Spain will be officially kicking off the Eurovision 2019 national selection season tonight, being the first country to commence its search for its ESC 2019 candidate via a televised show. Operación Triunfo 2018 is set to premiere tonight with its very first show.

OT 2018 will determine the 2019 Spanish Eurovision hopefful and entry and is scheduled to run throughout fall with circa 14 shows geared up to entertain the Spanish audience. Who will follow Amaia & Alfred’s footsteps in Tel Aviv?

How to watch?

You can watch Operación Triunfo Gala #0 via the following channels  at 22:30 CEST:

• TVE 1
• TVE HD
• TVE Internacional (Africa/Europe)
• TVE 1 webcast

The Show

A total of 18 hopefuls will fight for the 16 spots in the competition during tonight’s show, 2 of them will be evicted. Roberto Leal will be back in the talent show as the master of ceremonies.

During the show the 18 candidates will show off their vocal skills and the 16 lucky OT 2018 participants will be selected via the following procedure:

• The OT 2018 four member jury will select 14 candidates
• The teacher committee will select 1 candidate
• The public will select the last candidate via televoting from the remaining  3 hopefuls

The Participants

• África
  
• Albra Reche
• Alfonso
• Carlos Right
• Damion
• Dave
• Famous
• Joan Garrido
• Julia
• Luis
• María
  
• Marilia
• Marta
• Miki
• Natalia
• Noelia
• Rodrigo
• Sabela

Operación Triunfo and Eurovision

2019 will see Spain select its Eurovision act and entry for the 5th time via Operacion Triunfo, having used this mechanism in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2018.

OT 2018 will determine the 2019 Spanish Eurovision representative, all 16 OT participants will be eligible to defend the Spanish colours in Tel Aviv.