Benidorm Fest 2023 starts, which will have more capacity and will be held from January 29 to February 4

The Benidorm Fest 2023, the second edition of the event from which the next representative of Spain in Eurovision will come out, has already started. This Tuesday, the mayor, Toni Pérez; the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig; and the president of RTVE, José Manuel Pérez Tornero, have signed in the city the general protocol of collaboration between the three parties for the organization and development of the new edition of the festival.

An edition that will be held from January 29 to February 4, which will have more capacity and will have three galas: two semifinals and a grand final. This has been advanced during the presentation of the festival, held in the Paseo de Tamarinos, the communication director of RTVE, María Eizaguirre, has also revealed that the artist Mónica Naranjo -who has intervened by videoconference- will be one of the presenters of the event and the composer Nacho Cano, present at the event, will preside over the professional jury.

After the signing of the collaboration protocol, the mayor highlighted that last year, at a time still complex due to the pandemic, "the illusion returned" with the Benidorm Fest, "a very strong and very brave commitment" that has been "a success". Likewise, it has valued "the alliance" established with RTVE and the Generalitat to launch "a new brand" that has "all the essence of what an internationally recognized city and tourist destination" like Benidorm "has done for culture and the music".

For his part, Ximo Puig has assured that the first edition of the Benidorm Fest exceeded expectations and "our initial dreams" and was found to be a "great operation" for "music, for Benidorm, for the Generalitat and RTVE", in addition of being "an enormous lever for the participants". About the 2023 edition, he has been convinced that it will be "unforgettable".

The president of RTVE, in turn, has pointed out that with the Benidorm Fest it was possible to "draw international attention with the selection format" and involve "millions of young people" with the festival and with Eurovision, which reached "a record of the audience" unprecedented in recent years. In addition, he has highlighted that it has been possible to generate "a movement" around Eurovision that brings together all audiences, "from the elderly to the young".

In addition to the starting signal for the 2023 edition, this morning's presentation has meant the return of Chanel to Benidorm. Accompanied by her dance corps, the artist has recalled her time at the Benidorm Fest and everything that she has reported on a professional level, her time at the festival and Eurovision. Although she has not completely ruled out participating in future editions of the Benidorm Fest, the artist has advocated "leaving the site to other people" so that they "live the experience".

Dates, tickets and dynamics
During the event, María Eizaguirre and Eva Mora, head of the Eurovision delegation, advanced some details and news of Benidorm Fest 2023. Thus, 16 participants will be selected from among all the proposals received. Eight will perform in the first semifinal, scheduled for January 31, and another eight in the second, to be held on February 2. Eight participants will come out of both semifinals and will meet in the final on February 4. The Benidorm Fest will start on January 29 with an 'opening' event.
Regarding voting, the same system as the previous year will be maintained: 50% of the votes will be determined by a professional jury, with "great international weight" and chaired by Nacho Cano; and the remaining 50% will come from public opinion. Half of this last percentage will be determined by televoting and the other half will be set by a demographic jury.

Among the novelties of Benidorm Fest 2023, are the expansion of the capacity for the galas, "in which the City Council is already working", and the launch of tickets to attend them, which will go on sale with a price range that will range “between 20 and 60 euros”.

As one of the hosts of the galas, Mónica Naranjo has advanced that this edition will be "stronger and more powerful" and has predicted that "the performances and future representatives will be spectacular", so much so that "sooner or later" Spain wins Eurovision, a festival with which, in his words, he has “fallen in love” again thanks to Benidorm Fest.