Announcing the first 31 artists from a line up that will feature more than 100 shows in total, promising a festival as exciting, diverse, representative and original as ever. For the first time, the musical programme will take place entirely in a single venue, located at Fira Barcelona (Gran Via site, in L’Hospitalet), with a brand new three-day format and uninterrupted music from the afternoon and into the night, for a more comfortable, immersive, and seamless experience.
Sónar+D. The 14th International Congress of Innovation, Creativity and Technology maintains its discourse programme and reaffirms itself as a meeting point for professionals from music, creative technologies and cultural innovation, from a soon TBA location in Barcelona’s city center.
- Today, Sónar Festival announces the first 31 names in the programme for its 33rd edition, combining major artists and cult figures with some of the most exciting emerging names in contemporary electronic culture..
- The festival will feature new shows by Kelis, Skepta, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens,, Modeselektor, Cabaret Voltaire, Nia Archives, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, WhoMadeWho, Ascendant Vierge and 30drop, as well as DJ sets from Chris Stussy, Sammy Virji, DJ Gigola, Kettama, Joy Orbison, Boys Noize, Ogazón, ISA, Clementaum b2b LAZA, Alba Franch and more.
- Sónar +D will remain in Barcelona and also expand its presence within the musical programming at Fira Gran Via, enriching the experience through immersive installations, digital art and interactive elements. Details of the discourse and networking programme, to be held in a city center venue will be announced soon.
- The new SonarImage campaign, developed by the creative studio Boldtron, represents the festival as a living organism in constant mutation, reflecting its experimental and evolving spirit. Watch video here.
- Sónar and Sónar+D will offer affordable ticket options for all audiences. As a major novelty, after this first line-up announcement, SonarPass and SonarPass+D will not increase in price. Other ticket types will go on sale shortly.
Sónar 2026: A celebration of diversity, originality and the avant-garde
Sónar 2026 reveals around 30% of an exciting line-up as diverse, representative and original as ever. In total, the festival will feature more than 100 shows.
True to its mission, carried out over more than three decades of history, Sónar will continue to uncover local and international talent while acting as a globally relevant platform for electronic and digital culture.
This first announcement already hints at this unique curation while defining the artistic direction of this new edition with a programme that embraces multiple genres, languages, disciplines, generations and artistic communities.
This gathering of artists from across the entire electronic spectrum unites to reveal a snapshot of the contemporary scene, from the avant-garde to the most popular sounds in club culture, this June in Barcelona.
Sónar 2026 | 18, 19 and 20 June 2026
Kelis (US), Skepta (UK), Charlotte de Witte (BE), Amelie Lens presents AURA (BE), Chris Stussy (NL), WhoMadeWho live (DK), Modeselektor live (DE), Sammy Virji (UK), Cabaret Voltaire (UK), Boys Noize (DE), Nia Archives (UK), DJ Gigola (DE), Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore (US), Gerd Janson b2b Marcel Dettmann (DE/DE), Joy Orbison (UK), Ogazón (ES), Danielle b2b Ryan Elliott (UK/US), KETTAMA (IE), ascendant vierge hybrid set (FR/BE), MK (Marc Kinchen) b2b TSHA (US/UK), Clementaum b2b LAZA (BR), 30drop presents Insight Into Mind and Space (ES), RONI (FR), Funk Tribu (CO), Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy presents Cosmodelica (US), DJ MARIA. (JP), ISA (ES), riria (JP), DJ AYA (DE), La Sofy (AR), Alba Franch (ES).
New York R&B legend Kelis, will perform at the festival for the first time in her more than 20-year career. Acclaimed by critics since her classic debut Kaleidoscope (1999), and a global star ever since her major hit “Milkshake” became a cultural phenomenon, Kelis will land at Sónar to showcase her bold and innovative style, fearlessly blending her signature R&B with hip hop, soul, pop and, of course, electronic music. She cemented her success in the 2000s with further superhits such as “Trick Me”, “Acapella”, “Caught Out There” and “Millionaire”, and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Pharrell Williams, Calvin Harris, Disclosure and Björk. The festival will be a unique opportunity to experience an artist who, hanks to her creativity and authenticity and with six studio albums to her name, has left an influential mark on contemporary music.
Sónar 2026 will also feature Skepta, the most influential name in British rap and, arguably, the driving force behind grime’s establishment as a global genre. Skepta is one of the most brilliant lyricists in the scene and will present his new album Fork & Knife, scheduled for early 2026.
These latest names are already a glimpse of the focus that Sónar will also place on sounds made in the UK. Nia Archives will return to the festival to present new music live, for the first time with the full band. This booking also hints at a strong representation of artists made in the UK across the line up, with fellow innovator Sammy Virji set to unleash the full power of his UK garage sound, infused with bassline and drum’n’bass.
For the first time, the two reigning queens of global techno will coincide in the same edition of Sónar, each with a new audiovisual show. Belgian DJ and producer Charlotte de Witte will present her new self-titled album with a brand-new live show, while her compatriot Amelie Lens presents AURA, a new concept centred around shadow, light, movement and energy. Also appearing is Dutch DJ and producer Chris Stussy, the new international star of house music
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Also featured are artists who are deeply connected to the history of Sónar, such as the duo Modeselektor — founders of the Berlin label Monkeytown Records, and a constantly innovative presence in electronic music over the past two decades. In 2026, they will present a brand-new, and never-before-seen live show at Sónar.
Another marquee name announced today is Danish trio WhoMadeWho, who will also perform live at Sónar 2026, presenting their latest work which continues their exploration of new territories in experimental electronic pop
A key Sónar debut comes from Cabaret Voltaire, the pioneering band formed in Sheffield in 1973 that became a fixture of the UK and European experimental electronic scene thanks to their forward-thinking and genre-blending approach, ranging from post-punk and synth-pop to industrial, techno and acid house. Two of its founding members, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson, will reunite on stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their legendary first show, more than four decades later.
Contemporary composers Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore will present their forthcoming 2026 album Tragic Magic, created using historical instruments from the Philharmonie de Paris collection. Their performance will blend voice, harp and synthesisers to occupy a space between the classical and the modern.
Club music is deconstructed and rebuilt by DJs who never stop reinventing themselves, such as Boys Noize; by projects that push the limits, such as French duo Ascendant Vierge; and by talents who dazzle from day one, such as Madrid’s Alba Franch, Argentina’s La Sofy, Brazil’s Clementaum b2b LAZA —capable of fusing baile funk, tribal house, Jersey club, guaracha and even raptor house at breakneck speed — and new club superstars such as Kettama (arriving with a new album and a collaboration with Fred Again), DJ Gigola –a new festival classic– and Colombian artist Funk Tribu.
Sónar maintains its commitment to intergenerational house back-to-back sets in 2026. This edition will unite Detroit house legend MK (Marc Kinchen), known for signing 90s hits like “Always” or “Love Changes” and reworking the classic Nightcrawlers track “Push The Feeling On” with British rising producer TSHA — active in melodic house, garage and high-tempo club sounds.
World-class selectors will be there in full force. American DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy will present Cosmodelica, a sensorial journey through her vast record collection. Alongside her, the festival includes two must-see b2b sets: the always energetic and eclectic Danielle teams up with the infallible Ryan Elliott for one of the festival’s most unpredictable sets, navigating the push and pull between classic and modern, techno and house; and Running Back boss Gerd Janson challenges Berghain legend Marcel Dettmann to embrace his most house-driven, hedonistic side. And the list doesn’t end there: curious audiences should not miss performances by Ogazón, DJ Aya, Joy Orbison, Roni orriria, a Tokyo-born artist capable of blending amapiano, Jersey club, dancehall and underground hip hop with commercial hits and cult classics.
Techno will appear not only as a global phenomenon at Sónar 2026 but also in its purest and most psychedelic form, with veteran national figure 30drop — who will present Insight Into Mind and Space with visual artist Santiago — alongside younger artists such as Madrid’s ISA, founder of Evolve Records, and the rising Japanese artist DJ MARIA.
A renewed format to propel the festival into the future
For the first time, Sónar’s musical programme will take place entirely in a single space: Fira Barcelona (Gran Via venue in L’Hospitalet).
François Jozic, Sónar’s director, states:
“Barcelona must once again become the capital of electronic culture, and Sónar 2026 marks a decisive step towards the future. We have designed a festival that not only celebrates music but integrates technology, art and creativity into a unique experience, offering an ideal space for discovery. Barcelona will once again be the global epicentre of cultural innovation.”
He explains:
“We will unify — though not merge — the daytime and nighttime programmes in a single space. This will allow every type of audience to experience the festival in full and enjoy many more hours of uninterrupted music, with more offerings and more stages operating simultaneously across every time slot.”
In this way Sónar 2026 reinvents the way that music is experienced, within a completely new format: continuous music throughout the entire festival. Six stages with unique identities will offer exceptional uninterrupted programming, preserving the spirit of the historic daytime sessions — now with extended hours — and permitting extra shows to be added to the night-time programming.
Three outdoor and three indoor stages will allow for smooth transitions between day and night, maintaining the essence of the festival within a single space. The result: a more comfortable, immersive, and seamless experience.
All festival stages will also be redesigned to deliver next-level audiovisual experiences through advanced technology, preserving Sónar’s reputation for innovation.
The well-known SonarClub, SonarLab and SonarCar stages will remain in their usual locations, alongside the new SonarVillage by Estrella Damm. Additional spaces include a larger open-air SonarPark and a renewed, expanded SonarHall, setting the stage for more live performances and DJ sets across all three days.
Sónar+D 2026: innovation, creativity and technology in Barcelona
This year, Sónar+D will have more presence than ever at Fira Gran Via, integrating large-scale immersive and interactive installations, digital art and experiences blending creativity and technology across the three days of the festival. Meanwhile, the 14th International Congress of Innovation, Creativity and Technology will maintain its discourse and networking programme in the city of Barcelona during the mornings of Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June, in locations to be announced soon. As a new feature in 2026, stand-alone tickets will be available for Sónar+D only, making this side of the festival more accessible to the general public and professionals alike.
Sónar+D will continue consolidating itself as a meeting point for professionals working in music, technology and creative industries. The 2026 programme will demonstrate how creativity drives innovation and, in turn, transforms multiple sectors.
As every year, the Sónar+D Open Call will invite submissions from innovative projects working with creative or artistic applications of tech, from around the world. More details will be announced soon.
An ever-mutating image, for a constantly evolving festival
Sónar 2026’s visual identity portrays the festival as a living organism in constant mutation, reflecting Sónar’s experimental and evolving spirit.
Sónar’s visual identity this year has been developed by creators Boldtron and art-directed by Lluís Campos. The festival’s multiple stages are conceived as micro-worlds, ecosystems that evolve and are identified through iconic elements such as green grass or red curtains.
Boldtron is the artistic name of brothers Xavier and Daniel Cardona, Barcelona-based creators recognised for their pioneering work in 3D, CGI, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. With more than 25 years of experience, they have developed a unique visual language that combines technical precision with a deeply experimental aesthetic.
Their work stands out for its commitment to experimentation, research and the development of new visual methodologies. Although their universe is entirely digital, their approach remains strikingly organic and handcrafted, revealing a process in which intuition, gesture and artistic sensitivity coexist with cutting-edge tools.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION – SÓNAR 2026
Dates: 18, 19 and 20 June 2026
Hospitalet, and other locations in Barcelona.
New opening hours: Sónar 2026 will run from 17:00 to 03:00 on Thursday and from 17:00 to 07:00 on Friday and Saturday.
A simplified and more accessible ticket offer
New ticket types: In addition to SonarPass and SonarPass+D, there will be a Weekend Ticket (Friday/Saturday) and single-day tickets for each individual day.
SonarPass: full access to Sónar.
SonarPass+D: full access to Sónar and Sónar+D.
Weekend Ticket: access to Sónar on Friday and Saturday (replacing the former Sónar by Night Pass, but with more hours of music starting from 17:00).
Single-day tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday: with extended hours (Thursday from 17:00 Friday and Saturday from 17:00–07:00).
Special pricing will be offered for Thursday, along with discounts for young audiences. The Black Friday promotion allows purchase of the Weekend Ticket for €119 (limited units). Audiences can register here.
Institutions, sponsors and partners
Sónar 2026 is an initiative by Advanced Music and the Sónar Foundation, in collaboration with the Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona, with the support of the Ajuntament de L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, and the European Commission’s S+T+ARTS initiative.
Sónar 2026 is principally sponsored by Estrella Damm, with the support of Fritz Cola and OCB.
Sónar 2026 also counts with the support of TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes).
About Sónar
True to its name, Sónar is a detector of sounds that scans and amplifies the present and future of the musical landscape, showcasing and globally disseminating the most influential artistic proposals of the moment while acting as a space for discovering emerging trends and movements in the arts and their intersections with science, technology and society.
Since its first edition in 1994, Sónar has reflected — through its festivals in Barcelona and around the world — the evolution and expansion of digital, electronic and experimental music and culture. Year after year, Sónar becomes the epicentre of cutting-edge music and the arts, bringing together audiences, artists and professionals from across the globe, drawn by its innovative content, formats and multi-stage experiences.
About Sónar+D
Sónar+D is the part of the Sónar programme where talks, debates, exhibitions, performances and ideas converge, exploring the intersections between creativity, innovation and technology, turning Barcelona into an annual gathering place for some of the world’s most curious and creative minds.
