A young artist delivered everything on stage and earned his place
España reanuda su ritual anual de búsqueda de voz propia en Eurovisión, y el Benidorm Fest 2026 abrió su primera semifinal con diez artistas disputando un lugar en la gran final del 14 de febrero. Seis de ellos lo lograron a través de un sistema de votación tripartito que equilibra el criterio experto, el pulso popular y la representación demográfica. En ese proceso, emergieron sorpresas como la juventud desbordante de Izan Llunas y la inesperada salida de Luna Ki del escenario en plena emisión, recordándonos que la música en vivo siempre guarda espacio para lo imprevisible.
- KITAI abrió la gala con una descarga de rock que puso en pie al Palau D'Esports L'Illa y marcó el tono de una noche de alta tensión competitiva.
- Izan Llunas, el más joven de la noche, desafió las expectativas con una actuación de plena entrega que lo catapultó directamente a la final.
- La sexta plaza generó una fractura reveladora: el jurado profesional apostó por Dora & Marlon Collins, mientras el público eligió a María León ft. Julia Medina, y la suma de ambas puntuaciones terminó clasificando a las dos.
- Luna Ki convirtió su eliminación en un momento de televisión imborrable al abandonar el escenario durante la emisión en directo, dejando una sombra de drama sobre el cierre de la gala.
- La segunda semifinal del jueves completará el cartel antes de que el sábado se decida quién representará a España en Eurovisión.
El Benidorm Fest 2026 arrancó su quinta edición con una primera semifinal celebrada en Alicante, presentada por Jesús Vázquez, Javier Ambrossi, Inés Hernand y Lalachus, y amenizada con actuaciones especiales de Fangoria y Paloma San Basilio. Diez artistas compitieron por seis plazas en la gran final del sábado 14 de febrero, con el resultado determinado a partes iguales por un jurado profesional, el televoto y una encuesta demográfica.
Entre los clasificados, KITAI abrió la gala con una propuesta rock que encendió al público desde el primer momento. Tony Grox & LucyCalys convencieron con su revisión del arte andaluz, y Kenneth demostró que su canción ganaba enteros sobre el escenario. Mikel Herzog Jr. apostó por la contención y la precisión técnica, mientras que Izan Llunas fue la gran revelación de la noche: su juventud no fue obstáculo para una actuación que le valió el pase directo a la final.
La sexta plaza deparó el momento más tenso de la velada. El jurado profesional favoreció a Dora & Marlon Collins, pero el voto popular se decantó por María León junto a Julia Medina. Al sumar todas las puntuaciones, ambas propuestas alcanzaron la clasificación, evidenciando la brecha entre los criterios del panel experto y los del público.
No todo fue celebración: Greg Taro y Luna Ki quedaron eliminados, pero fue la salida abrupta de Luna Ki del escenario durante la emisión en directo lo que robó los titulares del cierre de noche. La segunda semifinal, el jueves 12 de febrero, completará el elenco de finalistas antes de la gran cita del sábado.
Spain's search for its Eurovision entry kicked into gear Thursday night with the first semifinal of Benidorm Fest 2026, the fifth iteration of the national selection competition. Ten artists took the stage at the Alicante festival to compete for spots in Saturday's grand final, held at Palau D'Esports L'Illa. The evening was hosted by Jesús Vázquez, Javier Ambrossi, Inés Hernand, and Lalachus, with performances from the electronic band Fangoria and Paloma San Basilio, who represented Spain at Eurovision in 1985.
Six artists secured their passage to the final through a combination of three voting mechanisms: a professional jury, televoting, and demographic polling, each weighted equally in the overall calculation. Tony Grox and LucyCalys opened the door with "T Amaré," a fresh take on Andalusian artistry that won over both the professional panel and the viewing audience. Kenneth followed with "Los ojos no mienten," a song that proved its staying power in live performance and earned him the jury's confidence alongside public support.
Izan Llunas emerged as the night's most unexpected success story. Despite his youth, the young artist delivered a full-throttle performance of "¿Qué vas a hacer?" that resonated enough to secure his place in the final. Mikel Herzog Jr. took a different approach with "Mi mitad," stripping the production down to essentials and letting technical precision and creative restraint carry the weight of the song. KITAI opened the entire gala with "El amor te da miedo," a rock-driven performance that got the entire venue on its feet and guaranteed the band a return appearance on Saturday.
The sixth and final qualifying spot proved more complicated. The professional jury, which controlled half the total points, voted for Dora & Marlon Collins, while the public vote—split between televoting and demographic polling—chose María León featuring Julia Medina. When the numbers were tallied, the combined score elevated both artists to finalist status, though the split decision underscored how differently the different voting blocs assessed the competition.
Three artists did not advance. Greg Taro and Luna Ki, who had competed in the festival's inaugural edition, both fell short. Luna Ki's elimination was overshadowed by an unexpected moment: the artist abandoned the stage mid-broadcast, turning what might have been a routine elimination into an unscripted moment of drama. The second semifinal takes place Thursday, February 12, with the remaining candidates competing to fill out the final lineup before Saturday's decisive vote.
Citações Notáveis
The professional jury voted for Dora & Marlon Collins, while the public vote selected María León ft. Julia Medina, and both ultimately qualified when the combined scores were tallied.— Competition results
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does the voting system split three ways instead of just letting the public decide?
Because Benidorm Fest is trying to balance what the industry thinks works with what actual listeners want. The jury brings technical expertise and Eurovision experience. The public vote—split between live televoting and demographic polling—catches what's resonating in real time and across different age groups. It's messy, but it prevents any single bloc from dominating.
So María León and Julia Medina made it even though the jury didn't pick them?
Exactly. The jury voted for Dora & Marlon Collins, but the public's combined vote for María León and Julia Medina was strong enough that when you add everything up, they edged ahead. It's the kind of split decision that shows the competition is genuinely contested.
What was the deal with Luna Ki walking off?
The source doesn't say why they left, just that it happened during the broadcast. But Luna Ki had already competed in the first Benidorm Fest five years ago, so there's history there. Walking off in front of a live audience is a statement, though what it means—frustration, protest, something personal—isn't clear from what happened that night.
Izan Llunas being young and still making it—is that unusual?
It stands out enough that the coverage called him a surprise. Usually in these competitions, experience and polish matter. But he gave everything on stage, and apparently that authenticity read better than polish. Sometimes that's what wins.
What happens now?
Thursday night, the second semifinal. Ten more artists compete for the remaining spots. Then Saturday, everyone who made it through performs again, and Spain votes for the song that goes to Eurovision.