With a genre-spanning lineup and performances that go all night, Barcelona’s beloved fest is supremely destination-worthy
Nobody ever needed any extra convincing to call in Barcelona , one of the most dynamic cities on the Mediterranean . sensational architecture , unforgettable food , and arty vibesare all in rich supply . But if youwereon the fencing , the Primavera Sound fete sure as shooting helps tip the scurf . spring — it ’s right there in the name — is one of the nicest seasons in the Catalan cap , a warm - weather rest before the holidaymaker horde descend en masse . And the festival volunteer something for fans of all stripes . If you were to pick just one major shindy for the year , it ’d be hard to beat this one .
A lynchpin of the global indie - rock scene since 2001,Primavera Soundalso hosts some of the swelled names in dad , a smattering of rap both classic and present-day , and a rave ’s worth of abridge - boundary electronic deed you ’re unconvincing to enamor ( at least all in one place ) in the U.S. You might buy your tickets with a bucket listing in mind , but it ’s virtually undertake that you ’ll make out away from the fest with a fistful of new faves . And compared to Coachella , which offers a interchangeable smorgasbord of overlapping style , Primavera Sound is remarkably affordable , even when you factor in transatlantic airfare and the sapless dollar .
Whether it ’s your first or fifteenth time making the trek out to Parc del Fòrum , our guide will help you hit up the fest in style . We ’ve fix insider testimonial on who to see , where to last out , and what to eat to keep you on your fundament until the sun comes up over the Mediterranean .
Christian Bertrand
Where and when is Primavera Sound this year?
Primavera Sound Barcelona 2025takes place from Wednesday , June 4 , through Sunday , June 8 , over the course of a singlelongweekend — not to observe some very late nights : Unlike most American festival , Primavera typically keeps the music going until 6 a.m. ( And for fans who ca n’t get enough of the Iberian fete , Primavera Sound Portois the follow week , June 12 through 15 , substitute what used to be a Coachella - style repeat weekend with a trenchant but more or less overlapping51 - act lineupin the coastal Portuguese metropolis . ) The Barcelona fete is hold at theParc del Fòrum , a seaside surface area of concrete nestled beneath a clustering of eye - captivate solar panels at the urban center ’s northeasterly edge . And for those arriving early , or eager to explore some of Barcelona ’s most iconic nightspot , Primavera a la Ciutatkicks off on Monday , June 2 , with an extensive list of parallel bookings scattered throughout the city .
Who’s on the lineup?
As usual , it ’s a intermixture of crowd - pleasing indie rock , cutting - sharpness electronic , and a handful of more data-based creative person — as well , of line , as some bountiful - ticket pop music stars that ’ll make you the envy of your Instagram followers .
Indie dance guru Caribou and Spain ’s own La Casa Azul kick off the fest with a gratis concert on Wednesday at the Parc del Fòrum fete grounds , and the tangible natural process begins on Thursday with a divers array including FKA twigs , Denzel Curry , Jamie xx , space - rock candy veterans Spiritualized , and more dj than you’re able to excite a glowstick at , including Armand van Helden , the saber of Paradise , and DJ Koze . Get to the independent point early to solve out room to dance : Alt - pop ’s respective queen and Billie Jean Moffitt King , Charli xcx and Troye Sivan , will present the only European performance of theirco - headlining SWEAT show .
On Friday , Sabrina Carpenter occupy the top pappa slot , but most of the action is in indie , both classic ( TV on the Radio , the Jesus Lizard , Stereolab , Beach House ) and contemporary ( Clairo , HAIM , Waxahatchee , Wet Leg ) . Techno titan Amelie Lens , meanwhile , will ensure one of the stages is a proper rave . Saturday leans indie , too , with LCD Soundsystem , Fontaines D.C. , and Turnstile near the top of the bill , while Low ’s Alan Sparhawk , the Breeders ’ Kim Deal , and emo pioneers Cap’n Jazz keep the dreaming of the ’ 90s alive .
Christian Bertrand
For anyone who has n’t gotten their fill of dance over the former three days — via DJ Python , Kelly Lee Owens , and hometown paladin John Talabot — Sunday volunteer one last fortune to cut loose . Primavera BITS x Nitsa , a collaboration with one of the metropolis ’s most storied club night , is a daytime throwdown featuring technical school - sign of the zodiac DJ Michael Bibi and German techno icon Paul Kalkbrenner at the top of the pavilion .
And if you ’re yearn for the sweaty intimacy of a dark golf-club , thePrimavera a la Ciutat programme — a bookending series of lance concentrated on Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , and Sunday — boasts a batting order to touch the independent fete ’s , with Nilüfer Yanya , Beach House , Salem , Machine Girl , Tinariwen , Chat Pile , and more throw court in dear night spots like the Apolo , Razzmatazz , and Paral.lel 62 , among others .
How to get tickets to Primavera Sound
Full - festival ( 350 euros , or around $ 398 ) , individual - day(~$155 ) , andVIP(~$620 for full fest or $ 222 per sidereal day ) slate to Primavera Sound are sell out , but you may try for thewaitlist , the only official channel for pick up aftermarket offer . ( too , if you buy tickets but ca n’t make it , you cansell them backthrough the platform . ) Some Primavera a la Ciutat show are stillon sales event .
A helpful tip : Primavera passes typically go faster than a plate of patatas bravas . Tickets for this year ’s version went on sale October 24 , 2024 , andsold out just 67 days later . So if you ’re thinking of advert in 2026 , now would be a large prison term to pop a admonisher into your calendar for previous October 2025 .
How to get to Primavera Sound (and how to get home)
GettingtoPrimavera Sound is gentle — just skip the Metro to the El Maresme | Fòrum stop and it ’s a 10 - second walk from there . But mind that the underground gets packed betimes — by later good afternoon , it ’s a unquestionable sea of tattoos and banding shirts . Taxis to the fest are n’t hard to find , luckily , and there ’s even bicycle parking at the entering to the festival grounds ( bring your own lock ) .
Getting home is another matter . Queues for cabs can be long and helter-skelter . Uber , long unavailable in Barcelona , is finally part of the rideshare mix , along with Cabify , Bolt , and FREENOW , but user may not find its offerings as plentiful as they ’re used to in other cities . The subway shuts down at midnight on weeknight and at 2 a.m. on Fridays , though it ’s receptive all Nox on Saturday , andNitBuslines N6 , N7 , and N28 run every night until around 5 ante meridiem , from the Fòrum to Plaça Catalunya . If bad comes to worst , it ’s an hour - long walk back to the metropolis center , hardly the remainder of the human race — although it might feel that agency under the morning Sunday after a long night of partying on heavy cement .
Where should I stay?
Barcelona ’s metropolis government has cracked down on myopic - terminal figure rental platform in late years , nominate unit much scarcer — and pricier — than they used to be . Fortunately , there ’s no shortage of hotel on go , including a routine located within walk length of Primavera Sound itself , like theHotel SB Diagonal Zero , Attica21 Barcelona Mar , and theMeliá Barcelona Sky . But given Primavera Sound ’s length from the city sum , anyone who wants to explore Barcelona during daytime minute might look at more central location near Plaça Espanya or Plaça Catalunya — or , for more picturesque surroundings with better culinary selection nearby , in the Gràcia , Eixample , or El have a bun in the oven neighborhoods .
What should I eat?
Barcelona is justly renowned for its food : tapas , arroces ( or paella , to foreigners ) , seafood , contemporary Mediterranean fusion , world - class wine-coloured , a growing craft beer scene , ostensibly limitless varieties of pork products … Dining at the fete , of course , is barely last to endure up to the best of Barcelona ’s culinary experiences , but the food is actually pretty good and shockingly affordable when compared to fully grown - just the ticket American macrofestivals .
Last twelvemonth , the array of solid food stands propagate across multiple points throughout the grounds bluster some of the most beloved names from Barcelona ’s gastronomic scene : The Fish and Chips Shop , omelette specialistsLos Tortillez , BBQ kings Two Bastards , pizzeriaGrosso Napoletano , empanada outfitLas Muns , and more . VICIO’sburgers are a gang favorite , whileRocambolesccomes from the chum behind the treble Michelin - starredCeller de Can Roca , in Girona — last time , they grill up bikinis , or triangle - mould gammon - and - cheeseflower sandwiches .
But just as authoritative as what you eat on the festival grounds are the late lunches you have with Quaker while wait for the natural process to set about . Xiringuito Escribà , on nearby Bogatell Beach , makes some of the best arroces in town . L’Escamarlà , next threshold , is another bully choice . Or you and your crew might need to try one of the acclaimed restaurants in Barceloneta , such as the beachfrontXup Xup , the timeless classicCan Solé , or the hole - in - the - wall tappa faveLa Cova Fumada . ( Just check that to reserve a table , wherever you go . )
Christian Bertrand
And now for a pro tip : Did you screw you could play your own solid food inside the fete ? ( No beverages , of course ; bequeath the flask full of tinto de verano back at the hotel . ) So before you scan your bracelet on the way in , stock up on bocatas de jamón serrano or tortilla de patatas , which you could purchase from any mom - and - pop bar in town . Your stomach and your billfold will thank you .
What should I wear?
The fashion at Primavera Sound is n’t as audacious as it incline to be at Sónar , the festival ’s more electronic - oriented rival event , but that ’s not to say people do n’t put plenty of mentation into their looks . One consideration is that while temperature can soar during the day , other June nights can still be quite chilly , so whatever your rig , incorporate layers . And give the kilometers you ’ll put in walking from leg to microscope stage , be kind to your feet and select something with padding . Indie rock ’s down - to - earth utilitarianism — smutty jeans , Converse Chucks , dance band tees — tends to spring the gist of Primavera fashion , but with Charli , Sabrina , andChappell all topping the peak , carry some hard-core flamboyance this year , too .
What should (and shouldn’t) I bring?
Two main affair to keep in brain : the many , many hours you ’ll be on your feet and the many , many megabytes of picture and video you ’ll be take . prosperous shoes are a must , as is sunshine protection for the daytime and an extra layer for after sundown . A portable power bank for your earphone is advisable , as force outlets are nonexistent ( though in late years , charging station have been available for a fee ) . Unlike at many American festival , you may bring your own solid food — call back sandwich , fruit , or track mix . No drinks are allowed , nor are refillable feeding bottle with a chapeau . Should you buy a bottleful of water system at the fest , they ’ll give it to you without the cap , as full bottles of water supply could become harmful projectiles . Pro tip : stuff a screw - on plastic bottle cap in your pocket before go forth home — it’ll make dancing with pee in helping hand much less damp .
What else is there to do at Primavera Sound?
As an urban festival — as opposed to a desert retreat like Coachella , or a camping getaway like Glastonbury — Primavera Sound is fortunate to boast one of Europe ’s most exciting cities as its backdrop . Since the fest itself really only kicks into geartrain around recent good afternoon or early eventide — look on how send you are to catching the act listed in eight - point typeface — that leaves ample time forexploring Barcelona . Immerse yourself in Gaudí ’s architectural marvel , visit world - class museums like MACBA and the Fundacio Joan Miró , depend on the teleféric from Montjuïc to Barceloneta , or just while away the noon eat chipirones and downing cold cañas on a umbrageous terraza . You ’ll be glad you fix your warning equipment for it .
Should I go to Primavera Sound this year?
Top - shelf talent , world - category cuisine , European pickup — the answer , of course : ¡ Claro que sí !
Silvia Villar
Silvia Villar
