Everything ready at Palau d'Esports to host the galas of the third edition of Benidorm Fest

Everything is ready at Palau d'Esports l'Illa in Benidorm for the third edition of Benidorm Fest, the contest organized by the city council, Generalitat Valenciana and Spanish Radio Television to select the artist who will represent Spain in Eurovision. The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, visited this Monday for the final works and tomorrow, Tuesday, and next Thursday the two semi-finals will be held, before giving way to the final gala that will take place on Saturday, 3 February.

Along with the first mayor, the Minister of Tourism of the Generalitat, Nuria Montes, and the Councilor for Festivals and Events, Jesús Carrobles, were also on this visit, as well as about fifty journalists and communicators specialized in Eurovision, who were the first to know what the set of the contest will be like and according to the director of Studies and Technical Media of RTVE, José Luis Muñiz, and the director of Communication and Participation of RTVE, María Eizaguirre.

The mayor of Benidorm has felt “very excited about all the positive things that the celebration of this third edition of Benidorm Fest promises, which will be its absolute consolidation”, and has recalled the data from the study prepared by the Pedro Chair of Tourism Studies Zaragoza from the University of Alicante, who estimate the direct economic impact of this event on the city at 1.5 million euros, to which is added a media impact close to 80 million euros.

"It is a festival of incalculable value, which will not only fill the city with 'Eurofans' and music lovers during this week but also follows in the wake of what was once the Song Festival of Benidorm and represents the great musical event of our country and many others around us at the start of the year,” added Toni Pérez.

As for the installation on the central court of Palau d'Esports, it has been transformed into a futuristic television set, oval and with an area of 581 square meters, which is made up of two parts: the circular central area, which includes a large circular screen on the floor, and two side tunnels that connect to the back of the stage. In addition, it will have an impressive high-resolution LED screen in the centre, also oval.

At the other end of the venue, right in front of the stage, there will be the surface that will house the 'Green Room' – the place where the artists rest after performing their show – and the jury, all with an extension of 475 m². Finally, there will also be a space for the public who will be able to follow the galas 'in situ', on the one hand, from the dance floor, which will be located between the stage and the 'Green Room'; while the rest of the audience will occupy the seats located on the sides. The public area will have approximately 680 m².

The first of the semifinals will begin tomorrow, at 10:30 p.m., and will be broadcast live on Spanish Television. In this order, Lérica will participate with their song 'Astronauta'; Noan, with 'Te echo de menos'; Sofía Coll and her song 'Here to stay'; Mantra, with Me vas a ver'; Miss Caffeina and her theme 'Blah, blah, blah'; Quique Niza with 'Prisionero'; Angy Fernández with the song 'Sé quien soy'; and, finally, Nebulossa with the song 'Zorra'.

The second semi-final, which will take place on this same stage and at the same time, will take place on Thursday, February 1, and will bring together the other eight participants: María Peláe and 'Remitente'; Dellacruz with 'Beso en la Mañana'; Marlena and 'Amor de verano'; St. Pedro with the theme 'Dos extraños'; Jorge González and his 'Caliente'; Yoly Saa and the song 'No se me olvida'; Roger Padrós with 'El temps'; and, finally, Almácor with 'Brillos Platino'.

In the grand final, which will take place at 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, the eight classified in the two previous galas will perform, and the artist who will represent Spain in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be chosen. The contest will be celebrated from May 14 to 18, 2024 at Malmö Arena in the city of Malmö, Sweden.