The picturesque village of Jalón is casting residents for Spain’s iconic summer TV show

The picturesque village in Spain’s Costa Blanca is inviting locals to step into the spotlight this summer – and it could become one of the most unexpected TV moments of the year.

The inland town of Jalón, located in Alicante’s Marina Alta region, has opened a casting call for residents to take part in the legendary Spanish television show Grand Prix del Verano. The hugely popular programme pits teams from different towns across Spain against each other in chaotic, family-friendly games filled with obstacle courses, inflatable challenges and plenty of laughs.

For expats living in the area, it’s a reminder of the vibrant local traditions that continue to shape life in Spain’s smaller communities – and an unusual opportunity to see a Costa Blanca village featured on national television.

Jalón has been selected to take part in the programme’s preliminary selection process, meaning it could potentially become one of the municipalities competing in the next season of the show broadcast on Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.

Local casting now open for the town’s team

Following the announcement, the Jalón town hall has opened applications to recruit the residents who could represent the village if it makes it through the final selection stage.

In total, 35 participants will be chosen to form the town’s official team. These residents would travel to the TV set to compete in the show’s famously absurd physical challenges – from giant foam obstacles to slippery relay races – if Jalón is confirmed as a competing municipality.

Applications opened this week and remain available until Monday March 9 at 2pm, with hopeful participants asked to complete an official registration form provided by the local council.

However, there are a few requirements.

Participants must be between 18 and 35 years old, officially registered as residents of Jalón and physically fit enough to handle tests of strength, agility, balance and endurance – all standard elements of the show’s famously energetic format.

For those unfamiliar with Spanish television, Grand Prix del Verano is one of the country’s most nostalgic summer shows. Broadcast on RTVE, the programme brings together small towns from across Spain to compete in playful games that often become must-watch summer entertainment for Spanish families.

The Marina Alta region has already had a taste of the spotlight in recent years. In 2024, the nearby town of Ondara represented the area in the competition, highlighting how these close-knit communities can suddenly find themselves on the national stage.

If Jalón is ultimately selected, the quiet valley town – known for its vineyards, weekly market and scenic countryside – could soon be entertaining millions of viewers across Spain, with its residents proudly representing the Costa Blanca on primetime television.