Five contestants will compete in the semi-final of Maestros de la Costura Celebrity 2 on Spanish television channel La 1 on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The five remaining contenders must demonstrate conceptual vision, volume management under pressure, and real-world haute couture interpretation across three distinct tailoring challenges to secure a spot in the grand final.
New Year festive design challenge
The opening challenge tests the contestants' ability to turn fashion into a tool for communication and provocation. Taking inspiration from New Year's Eve, one of the most watched and visually scrutinized nights of the year, the participants must construct a festive look with strong conceptual weight that can spark social conversation while strictly matching precise measurements.
Stylist Natalia Bengoechea and comedian Lalachus will join the judging panel for the first test, which will take place under the watchful supervision of designer Luis de Javier. Maestros de la Costura is Spain's flagship reality sewing competition broadcast on public network RTVE, where celebrity participants complete intricate design tasks under time limits.
Outdoor challenge at Madrid palace
For the outdoor challenge, the competition leaves the studio and moves to the Palacio de Fernan Nunez in central Madrid. The venue will serve as a private runway where contestants will analyze ten historic garments created by Spanish fashion designer Hannibal Laguna as part of his 40th anniversary in the industry.
Working in teams, the contenders will replicate two of Laguna's iconic dresses. Individual performance in this challenge will grant direct qualification to the grand final, evaluated in the presence of socialite Carmen Lomana. The historic palace, located in Madrid's central district, provides a formal backdrop for honoring Laguna's four-decade career in haute couture.
Elimination round in modern tailoring
The final hurdle before the grand final focuses on new tailoring, an approach that revisits traditional tailoring codes to produce fluid, genderless, and timeless garments. Contestants wearing the black apron must deconstruct the structure of a classic jacket to build an avant-garde design.
Designers Xavi Garcia and Franx de Cristal, leaders of the fashion brand Acromatyx, will supervise the elimination test. Any error in fit, drape, or fabric hang will result in immediate elimination right before the final show.
