Running order for Benidorm Fest semi-finals released
A few hours ago, RTVE announced the running order for the semi-finals of Benidorm Fest 2025, which will be taking place throughout the week across the broadcaster’s platforms.
Sixteen songs will compete at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm for the coveted “bronze microphone” and Spain’s ticket to Basel in May, as the Alicante city hosts Spain’s revamped national final for the fourth year in a row. The first semi-final takes place this Tuesday, and the second on Thursday, both at 10:50pm CET, with the top four songs from each show qualifying for the grand final on Saturday, which begins at 10pm CET.
The running order for both semi-finals will be as follows:
Semi-final 1 (Tuesday 28th January)
- Kuve – Loca xti
- David Afonso – Amor barato
- Chica Sobresalto – Mala feminista
- K!ngdom – Me gustas tú
- Lucas Bun – Te escribo en el cielo
- Sonia & Selena – Reinas
- Lachispa – Hartita de llorar
- Daniela Blasco – Uh nana
Semi-final 2 (Thursday 30th January)
- Mel Ömana – I’m A Queen
- Henry Semler – No lo ves
- DeTeresa – La pena
- J Kbello – V.I.P.
- Carla Frigo – Bésame
- Mawot – Raggio di sole
- Celine Van Heel – La casa
- Melody – Esa diva
The three shows will be hosted by Ruth Lorenzo, Spain’s 2014 ESC representative, as well as Paula Vásquez and Inés Hernand.
There has been considerable reform to the voting system for the show, prompted by popular demand after 3-piece band Mantra failed to qualify for the grand final in 2024 despite coming top of the public vote in semi-final 1. With the demoscopic jury, which has counted towards a third of the overall ranking in the last 3 years, now removed, 50% of the result will come from the public (split 25-25 between SMS and app voting, introduced for the first time this year), and 50% will be determined by an expert jury, made up of 4 Spanish and 3 international industry members. They are:
- Claudia Orellana (esteemed musical talent scout)
- Jaime Acero (Content Director of TelevisaUnivisión and music producer)
- Javier Llano (Head of Music Programming at CADENA 100, a Spanish radio station)
- Maja Tokić (Executive Producer of Dora, Croatia’s national final)
- Oksana Skybinska (HoD for Ukraine at Eurovision)
- Roberto Santamaría (General Director of Radio Nacional de España)
- Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen (Head of Contest for Eurovision 2023 and former Dutch HoD)
Spain will be hoping the eventual winner of BF gives them a better result than last year’s winners Nebulossa, who, despite finding domestic chart success and Eurofan-favourite status with their female empowerment disco track Zorra, only finished 22nd in the final in Malmö. According to Bet365, the odds-on favourite to win before the show is Lachispa with Hartita de llorar, followed by Melody with Esa diva.
Who do you want to win Benidorm Fest 2025? Feel free to vote in our polls for both semi-finals, and look out for our live blogs for all nights of BF and more across national final season! Also remember to follow us across social media for exclusive Eurovision news, reviews, interviews and more!