Primavera Sound 2026 - Legacy line-ups and new stars united against all wars

We left off a year ago talking about the supposed “Coachella-fication” of Primavera Sound, a feeling born from a line-up that placed at its center (complete with a cartoon-style giant billboard positioned at the entrance to the Parc del Forum) three superstars of contemporary pop: Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. For the 2026 edition, the Catalan festival's organizers have refocused on musical offerings closer to the tastes of Primavera Sound's traditional crowd. The presence of heavyweights of the calibre of The Cure (with a decidedly festival-oriented setlist), Massive Attack (who in the end didn't play, but more on that shortly), Gorillaz (increasingly steeped in Damon Albarn's world-music leanings), My Bloody Valentine (yes, they even did 3-4 minutes of “Holocaust Section” and a hyper-psychedelic “Wonder 2”), Slowdive (hampered by acoustics, stage and timeslot that were all thoroughly unsuitable) recalibrated the average age of the crowd and satisfied the “old guard”, without taking anything away from the younger attendees, given the presence of an electro component that was, as usual, a major draw (at least sixty thousand turned out to cheer on Skrillex, though Shackleton, Ninajirachi, Underground Resistance and the closing DJ set delivered by Peggy Gou also stood out) and superstar pop acts such as Addison Rae (her stage dive went instantly viral), PinkPantheress (who completely packed the Cupra stage, as never before) and Jade (remember that name — she's already won a Brit Award, and this is just the beginning…).

The slogan for the 2026 edition is “NO WAR”: the giant neon signs looming over a couple of strategic spots are among the most photographed elements, and most of the artists performing throughout the week make plenty of references to the wars currently devastating parts of the planet. This pacifist sensibility is underscored by the presence on the bill of an act that has made activism its very reason for being, Kneecap, as well as Sama' Abdulhadi, the Palestinian DJ who has by now achieved international fame, and even Arab Barghouti, son of Marwan, the Palestinian politician who has been imprisoned in Israel since 2002 after being arrested by the IDF. Arab takes the stage before Gorillaz's set to speak up for the Palestinian cause, a choice that defines this 24th edition of Primavera Sound, which invites everyone to dance, sing, have fun, stroll along the seafront, watch their favourite artists, sip a spritz, meet up with friends from the community — but also to pause and reflect on the many armed conflicts currently underway.

As usual, the Festival officially kicks off on Monday, with three days of events spread across venues in the city centre, and Wednesday brings the first taste of the Parc del Forum, an opening day headlined by Yard Act and Wet Leg.
The first “full” day, Thursday, is unfortunately marred by severe weather, widely forecast in the days before but still catching part of the crowd — and Primavera Sound's own organisers — off guard; the schedule could have been reshuffled in advance, but instead, from 10pm onward, they're forced to cancel the entire main-arena lineup (which again features the two biggest stages side by side), scrapping the sets from Massive Attack (first pushed back two and a half hours, then cancelled outright, following announcements that were far from timely, often shared via social media in an area with no phone signal), Doja Cat, Bad Gyal, Mac De Marco and Alex G. Everything else more or less carries on as planned, but the disruption is considerable, especially given the lack of clear announcements during the two or three most chaotic hours.
The following morning, right on schedule, comes Primavera Sound's statement guaranteeing a full refund to all holders of Thursday's daily ticket — a day which nonetheless produces excellent sets from Geese (utterly unfazed by the storm just getting underway), Blood Orange (superb — in my top 3 of this edition), Father John Misty (such class, that man), Oklou (the young Frenchwoman confirms everything good that's being said about her) and 2hollis (a powerhouse, backed by highly effective lasers and stage effects). Naturally, the crowds thin out as the night goes on, with many calling it quits around midnight, completely soaked.

Fortunately, over the following two days everything runs smoothly, allowing a clearer picture to emerge of a bill that, as always, manages to satisfy a wide range of tastes and paths. From the harder-edged side, represented by the uncompromising Agriculture, Kylesa, Knocked Loose and Osserp, to the romantic saudade of Portugal's Gisela João, from the ultra-refined pop of The xx to the indie-rock of Sophs, NewDad and Water From Your Eyes, from the made-in-England energy of Viagra Boys and Lambrini Girls to the urban rhythms of the acclaimed Little Simz and Sudan Archives. This year also sees the return of the Auditori, the comfortable indoor venue that sells out on several occasions, starting with the voice-and-piano-only performance by Cameron Winter, the singer of Geese, who takes the stage three times (twice with the band) within 24 hours.

Saturday in particular is packed with surprising twists, starting with the return of the eagerly-awaited unexpected sets (shows announced at the last minute): first and foremost Olivia Rodrigo, who suddenly becomes a full-fledged bonus headliner, but also all the artists lighting up the night at Pulse, Primavera Sound's open-air club, hand-picked by Skrillex himself, among them Arca, Four Tet and Blawan, whose names are only revealed right before the night begins. On top of that, a string of unannounced guest appearances elevate the closing day of the Barcelona event: Robert Smith joins Olivia Rodrigo onstage, Little Simz joins Gorillaz, Grian Chatten joins Kneecap. Celebrity-spotting chapter: not just influencers, but also actress Salma Hayek at the front for Cara Delevingne, Victoria of Maneskin spotted strolling between Fakemink and Jade's sets, Grian Chatten in the VIP area watching The Cure, Pep Guardiola enjoying the main-arena shows from above, and even Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, confirming the growing interest Primavera Sound continues to generate. Not just being there, but living it fully, breathing it in with every breath.

I'll close by mentioning the two sets that struck me most. First, Ethel Cain, who opens with the hit “American Teenager” before building an incredibly intense atmosphere that peaks during “A House In Nebraska”, the most moving seven minutes of this whole edition: for the first time, the main-stage crowd (in the area affectionately nicknamed “Mordor”) falls into reverent silence, spellbound, genuinely covered in goosebumps. Equally intense is the set from Big Thief, who play several unreleased songs and show off an Adrianne Lenker in great form, displaying real skill not just in her vocal delivery but also on guitar, with the evergreens “Not” and “Vampire Empire” standing out.

Sunday brings the usual closing ritual of the electro-tinged Brunch On The Beach, and then there's nothing left but the melancholy of returning to normal life. But we already have the dates for next year's edition, the 25th: reaching such a milestone is no small feat for a music festival, especially given that two years were lost to the pandemic in between. It will be a proper celebration, centred around Thursday June 3, Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5. Best to book flights and hotels now, before prices skyrocket. In just a few days the early bird tickets go on sale — discounted tickets bought blind, without knowing a single name on next year's line-up. But there's no real risk involved: Primavera Sound has been a sure bet for a quarter of a century now. Which means it's time for “predictions”, the thousand guesses about who might be on the bill in twelve months, starting with the musicians who have upcoming albums in the works. The Primavera Sound experience never takes a break…

(Photo by Claudio Lancia)

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