If Spain does not enter the Eurovision Song Contest this year, it might just throw a spanner in the works for the much-loved Benidorm Fest.
This comes as the news that Spain’s Eurovision song entry may be in jeopardy, following the government’s recent stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict.
What is Benidorm Fest?
Benidorm Fest is the glitzy song contest that decides who carries Spain’s flag at Eurovision. The festival has become a jewel in the Costa Blanca’s entertainment crown. Sadly, now its future suddenly looks a touch wobbly.
The head of RTVE, José Pablo López, put a bold suggestion before the broadcaster’s board. He said that Spain should pull out of Eurovision altogether if Israel is allowed in. After some debate, the board agreed.
Spain isn’t the first country to make this decision. The Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Ireland have already hinted they will only keep singing if Israel is kept off the stage, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Is there a future for the festival?
All of this leaves Benidorm Fest hanging in the balance. The festival owes its entire existence to Eurovision.
Benidorm Fest is not some recent invention. The very first one took place in 1959. Monna Bell won the top prize, though instead of the famous Eurovision trophy, she was handed a statue of the Little Mermaid. Back then, it was called the Spanish Song Festival of Benidorm.
Of course, Julio Iglesias also graced the winners’ list, snatching victory in 1968 with La vida sigue igual.
But keeping the festival relevant hasn’t been easy. From 1972 to 1985, audiences grew restless, complaining that the songs had lost their sparkle.
The event was eventually shelved between 1986 and 1992, and later attempts to revive it weren’t smooth. An experiment with two categories, one for pop-rock, the other for lighter tunes, lasted just a year before being binned.
Things perked up a little in 2004 when the festival rebranded as the Benidorm International Song Festival, but by 2006 the enthusiasm had fizzled out again. Eurovision eventually breathed fresh life into the project, but now, thanks to politics, the festival could be facing yet another intermission.
