Sónar 2026 begins with explicit sex, techno and nostalgia

L'Hospitalet de LlobregatFeeling of a cycle change on the first day of Sónar 2026, the first edition since 1994 without the three founders (Sergio and Enric Palau and Ricard Robles). Therefore, the first with François Jozic as director, and also the first without a distinction between Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night because now all activity is concentrated in a single venue, Fira Gran Via, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, although the professional part of Sónar+D debuts at the Llotja de Mar and Sónar Kids is recovered, which takes place at Parc del Fòrum. Despite the aroma of a turned page, there are invariable things, such as the pleasant feeling of letting yourself be carried away by hedonism and unexpected discovery.

The concentration adds stages like the Village and the Hall, which from 2013 to 2025 were in Montjuïc, and keeps those that were already operating in L'Hospitalet, the historic venue for the night program since 2001. Now it all starts at 5 p.m. and ends at the same place in the early morning. Of course, the price of beers remains the same as in 2025: 5.50 euros. Among other things that do not change is the support that Sónar gives to emerging or just consolidating proposals. For example, Metrika from Castellón, a mid-afternoon star on the Park stage on a first day not yet at full capacity and, as is usual on Sónar Thursdays, with fewer stages in play.

“Lots of puppies and lots of faggots,” Metrika said to greet the audience, not yet very numerous but well-disposed to receive a convincing breath of street trap, dembow, and highly filtered reggaeton from a “diva for whom they clear the way when she enters the rave”. Defiant behind enormous dark glasses and with verses that speak of explicit sex, self-medication, satisfied desires, eschatological promises, and a pussy that smells different, she relies on her own stage charisma and that of her efficient dance troupe, and, of course, on a primary sexual poetics, without metaphorical foreplay, and at times, rudimentary. Songs like Madre fundadora, Lip combo (the one about “give me a little kiss on the twat”) and others that are almost makina-like, such as the successful Humedad valenciana, connected with an audience that was mostly following the performance with a knowing smile. Metrika is a diva capable of shining in an abandoned shopping mall parking lot thanks to anthems like Toto de loca, one of the most unhinged sexual declarations of recent years. She unleashed it towards the end of the show (before Diva del infierno) while a good part of the audience sang the chorus “She wants toto like a crazy person / Bitch, put your mouth on it, mouth, ah” and other gems like “Have two dicks put in me and come out Siamese / Today I’m looking for a new little slut to pray to me / To fuck hard, hard, hard, to fuck hard”. 

Less pretentiousness but much more rhythmic intensity was found at SonarCar with the Dutch Speedy J, who every day of Sónar unfolds the STOOR project: a kind of jam session techno shared with other producers. On Thursday, for five hours, he created with Colin Benders, Nadia Struiwigh, Reeko and .VRIL, all five in the center of the space, as officiants of a pagan ceremony very well received by the audience.

(1983) and more abrasive material conveyed the feeling that this tour was indeed worth doing.

The crackdown (1983) and more abrasive material conveyed the feeling that this tour was indeed worthwhile.