Spanish networks propose competing debate dates for Sánchez and Feijóo ahead of 29 November election

Election call triggers broadcast bids

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced snap general elections for 29 November 2026 during an institutional statement at the Moncloa Palace on 5 October. The decision followed the parliamentary defeat of two government royal decrees on housing, which were rejected on Friday by the combined votes of the People's Party (PP), Vox, and Junts per Catalunya. Sánchez deliberated over the weekend before informing King Felipe VI on Monday morning, ahead of the monarch's departure on a state visit to Finland with Queen Letizia. The election call immediately spurred Spain's leading television networks to submit formal debate proposals to the campaign directors of the main political parties.

RTVE proposes three-debate format

Public broadcaster RTVE outlined a three-part debate program designed to air live in prime time across its terrestrial channels, radio stations, and online platforms. The corporation scheduled a direct face-to-face clash between Pedro Sánchez and PP president Alberto Núñez Feijóo for Tuesday, 17 November. A second event on Monday, 23 November, would assemble spokespersons from all eight parliamentary groups in Congress, including the PP, PSOE, Vox, Sumar, ERC, Junts, EH Bildu, and EAJ-PNV. RTVE's plan concludes with a four-candidate debate on Thursday, 26 November, featuring the contenders from the four primary national political forces.

All would be broadcast live and in prime time, offering the signal free of charge to operators that request it.

Commercial networks submit competing dates

Commercial operators Mediaset España and Atresmedia responded with separate proposals to host the political leaders. Mediaset formally invited Sánchez and Feijóo to a head-to-head debate, with director of Noticias Cuatro Juan Pedro Valentín confirming the offer during a live news bulletin.

Here, in this house, we have already proposed a face-to-face debate between Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Núñez Feijóo.

Atresmedia presented a two-tier program across Antena 3, laSexta, Onda Cero, and its streaming service atresplayer. The media group proposed staging a four-party debate on Wednesday, 18 November, followed by a head-to-head encounter between Sánchez and Feijóo on Monday, 23 November, six days before the election.

Broadcasters cite 2023 audience benchmarks

The competing submissions build on previous election coverage records and established television traditions. Atresmedia stated that Antena 3 broadcast the first televised electoral debate in Spain in 1993, which featured Felipe González and José María Aznar. In July 2023, the single head-to-head between Sánchez and Feijóo moderated by Ana Pastor and Vicente Vallés on Antena 3 and laSexta achieved a 46.5% audience share, drawing 5.9 million linear viewers and 12.5 million viewers across all group platforms. During that same 2023 cycle, RTVE organized a seven-spokesperson debate and a three-way candidate debate hosted by Xabier Fortes in Studio 6 at Prado del Rey in Madrid, after Feijóo declined to attend the public network's four-candidate format. Campaign committees will now negotiate studio rules and agree on the final debate calendar.