Sonar Festival – Spain 2026

Background & History

Sónar Festival, founded in 1994 by Advanced Music SL in Barcelona, Spain, was conceived by founders like Ricard Robles and Sergi Sanchez as a radical platform to explore the intersection of electronic music, multimedia art, and technology, emerging from Barcelona’s post-Olympics creative boom. The inaugural edition in June 1994 at Fira de Barcelona drew 8,000 attendees with acts like The Orb and Aphex Twin, blending rave culture with avant-garde installations, quickly establishing it as Europe’s pioneering electronic music event. By 2000, it expanded to Sónar by Day (conferences/exhibits) and Sónar by Night (club sets), attracting 100,000+ globally and generating €20 million+ annually for Barcelona’s economy through tourism and innovation hubs, while earning “Best Festival” nods at the International Dance Music Awards multiple times.

Over 30 editions, Sónar has hosted 5,000+ artists—from Kraftwerk’s 3D shows (2013) to Björk’s immersive Biophilia (2013)—evolving into a global brand with offshoots in Lisbon (since 2016) and Iceland, influencing trends like AI-generated music via Sónar+D. Acquired by Superstruct Entertainment in 2018 (now under KKR since October 2024), it maintains operational autonomy, reinvesting all profits into future editions. Amid 2024–2025 controversies over KKR’s investments, Sónar issued a clear stance condemning the Gaza genocide, distancing from shareholders, excluding implicated sponsors, and aligning with Barcelona City Council’s boycott of Israeli arms firms, while committing donations to Gaza NGOs and hosting forums on culture’s role in conflicts. The 2026 edition (32nd in Barcelona), June 18–20, reaffirms its ethical core, potentially expanding Sónar+D’s AI & Music program (powered by S+T+ARTS) amid EU funding, embodying Barcelona’s “pulse of the electronic landscape” with sustainability (zero-waste goals since 2018) and inclusivity (40%+ diverse artists).

Event Highlights

Sónar 2026, June 18–20 in Barcelona, will fuse electronic innovation with multimedia for 100,000+ attendees across Fira Montjuïc (day) and Fira Gran Via L’Hospitalet (night), featuring 200+ acts, talks, and installations in a three-day sonic utopia blending music, tech, and activism.

Main activities or performances: Sónar by Day (Thu–Sat, 10am–6pm, Montjuïc): SonarHall/Village/Pub stages for daytime sets (e.g., past Alva Noto & Fennesz’s Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute); Sónar+D conferences (talks on AI ethics, €15–50). Sónar by Night (Thu–Sat, 6pm–6am, Gran Via): SonarClub/Pub/Car for club bangers (e.g., 2025’s Armin van Buuren b2b Indira Paganotto sunrise). Lineup TBA Q1 2026 via sonar.es, building on 2025’s Nathy Peluso, Honey Dijon, Eric Prydz—expect 200+ across techno, house, indie (e.g., Actress & Suzanne Ciani’s ‘Concrète Waves’). Off-stage: SonarÀgora forums on culture/conflict (free, Fri afternoon); Project Area exhibits (interactive VR, €10).

Special traditions or features: Sónar+D’s tech fusion (since 2002, 100+ talks/exhibits); ethical forums addressing BDS/PACBI calls (2025 Gaza debate space). Sustainability: Zero-plastic policy, solar stages; donations to Gaza NGOs. Inclusivity: 40% female/non-binary artists, accessibility ramps. 2026 may include S+T+ARTS AI collaborations and post-Gaza reflection panels.

Unique attractions for visitors: Fira Montjuïc’s hilltop views for sunset sets; Gran Via’s massive SonarCar (truck-stage raves); pop-up merch with life-wear line (t-shirts €25–40, post-fest online). 2026 speculative: Expanded Sonar+D with ethical AI demos, tying to Barcelona’s Smart City initiatives.

Date & Duration

Dates: June 18 – 20, 2026 (Thursday to Saturday) Duration: 3 days (Sónar by Day 10am–6pm; Sónar by Night 6pm–6am)

Venue / Location

Sónar 2026 splits across Barcelona’s Fira Montjuïc (daytime, hilltop with Olympic views, 10 stages including SonarHall/Village) and Fira Gran Via L’Hospitalet (night, 50,000 m² with SonarClub/Pub/Car, 5km from center). Montjuïc’s 118,000 m² hosts exhibits; Gran Via’s modern halls amplify bass. Metro L1/L3 (Plaça Espanya for Montjuïc, €2.40, 10-min walk); L9/L10 for Gran Via (Europa|Fira, 15-min walk). Eco: Solar power, bike racks (500 spots); free shuttles between sites (€0 with pass).

Google Maps Address: Avda. Reina Maria Cristina, s/n, 08004 Barcelona, Spain (Fira Montjuïc: https://maps.app.goo.gl/firamontjuic).

Ticket Information

Tickets via sonar.es (Fnac partners), with presale registration for early bird (closes midnight CEST prior to sale). Options: SónarPass (€200–250 day/night combo), SónarPass+D (€250–300 +conferences), single day €100–150. 18+ for night; under-12 free with guardian, under-30 discounts 20%. No refunds, resale via platform. Disability: Reduced €80 + companion free, ramps/audio—apply help@sonar.es 72 hours prior. 2025 refunds processed individually for cancellations (email by June 4, 2025).

Ticket Pricing (USD, based on 2025 EUR rates, €1 ≈ $1.10):

• Minimum: Single daytime €50 ~$55 USD.
• Maximum: SónarPass+D €300 ~$330 USD. Combo €220–$275 USD; under-30 €80–$165 USD.

Special Seating or VIP Options: VIP SonarPass (€350–400, lounge priority, exclusive after-parties); accessible viewing (ramps, quiet zones, audio descriptions via access@sonar.es). Family: Reduced kids’ tickets.

Contact Information

Email: help@sonar.es (tickets/refunds); sonar.responds@sonar.es (concerns/positions); press@sonar.es (media). Key Staff: Advanced Music SL team (Ricard Robles/Sergi Sanchez affiliates). Phone: Not specified; use email. Website: https://sonar.es/en/; https://sonar.es/en/programme/line-up (lineup). Social Media: @sonarfestival (Instagram/TikTok, 500k+ followers); @SonarFestival (Facebook/X). Press/Volunteers: Press via press@sonar.es; volunteers (setup/info, stipends) via sonar.es (Q1 2026). Note: Response time ~24–72 hours; multilingual (English/Spanish/Catalan).

Cultural Experience

Sónar 2026 immerses 100,000+ in Barcelona’s sonic futurism, where Fira Montjuïc’s Olympic hills host multimedia reveries—attendees in cyber-chic layers navigate Sonar+D’s AI exhibits, blending Catalan innovation with global beats under Mediterranean sunsets. The three-day pulse evokes 1994’s rave origins fused with 21st-century activism: Forums like SonarÀgora debate culture’s role in Gaza (condemned by organizers, with NGO donations), tying to Barcelona’s BDS-aligned stance and EU Green Deal ethics. Inclusivity thrives: 40% diverse artists, queer spaces, family zones with kids’ coding workshops (€10).

Nights at Gran Via’s vast halls erupt in laser-fueled techno from Indira Paganotto, echoing Gaudí’s organic forms in electronic waves. For globals, it’s alchemical—tasting paella fusions (€10) amid holographic art, celebrating Sónar’s “pulse of the electronic landscape” where tech meets social justice in Catalonia’s resilient spirit.

Food & Drinks

Sónar’s concessions fuse Catalan innovation with global bites across 30+ stands, €5–15 items emphasizing sustainable Mediterranean sourcing. Must-tries: Paella valenciana (€12, saffron rice-seafood); patatas bravas (€6, spicy potatoes); vegan escalivada (roasted veggies, €8). Global: Thai spring rolls (€7). Drinks: Estrella Damm craft beers (€5/pint); vermut spritz (€6, herbal aperitif); non-alc: Horchata (€3, tiger nut milk). Intolerances: 50% vegan/gluten-free zones. Eco: Reusable cups (€1 deposit), zero-plastic policy; fair-trade coffees (€4). VIP: À la carte lounge menus (€20–30).

Getting There

By Air: Barcelona-El Prat (BCN), 10 km south, direct EU/US (e.g., Vueling from London, 2 hours, €50+). From BCN: Aerobus A1/A2 (€6.75, 35 min to Plaça Espanya) + L1 metro (€2.40, 5 min to Montjuïc); T1/T3 for Gran Via (€4.60). By Train: Sants station (AVE Madrid, 2.5 hours, €50) + L3 metro (€2.40, 10 min). Public Transport: TMB metro L1/L3 (€2.40/ride, €10/day pass); FGC trains to Montjuïc (€2.50). Bike: Bicing rentals (€4.20/day, 100+ stations). Parking: Fira lots (€20–30/day, 5,000 spots, pre-book firabarcelona.com); car-free zones. Eco-Tip: Electric metros or e-scooters (€0.25/min via Lime).

Accommodation Options

Book 6–9 months ahead for June peak. Budget: Hostal Centric (~$60/night, Eixample, 15-min metro); St Christopher’s Inn (~$50, dorms near Sants). Mid-Range: Hotel Catalonia Eixample 1864 (~$120, rooftop bar). Boutique: Hotel Brummell (~$150, Poble Sec, Montjuïc views). Splurge: Mandarin Oriental (~$400, 5-star, Passeig de Gràcia). Apartments: Airbnb Montjuïc (~$100/night, kitchen). Via Booking.com; many include TMB passes.