Quintanar del Rey secured a spot in the final of Spain's Grand Prix del Verano on Monday, August 31, after defeating Altura by a single point in the second semi-final of the popular television game show.
The yellow team from Cuenca completed a dramatic late comeback to win 24 to 23 during the final word challenge on La 1, setting up a title showdown against the Barcelona municipality of Polinyà.
Altura, competing as the blue team from Castellón, led or stayed level through most of the broadcast. Quintanar del Rey took their first lead of the night just before the closing phase, taking a narrow 24 to 23 advantage into the deciding card game, El Diccionario.
In the high-stakes word round, the Cuenca team kept their composure and answered correctly to complete the victory and seal their place in the championship match.
Game show challenges and guest appearances
The episode opened with presenter Ramón García lighting up the set from a height of ten meters before introducing the two teams. Actress Melani Olivares joined the broadcast to support Altura, while comedian Galder Varas backed Quintanar del Rey and provided comical moments while managing adrenaline during the Hot Potato challenge.
Contestants competed in iconic challenges including Penguin Duck Toss, Naughty Seagulls, and the High-Altitude Beekeeping obstacle course. The recurring character Culete caused havoc during the bowling game, leading one participant to wear a shirt stating they had survived Culete, while another contestant broke a bridge railing during the squirrel race.
García also joined the action during the broadcast when he was spontaneously pulled into dancing alongside the show's corps de ballet.
Background on Grand Prix del Verano
Grand Prix del Verano is a long-running Spanish television competition broadcast on public network RTVE's main channel, La 1. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Ramón García, the summer program pits small towns from across Spain against each other in physical games, obstacle courses, and trivia challenges.
Quintanar del Rey is a municipality located in the province of Cuenca within Castile-La Mancha, while Altura is situated in the province of Castellón in the Valencian Community. Their opponent in the final, Polinyà, is a town in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia.
Schedule for the Grand Prix final
The 2026 season final will air on La 1 on Wednesday, September 2, at 9:45 p.m. Quintanar del Rey and Polinyà will compete for the summer title, supported by guest comedians Victoria Martín and Miguel Maldonado on the arena floor.
