Ibai Llanos is basically the only person on the planet who can turn a bunch of streamers punching each other in the face into a global cultural phenomenon that breaks the internet every single summer. It's wild. If you’ve followed the trajectory from the first small-scale event in Barcelona to the massive takeover of the Santiago Bernabéu for the fourth edition, you know the stakes for La Velada del Año 5 are higher than ever. People aren't just looking for another boxing match; they’re looking for a spectacle that defies what we think live streaming can actually do.
The Bernabéu hangover and the road to La Velada del Año 5
Honestly, following up on the 2024 event is a nightmare for any producer. Think about it. You had Will Smith performing, a sold-out stadium of over 75,000 people, and a peak viewership that officially clocked in at over 3.8 million concurrent devices on Twitch—though Ibai later mentioned the real numbers were likely higher due to platform glitches. It was massive.
So, where do you go from there?
The rumors for La Velada del Año 5 started swirling before the sweat had even dried on the canvas in Madrid. Ibai has a tendency to drop hints during his late-night Just Chatting sessions, and he's been pretty vocal about the fatigue that comes with organizing something this big. Organizing these fights isn't just about picking names; it's about medical clearances, months of training camps, and the constant fear that someone will pull out three days before the bell rings because of a rib injury.
We've seen it happen. Remember the chaos of the "Rey de la Pista" or the last-minute replacements in previous years? That’s the reality of influencer boxing. It's messy. It’s unpredictable. And that’s exactly why we watch it.
Where is La Velada del Año 5 going to happen?
Location is everything. While many fans are clamoring for the event to finally cross the Atlantic and land in Latin America—specifically Mexico or Argentina—the logistics are a total headache. Ibai has mentioned multiple times that moving the entire production crew, the lighting rigs, and the security detail to another continent is an astronomical expense.
However, there is a serious conversation about the Azteca Stadium in Mexico.
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It makes sense. The Mexican fanbase is arguably the most passionate in the entire Spanish-speaking community. But don't rule out another Spanish stadium. The Metropolitano or even a return to a revamped Camp Nou (if construction timelines allow) are always on the table. Ibai loves his home turf. It’s easier to control. It’s safer. But he also knows that to keep the "World Cup of Streaming" vibe alive, he eventually has to travel.
The fighter selection process is getting harder
You can't just put two random YouTubers in the ring anymore. The audience is smarter now. They want to see technique, or at least a genuine grudge. For La Velada del Año 5, the pressure to find "Heavyweight" names—both in terms of followers and actual physical stature—is intense.
- The ElRubius factor: Fans have been begging for Rubius to fight for years. He’s the final boss of Spanish YouTube. He’s teased it. He’s joked about it. But the physical toll is real. If Ibai manages to get Rubius on the card for the fifth anniversary, the internet might actually break for good.
- The International expansion: After seeing Speed and other English-speaking creators show up as guests, there is a massive push to include them in the fights. Imagine a US vs. Spain match. The viewership would move beyond the Hispanic market and tap into the global English-speaking audience in a way we haven't seen yet.
- The Pro-Am balance: One thing Ibai does well is mixing total novices with people who actually take it seriously. But as the event evolves, the "meme" fights are becoming less frequent, replaced by creators who spend six months in professional boxing gyms.
Why the "Velada formula" still works when others fail
Most influencer boxing events feel like cheap cash grabs. You know the ones—overpriced PPVs with terrible undercards and fighters who look like they’ve never seen a pair of gloves. Ibai’s event is different because it’s free.
Well, free to watch on Twitch.
That accessibility is the secret sauce. By keeping the barrier to entry at zero dollars, he ensures that a kid in a rural village in Colombia can watch the same high-quality production as someone in a penthouse in Madrid. The revenue comes from massive sponsors like Cupra, Samsung, or Revolut, not from fleecing the fans. It’s a community-first model that most corporate media companies still don't understand.
The technical nightmare of streaming to millions
Let’s talk about the tech for a second because it’s actually insane. When you have nearly 4 million people watching a single stream, you aren't just pushing the limits of Twitch; you’re pushing the limits of the internet infrastructure. During the last Velada, the "source" quality was struggling. Frames were dropping. The chat was moving so fast it was essentially a blurred wall of white text.
For La Velada del Año 5, Ibai’s team and Twitch engineers have to figure out a way to handle the load. There have been talks about multi-camera feeds where users can pick their own angles—sort of like a digital F1 broadcast. Whether Twitch's current architecture can handle that for 4 million people simultaneously is a big "maybe."
What we get wrong about the training
A common misconception is that these streamers just show up and swing wildly. That’s a lie. Most of these creators undergo camps that would break a normal person. They’re training twice a day, cutting weight, and dealing with the psychological pressure of potentially being embarrassed in front of their entire peer group.
I’ve seen the behind-the-scenes footage from previous years. It’s not fun. There are tears, there’s vomiting, and there are genuine injuries that never make the headlines. By the time they reach La Velada del Año 5, the level of athleticism is expected to be even higher. We’re moving away from "funny influencers hitting each other" toward "amateur athletes with huge social media followings."
Looking ahead: The 2026 outlook
Since we are looking at the landscape in early 2026, the expectations for the fifth edition are basically "perfection or bust." This is the anniversary. This is the one where Ibai has to prove that the format isn't getting stale.
There's a lot of talk about changing the format entirely. Maybe more 2v2 matches? Maybe a tag-team style? Or perhaps a tournament-style "Final Four" where fighters have to win twice in one night? Whatever it is, it has to be fresh. You can't just do six standard bouts and expect the same hype. The audience is fickle. They’ve seen the stadium, they’ve seen the musical acts, and they’ve seen the knockouts.
Actionable steps for fans and creators
If you’re planning on following the buildup to La Velada del Año 5, don't just wait for the official announcement. The real story happens in the months leading up.
- Watch the "Fichajes" streams: Ibai usually starts revealing the "possibilities" around February or March. This is where he gauges audience reaction. If a name gets a bad reaction in chat, they’re usually out.
- Monitor the "Training Arcs": Creators who suddenly start posting photos from boxing gyms or mention "a big project for the summer" are usually the ones on the shortlist. Follow their Instagram stories closely.
- Check the venue early: Once the city is confirmed, hotel prices will triple within 24 hours. If it's Madrid again, book a refundable room the second the date is leaked. If it's Mexico City, make sure your passport is ready way in advance—the visa and travel logistics for an event this size are a nightmare.
- Expect the musical shift: Ibai is moving away from just reggaeton. Expect a mix of global pop stars and legendary Spanish-language artists. The "Will Smith" moment proved he can get anyone. Keep an eye on the touring schedules of major artists for July.
The reality is that La Velada del Año 5 represents the pinnacle of digital entertainment. It’s the moment where the line between "internet content" and "traditional television" completely disappears. Whether you’re there for the boxing, the music, or just to see if the Twitch servers can survive another year, it’s going to be the defining moment of the 2026 summer.
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Stay tuned to Ibai’s Twitch channel and his official Twitter (X) account for the "Presentación" event, which usually happens in a theater setting a few months before the actual fights. That’s where the face-offs happen, the weight classes are set, and the real drama begins.