optimization to maximize cross-border appeal.
‘Mi Mitad’ – Mikel Herzog Jr
The nepotism
Images Credit: www.diariodeibiza.es