Sonar is a three-day electronic music, creativity, and technology festival held annually in Barcelona, Spain, since 1994. It programs 100+ acts across 6 stages, blending established electronic artists with experimental and emerging talent. The 2026 edition runs June 18 to 20 at Fira Gran Via, marking the first time in 32 years that all programming takes place at a single venue under a continuous music model. Sonar also runs Sonar+D, a parallel technology and arts congress, and OFFSonar, a series of independent club events across Barcelona during festival week.
How Sonar Works
The 2026 edition introduces a structural break from Sonar's historic format. For the first time, Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night no longer exist as separate events. All programming runs continuously at Fira Gran Via in L'Hospitalet, from 5 PM to 3 AM on Thursday and 5 PM to 7 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Key operational details:
- Stages and Programming: Six stages operate at Fira Gran Via. SonarVillage (outdoor, runs all three days), SonarClub (indoor, large-format, hosts The Prodigy's Sonar debut), SonarHall (indoor, adventurous programming including Two Shell and Daniel Avery live), SonarCar (dedicated to Speedy J's STOOR Live improvised hardware sessions), SonarPark (outdoor, subcultures until 6 AM), and SonarLab (indoor, underground rave culture). Only four stages run on Thursday; all six operate Friday and Saturday.
- Ticketing: Three main ticket tiers are available. SonarPass (3-day, from EUR 184) grants complete access to all musical programming with re-entry before 11 PM. Weekend Ticket (Friday and Saturday only, from EUR 149) covers the two longest sessions with all six stages active. Day Ticket Thursday (from EUR 44) is the shortest session with four stages. SonarPass+D (from EUR 204) adds Sonar+D congress access at Llotja de Mar on Thursday and Friday.
- Sonar+D and OFFSonar: Sonar+D, the festival's technology and arts congress, relocated to Casa Llotja de Mar in central Barcelona for 2026. A standalone 2-day Sonar+D ticket costs EUR 25. OFFSonar runs Thursday through Sunday at Poble Espanyol with independent parties from Keinemusik, Solid Grooves, elrow, and others. Several OFFSonar events are already sold out.
- New Leadership: The 2026 edition is the first under new CEO Francois Jozic, after all three original founders left the organization following 32 years. Superstruct Entertainment, which acquired its stake in 2019, now holds full operational control. The format change to a unified venue model is the most significant structural shift in the festival's history.
Real-World Example: Sonar 2026
The 2026 lineup features 102 performances covering the full spectrum of contemporary electronic music. Headliners include The Prodigy (making their Sonar debut and bringing their full live show to SonarClub), Skepta, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens presenting AURA, Kelis performing a live R&B set, and Joy Orbison.
Notable programming includes Reinier Zonneveld presenting R2, a back-to-back set with an AI trained on Zonneveld's own music featuring holographic visuals. Daito Manabe collaborates live with Google DeepMind. Speedy J's STOOR Live project takes over SonarCar for fully improvised, unrehearsed hardware sessions with different artists each night. Goldie and Doc Scott perform a back-to-back drum and bass set at SonarLab on Friday night.
The full lineup spans Skepta, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Dom Dolla, Sara Landry, Boys Noize, Modeselektor (live), SBTRKT (live), Nia Archives, Chris Stussy, Two Shell, Daniel Avery (live), FJAAK x Kittin (live), and 85+ additional artists. Tickets are on sale at sonar.es.
Festival Video Gallery
Notable Past Lineups (2023 to 2026)
Sonar programs the full spectrum of electronic music, from club culture to experimental and multimedia performance. The festival has hosted legendary acts alongside emerging talent since 1994. Here is a year-by-year breakdown:
| Year | Dates | Notable Headliners and Artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 15 to 17 | Fever Ray, Bicep, Oneohtrix Point Never, Shygirl, Solomun, Peggy Gou, Amelie Lens, Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon, Richie Hawtin, Max Cooper, The Blessed Madonna, Kode9, Ryoji Ikeda, DJ EZ, Sherelle, Erika de Casier |
| 2024 | June 13 to 15 | Air (Moon Safari 25th anniversary), Kaytranada, Charlotte de Witte (Overdrive), Jessie Ware, Ben Bohmer, Floating Points, Vince Staples, Casisdead, Folamour A/V, Kerri Chandler, The Martinez Brothers, Reinier Zonneveld, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Paul Kalkbrenner |
| 2025 | June 12 to 14 | Four Tet, Peggy Gou, Skrillex (b2b Blawan), Plastikman, Arca, Nathy Peluso, Overmono, Eric Prydz, Bicep (Chroma AV/DJ), Max Cooper, Honey Dijon, Mochakk, Barry Can't Swim, Helena Hauff, Armin van Buuren (b2b Indira Paganotto), Actress and Suzanne Ciani |
| 2026 | June 18 to 20 | The Prodigy (Sonar debut), Skepta, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens (AURA), Kelis (live R&B set), Joy Orbison, Dom Dolla, Sara Landry, Boys Noize, Modeselektor (live), SBTRKT (live), Nia Archives, Chris Stussy, Two Shell, Daniel Avery (live), Goldie and Doc Scott (b2b) |
Dates and Location Basics
- Location: Fira Gran Via, L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
- Duration: Three days (Thursday through Saturday)
- Typical Month: June
- Venue: Six stages at Fira Gran Via (2026 unified venue model). Previous editions split between Fira Montjuic (Sonar by Day) and Fira Gran Via (Sonar by Night).
- Attendance: 150,000+ across three days (including Sonar by Day, Sonar by Night, and OFFSonar)
- Programming Hours: Thursday and Friday 5 PM to 3 AM (Thursday) or 7 AM (Friday and Saturday). All six stages operate Friday and Saturday. Four stages operate Thursday.
- Parallel Events: Sonar+D (technology and arts congress, relocated to Casa Llotja de Mar for 2026). OFFSonar (independent club events across Barcelona Thursday through Sunday at Poble Espanyol).
- Ticket Options: SonarPass (3-day, from EUR 184), Weekend Ticket (Friday and Saturday, from EUR 149), Day Ticket Thursday (from EUR 44), SonarPass+D (from EUR 204)
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Sonar is one of the most respected electronic music festivals in the world, and its programming philosophy favors artistic innovation over commercial appeal. The festival books artists pushing boundaries in techno, experimental electronic, club music, and multimedia performance. If you produce electronic music that does not fit mainstream festival formats, Sonar is one of the few major festivals where your sound belongs.
The festival also serves as a major industry networking event. Sonar+D puts artists in rooms with label heads, technology companies, streaming platform editors, and visual artists. A standout performance at Sonar can lead to European tour bookings, label signings, and sync placements.
The path to a Sonar booking runs through the festival's curation team, which monitors the global electronic music underground. Strong releases on respected labels, distinctive live or DJ sets, and a genuine artistic identity matter more than streaming numbers or social media following. Building relationships with Barcelona-based promoters and venues can also build visibility with the Sonar team.
Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track streaming growth, and check the Tour Revenue Calculator to plan a European tour around Sonar week. Read our music festival strategy guide for tips on getting booked at international festivals.
Visit the official Sonar website for tickets, full lineup, and Sonar+D program details.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that can attract festival bookings
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your European tour around Sonar week
- Music Festivals Directory - Discover other electronic festivals for booking opportunities
- Music Festival Strategy: Get Booked and Make It Count
- Official Sonar Website
