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

• The mayor visits the facilities together with the Minister of Tourism and a large group of journalists and communicators specialised in Eurovision

Everything is ready at the Palau d'Esports l'Illa in Benidorm to kick off the third edition of the Benidorm Fest, the competition organised by the city council, the Generalitat Valenciana and Spanish Radio Television to select the artist who will represent Spain in Eurovision. The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, visited this the final assembly work on the stage where today, Tuesday, and next Thursday the two semi-finals will be held, before giving way to the grand final 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 specialised in Eurovision, who were the first to know what the set of the contest will be like and some glimpses of how the galas will take place from the mouth of 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 shown himself “very excited about all the positive things that the celebration of this third edition of the 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 itself deployed on the central court of the Palau d'Esports, it has been transformed into a futuristic television set, oval in shape and with an area of ​​581 square meters, which is made up of two parts. fundamental: 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 center, also oval in shape. 

At the other end of the venue, right in front of the Benidorm Fest stage, there will be the surface that will house the 'Green Room' – the area where the artists rest after performing their show – and the jury table, 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 itself, which will be located between the stage and the 'Green Room' area; while the rest of the audience will occupy the stands located on the sides. The public area will have an approximate area of ​​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 'I miss you'; Sofía Coll and hers 'Here to stay'; Mantra, with Me you will see'; Miss Caffeina and her theme 'Blah, blah, blah'; Quique Niza with 'Prisionero'; Angy Fernández with the song 'I know who I am'; 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 'Kiss in the morning'; Marlena and 'Summer Love'; St. Pedro with the theme 'Two strangers'; Jorge González and his 'Caliente'; Yoly Saa and the song 'I don't forget'; Roger Padrós with 'El temps'; and, finally, Almácor with 'Brillos platino'. 

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