Peru in the OTI Festival

The participation of Peru in the OTI Festival first began at the inaugural OTI Festival in 1972 held in Madrid and continued continuously until the last edition in 2000 held in Acapulco. Panamericana Televisión and América Televisión, members of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), were responsible for the Peruvian participation.

Peru never won the OTI festival, but during their uninterrupted participation the country achieved many successes and placed in the top 10 several times. Their first participant, Betty Missiego, would represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 placing second.

History
Even though the debut of Peru in the festival was not successful, the following entries, which were selected internally, were much more promising. In fact, one year later, in Belo Horizonte, the performer Gabriela de Jesús, placed second with her song "El mundo gira por tu amor".

In 1977, again in Madrid, the singer Cecilia Bracamonte managed to place sixth for Peru with her song "Lando" which turned into a hit in the South American country.

Some years later, in 1982, when Lima hosted the event for first time, the singer Elsa María Elejalde managed again to take the country to the top 10 with a seventh place.

In 1988, in Buenos Aires, the singer Rocky Belmonte achieved third place for Peru with the song "Partiré Buscaré" and in 1996 in Quito, the Peruvian broadcaster ended in the same place with Carmina Cannavino and her song "Bendito amor". The last Peruvian representative in the event was Anna Carina, who, although she didn't manage to reach the top 10, turned into a well known personality in the country.

Contestants
Rocky Belmonte, who represented Perú in the OTI Festival in 1988, placing third, returned to the event in 1994 in, Valencia with his song "Mía" getting the 12th place.