All the news of the new stage of Sónar

BarcelonaKnown the artistic programming, which was announced a few weeks ago, with headliners like The Prodigy, Sónar announced this Wednesday the novelties of the edition that will take place on June 18, 19 and 20. It will be the first without Sergio Caballero, Enric Palau and Ricard Robles, the trio that founded the festival in 1994. It will also be the first without a separate day and night offering, because all artistic offerings will be hosted at Fira Gran Via in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. And the second since the pro-Israeli fund KKR became the main owner of the festival. The new team led by the Belgian François Jozic presented the novelties at a press conference at the Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm. "Damm is the historic sponsor of Sónar without which this festival would not happen," said Jozic, who assures that the new Sónar will be "more Sónar than ever", "rethought, renewed, but faithful to its DNA", and that they are working to make it "friendlier and more comfortable". The economic support from public administrations is also maintained: the Department of Culture of the Generalitat, the Institute of Culture of the Barcelona City Council, Turisme de Barcelona and the L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council.

All of Sónar's activity, at Fira Gran Via

Sónar knew three years ago that the works at the Montjuïc exhibition center would force it to reformulate Sónar de Dia. Finally, it was decided to concentrate all artistic activity at Fira Gran Via, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, the space that already hosted Sónar de Nit since 2001. Performances will begin at 5 p.m. On Thursday the 18th they will end at 3 a.m., and on Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th, at 7 a.m. "We have been working for three years on a new design that maintains the spirit and legacy of the stages. We saw the move to Fira Gran Via as an opportunity to rethink the audience experience," explains Miquel Trullols, Sónar's communications manager.

Six stages (four on Thursday), and new rest areas

A single headquarters, a single entry: segregated day and night entries disappear. The system of Access, payment and water fountains

A single venue, a single entrance: the segregated day and night entrances disappear. The cashless system for paying for drinks and food within the venue also disappears. There will be a re-entry policy, allowing you to leave and re-enter the venue with the same ticket. Free drinking water fountains will be installed. And there will be shuttle buses to the center of Barcelona, which will be especially useful on Thursday, as the metro closes at midnight and the concerts will run until 3 am. The price of daily tickets is as follows: Thursday, 44 euros; Friday, 89 euros; and Saturday, also 89 euros. The pass for two days (Friday and Saturday) costs 149 euros.

Sónar+D at the Llotja de Mar

One of the most significant changes for Sónar 2026 is the physical decoupling of Sónar+D, which will take place on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June at the Llotja de Mar from 10 am to 9 pm, thanks to the collaboration of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. "We considered bringing Sónar+D to Gran Via, but we immediately dismissed it. Staying in Barcelona is a cultural and brand decision," says Andrea Faroppa, director of Sónar+D and linked to the festival for eleven years. "Everything changes for the better," she assures.

Sónar Week: expansion to Parc del Fòrum

During the festival week, Barcelona will have other proposals organized by Sónar, such as OffSónar at Poble Espanyol (40 artists from Thursday to Sunday). As a novelty, Sónar Kids is being revived, which will take place at Parc del Fòrum on Saturday, June 20, and is part of Sónar District which will host the Solid Grooves party on Friday 19 and the Metamorfosi party on Saturday 20. The Sónar Week also includes a special program at the Moog club in El Raval by Barcelona producer Angel Molina. According to Jozic, the forecast is to reach a total of 160,000 attendees, adding those from Sónar proper and those from Sónar Week.