Sónar has announced the first 31 names for its 2026 edition, the first major programming reveal since the departure of its three founders and the appointment of François Jozic, CEO of Brunch Electronik, as director of the festival.

The 33rd edition of Sónar will take place from 18 to 20 June 2026 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via (L’Hospitalet). For the first time, all music programming will be concentrated in a single site and format, abandoning the historic split between Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. The festival will instead offer three consecutive days of continuous programming, with shows running from late afternoon into the early hours.

According to the organisers, more than 100 performances and activities will be announced in total. This first announcement represents roughly one third of the final programme and is framed as a statement of intent: a broad cross-section of contemporary electronic music, club culture and experimental sound.

Big-room techno, grime and R&B heritage
At the top of the first wave are three major headliners: Skepta, Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte. The British rapper returns to Barcelona with a full concert set, following the global impact of his role in popularising grime. Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte, frequently described as two of the leading figures in global techno, will each present new audiovisual shows: Lens with AURA, and de Witte with a performance built around her recent self-titled album.

The announcement also confirms the Sónar debut of Kelis, who will appear in Barcelona for the first time in her more than 20-year career. The New York artist, known worldwide for hits such as “Milkshake” and “Millionaire”, is set to present a live show that blends R&B, hip hop, pop and electronic music.

Heritage acts and festival regulars
The 2026 edition will feature the long-awaited appearance of Cabaret Voltaire, pioneers of industrial and experimental electronic music. The Sheffield group’s show is billed as a special performance marking the 50th anniversary of their earliest concerts.

Sónar mainstays Modeselektor and WhoMadeWho also return, both with new live sets. The German duo Modeselektor, associated with Berlin’s experimental scene, and Danish trio WhoMadeWho, known for their crossover between electronic pop and live band performance, underline the festival’s ongoing connection to artists central to its history.

Ambient and neoclassical elements come from Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, who will present their collaborative project Tragic Magic, combining harp, voice and synthesizers.

Club culture in flux
The rest of the announcement focuses heavily on club music in its many forms. Names such as Boys Noize, Joy Orbison, Nia Archives, Sammy Virji, KETTAMA, Funk Tribu and DJ Gigola point towards a programme that spans techno, house, UK garage, jungle, and fast-paced hybrid club sounds.

Several back-to-back sets emphasise intergenerational dialogue in house and techno: MK (Marc Kinchen) b2b TSHA, Gerd Janson b2b Marcel Dettmann, and Danielle b2b Ryan Elliott. Curatorial projects like Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy presents Cosmodelica and 30drop presents Insight Into Mind and Space highlight the festival’s interest in extended, narrative-driven sets and audiovisual concepts.

Emerging and regional voices—including Alba Franch, La Sofy, ISA, Ogazón, RONI, riria, DJ AYA, DJ MARIA. and the duo Clementaum b2b LAZA—suggest that Sónar 2026 will again function as a platform for newer scenes alongside established headliners.

Director François Jozic has stated that the goal is to reaffirm Barcelona “as a capital of electronic culture”, with a festival model that integrates music, technology, art and creativity in a single, immersive environment. Sónar+D, the festival’s programme dedicated to digital culture and innovation, will once again run alongside the music festival, with further details to be announced.

The lineup reveal comes after a year marked by both record attendance and controversy, as well as a complete change of leadership and full control by Superstruct Entertainment. The 2026 edition will be the first real test of how the festival evolves under its new direction.

Tickets are already on sale, including full festival passes, day tickets and combined options with Sónar+D.

First Wave of Sónar 2026 Artists (Approx. One Third of the Lineup)

30drop presents Insight Into Mind and Space

Alba Franch

Amelie Lens presents AURA

ascendant vierge (hybrid set)

DJ AYA

Boys Noize

Cabaret Voltaire

Charlotte de Witte

Chris Stussy

Clementaum b2b LAZA

Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy presents Cosmodelica

Danielle b2b Ryan Elliott

Funk Tribu

Gerd Janson b2b Marcel Dettmann

DJ Gigola

ISA

Joy Orbison

Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore

Kelis

KETTAMA

DJ MARIA.

MK (Marc Kinchen) b2b TSHA

Modeselektor (live)

Nia Archives

Ogazón

riria

RONI

Sammy Virji

Skepta

La Sofy

WhoMadeWho (live)

The first third of Sónar 2026’s programme, from Skepta and Kelis to Amelie Lens and Cabaret Voltaire, signals continuity in experimentation amid a new corporate era for the festival.