Grand Prix 2026 premiere brings back La cucaña and new co-host

The Grand Prix returned to La 1 on July 13, 2026, with a premiere that saw Polinyà (Barcelona) defeat Cantalejo (Segovia) 36–19. The most talked-about moment was the return of La cucaña, a classic 1990s challenge that required contestants to climb a greasy pole to retrieve hams. Ramón García, who presented the program alongside Lalachus and new co-host Gorka Rodríguez, said the decision was driven by viewer requests via letters and emails Source: La Vanguardia.

La cucaña returns

Three contestants per team attempted the climb within 2.5 minutes; Polinyà secured eight hams against Cantalejo's two Source: ABC. The test quickly trended on social media, with one user calling it “Historia de la televisión” Source: ABC.

New faces and format tweaks

Gorka Rodríguez, a radio presenter from RNE, joined as co-host after appearing as a town sponsor the previous summer. His debut was widely praised on X (formerly Twitter), with comments calling him “a hit” and noting his chemistry with Lalachus Source: El Confidencial. The show also introduced 'Grand Prix Presenta', a pre-show segment showcasing the competing towns, and advanced its time slot to 21:45 Source: Infobae.

Audience reaction

Despite some criticism of the 'El Diccionario' challenge as unfair, the overall reception was enthusiastic. Many viewers celebrated the return of La cucaña and the family-friendly atmosphere, with Ramón García describing the program as “the only one where people put down their phones” Source: Infobae, El Confidencial.