First semifinal of the Benidorm Fest: six qualified, several surprises and the unexpected absence of Luna Ki

The first semi-final of Benidorm Fest 2026, held this Tuesday at the Palau d’Esports l’Illa, confirmed the first six finalists who will compete in the grand gala on Saturday, February 14. The festival, which this year no longer selects a representative for Eurovision, continues to consolidate itself as an independent musical platform. 

The artists who achieved their pass to the final are Tony Grox & Lucycalys with T AMARÉ, Izan Llunas (¿Qué vas a hacer?), Kitai (El amor te da miedo), Mikel Herzog Jr. (Mi mitad), Kenneth (Los ojos no mienten) and the duo María León y Julia Medina (Las damas y el vagabundo). These proposals stood out for their variety of styles and their vocal and stage presence in a gala presented by Jesús Vázquez, Javier Ambrossi and Inés Hernand, whose interventions were very applauded on social networks.

The semifinal was also marked by several surprise eliminations. Among those who said goodbye to the festival are Dora & Marlon Collins, well-regarded by the jury but without enough popular support, and Greg Taro with Velita. The most talked-about absence was that of Luna Ki, whose song Bomba de amor was one of the most anticipated entries. After her performance, the artist left the set due to indisposition and did not return to the “Green Room”, drawing attention among viewers and the media. RTVE confirmed that the artist was fine and that her departure was not related to any major controversy.

In this edition of Benidorm Fest, the jury's and the public's vote are combined in a balanced way to determine who advances, and the winner will receive a prize of 150,000 euros, in addition to international promotional opportunities to boost their musical career.The second semifinal will be held this Thursday, February 12, where another six finalists will be defined who will join those already qualified to compete in Saturday's final

Moments remembered and positive

Diversity of styles and strong messages on stage — The first semifinal was marked by varied performances that were well received, from the rock with a social message by Kitai, who took advantage of his moment to make statements against the rise of extremist ideologies and in favor of diversity and the LGTBIQ+ collective — a moment that was highlighted by the press as one of the most powerful moments of the night. 

Vibrant performances and outstanding stage presence — Names like Tony Grox & Lucycalys, Izan Llunas, Mikel Herzog Jr. and Kenneth offered proposals that connected with the jury and the audience, showing energy, presence and vocal solidity, which earned them direct passage to the final. The staging of these artists was highlighted by the media as one of the keys to the night's success. 

Surprises and points of debate

Luna Ki's abandonment — The absence of Luna Ki after her performance with Bomba de amor became one of the most talked-about moments. The artist, who had returned to the competition with an anticipated proposal and a song that many considered "an emotional and liberating anthem," left the set before the results were announced due to "indisposition." This generated speculation and media attention, as she is an artist with strong prior recognition in the context of the festival. 

Unexpected eliminations — Despite good expectations, the elimination of candidacies with potential also drew attention, such as Greg Taro and Dora & Marlon Collins, proposals that several media outlets and followers considered interesting, although they did not get enough support from the public or the jury to advance from the semifinals. 

Debate about execution versus expectations — Some previous analyses highlighted that certain songs, although attractive in studio or in concept —like Greg Taro's Velita or even Luna Ki's own Bomba de amor— did not manage to translate that expectation into a sufficiently powerful stage performance, something that generated debate and criticism among commentators on social networks about the importance of staging in the final result. 

Together, these elements —both the moments that worked and those that generated conversation or surprise— contributed to the first semi-final of Benidorm Fest 2026 being remembered not only for the finalists but also for the debates and anecdotes that fuel its media repercussion, and sets high expectations for the second semi-final of the format.