Operación Triunfo (series 11)


Operación Triunfo is a Spanish reality television music competition to find new singing talent. The eleventh series, also known as Operación Triunfo 2020, began airing on La 1 on 12 January 2020, presented by Roberto Leal.
In addition to the Galas or weekly live shows on La 1, the side show El Chat airs on La 1 after each weekly Gala, hosted by Noemí Galera and Ricky Merino. The activities of the contestants at "The Academy" or La Academia are streamed live via YouTube.
Unlike the seasons previously aired by TVE, the series did not serve as the platform to select the Spanish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020; singer Blas Cantó was internally selected by the broadcaster instead. Further changes were revealed during the presentation press conference on January 9, including different privileges to the favorite of the audience, who will no longer be automatically exempt from nomination, and the suppression of the usual limit to the number of contestants up for elimination.
Following the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, the show was paused for two months, and then returned on May 20.

Headmaster, judges and presenter

continues as host and Noemí Galera continues as the headmaster of the Academy. Ana Torroja, Joe Pérez-Orive, and Manuel Martos left the judging panel. On 12 December 2019, it was announced that the panel would consist of four permanent judges, without the presence of rotatory guest judges like in the previous two seasons. It was announced that the panel would consist of music radio director Javier Llano – who was previously a permanent judge on series 4, 5 and 6 –, musician and talent scout Javier Portugués, singer and songwriter Natalia Jiménez, and singer and actress Nina – who was previously the headmaster of the Academy on series 1, 2, 3 and 8 – are the judges.

Auditions

Open casting auditions began on 7 October 2019 in Barcelona and concluded on 6 November 2019 in Madrid. The minimum age to audition was 18.
LocationDateVenue
Barcelona7 October 2019Palau Sant Jordi
Las Palmas11 October 2019Institución Ferial de Canarias
Valencia14 October 2019Feria Valencia
Palma17 October 2019Pavelló Municipal de Son Ferragut
Málaga21 October 2019Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena
Seville24 October 2019Cartuja Center Cite
Bilbao28 October 2019Bilbao Arena
Santiago de Compostela30 October 2019Pavillón Multiusos Fontes do Sar
Madrid5 November 2019Madrid Arena

A total of 10,601 candidates participated in the open auditions. After the open auditions, 86 candidates were called for the final auditions that took place from 25 November to 26 November 2019 in Barcelona. For the first time, all phases of the casting auditions were streamed live via YouTube up until the announcement of the last thirty candidates. Eighteen of these candidates advanced to the introduction live show or "Gala 0".

Contestants

18 contestants were presented on the introduction live show or Gala 0.
ContestantAgeResidenceEpisode of eliminationPlace finished
Nía26Las Palmas, Canary IslandsGala FinalWinner
Flavio19Murcia, MurciaGala FinalRunner-up
Eva19Sada, GaliciaGala Final3rd
Anaju25Alcañiz, AragonGala Final4th
Hugo20Córdoba, AndalusiaGala Final5th
Maialen25Pamplona, NavarreGala 126th
Samantha25Beniarrés, Valencian CommunityGala 127th
Bruno25Alcalá de Henares, MadridGala 118th
Gèrard20CeutaGala 109th
Jesús24Barbate, AndalusiaGala 810th
Rafa23Adamuz, AndalusiaGala 711th
Anne18Pamplona, NavarreGala 612th
Javy21Barbate, AndalusiaGala 513th
Nick19Sant Cugat del Vallès, CataloniaGala 414th
Eli19Las Palmas, Canary IslandsGala 315th
Ariadna18Sant Joan Despí, CataloniaGala 216th
Valery22Elche, Valencian CommunityGala 0Not selected
Adri23Palma de Mallorca, Balearic IslandsGala 0Not selected

''Galas''

The Galas or live shows began on 12 January 2020. In the introduction live show or Gala 0, 18 candidates were presented to enter the "Academy." Each contestant performed a cover version of a popular song of their choice, and two of the candidates were eliminated. For the regular galas, the contestants are assigned a popular song to perform in a duet or solo. The audience votes for their favourite performer, and the contestant with the most votes receives a privilege in the competition, which varies every week. The jury panel comments on the performances and nominates a number of contestants for elimination. The Academy's staff meeting has the option to save one of the nominees. The safe contestants save one of the remaining nominees. Each week, at least two contestants end up being up for elimination.

Results summary

;Colour key

Gala 0 (12 January 2020)

Gala 1 (19 January 2020)

ContestantOrderSongResult
Eva1"Little Talks"Favourite of the audience; saved by the jury
Nick1"Little Talks"Nominated by the jury; up for elimination
Maialen2"Sinmigo"Saved by the jury
Bruno2"Sinmigo"Saved by the jury
Eli3"Atrévete-te-te"Saved by the jury
Jesús3"Atrévete-te-te"Saved by the jury
Ariadna4"Good as Hell"Nominated by the jury; up for elimination
Nía4"Good as Hell"Saved by the jury
Javy5"Te espero aquí"Saved by the jury
Samantha5"Te espero aquí"Nominated by the jury; saved by the Academy's staff
Anaju6"Up"Saved by the jury
Gèrard6"Up"Saved by the jury
Anne7"Another Love"Saved by the jury
Flavio7"Another Love"Saved by the jury
Hugo8"Tu calorro"Saved by the jury
Rafa8"Tu calorro"Nominated by the jury; saved by contestants

Gala 2 (26 January 2020)

The show was put on hiatus and the remaining contestants sent home as a precautionary measure over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
ContestantOrderSolo SongOrderGroup SongResult
Samantha1"Something's Got a Hold on Me"5"R.I.P."Eliminated
Anaju2"Nana del Mediterráneo"5"R.I.P."Saved by the jury; Finalist
Nía9"Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti" 5"R.I.P."Already qualified
Flavio3"Vi"7"Hey! Baby"Saved by the public vote; Finalist
Eva8"El momento" 7"Hey! Baby"Already qualified
Maialen4"Si te vas"10"Adiós papá"Eliminated
Hugo6"Me vale" 10"Adiós papá"Already qualified

Gala Final (10 June 2020)