Thirty-three years. A long road, isn't it? The air around a Sónar announcement always holds a peculiar charge—a nervous, beautiful anticipation for what kind of noise will occupy Barcelona’s spaces. This initial drop for the 2026 lineup, marking the festival’s 33rd edition from 18–20 June, isn’t just a list of names; it’s a deliberate collision of intent and sound.
Look at Kelis. After more than twenty years navigating her own complex, genre-fluid career, she will perform at Sónar for the very first time.
Think about that: the sheer, delayed timing of it all. It’s never too late to arrive. Her presence offers a necessary counterpoint to the relentless, immediate intensity provided by the techno core. The programming places the raw grime force of Skepta right alongside the punishing four-on-the-floor dominance of Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens. It's a strange geography, mapping London’s rhythmic storytelling onto the European techno crucible.
The Techno Crucible and the Ancients
The festival’s unique magic often lies in its willingness to create sonic whiplash.
How else to explain the pairing of Julianna Barwick ⁘ Mary Lattimore—ambient, ethereal loops meeting the deeply resonant sounds of the harp—with the resurrected post-punk/industrial techno of Cabaret Voltaire? Cabaret Voltaire are veterans of disruption; they exist to make things uncomfortable, necessary. Their inclusion affirms that Sónar respects the lineage of electronic dissent.
Meanwhile, Modeselektor are returning to provide their signature chaotic, brilliant noise, a sort of joyous middle finger to conformity.
The lineup also highlights those who are currently shaping the sonic horizon, like Nia Archives, bringing the fractured, high-speed elegance of new jungle, and Ascendant Vierge, mixing operatic vocals with hard trance. These are the confusing aspects, the glorious, mismatched pieces that somehow lock together. WhoMadeWho and 30drop help round out this dense offering.
A Shift in the Landscape
Beyond the featured performances, the DJ programme promises depth and instability.
We get heavy-hitters like Joy Orbison and Boys Noize, ensuring the late-night sessions maintain a wonderfully unstable energy. Additions like Sammy Virji and Chris Stussy confirm the focus on groove-heavy house and garage derivations.
A festival changing its structure after decades is always a delicate proposition.
Sónar 2026 is moving forward with a new format and new venues. When things change dramatically, we look for anchors. The dates are steady: mid-June. But what does a "new format" truly imply for the visceral experience? A different intensity? More room to breathe? Whatever the ultimate design, the initial names—from the delayed arrival of Kelis to the uncompromising BPMs of DJ Gigola and Kettama—suggest the new configuration will be anchored by sound that refuses to settle down.
Sónar Festival has announced the first 31 names in the programme for its 33rd edition, taking place from 18-20 June 2026 alongside new format and ...Other references and insights: Visit website
