150,000 attendees at Sónar 2026. This is the data provided by the festival's management. It is a global figure that also includes Sónar Kids (1,500 people), Sónar+D (4,000), Sónar District parties at Parc del Fòrum, and OffSónar at Poble Espanyol. However, the festival does not detail the audience for OffSónar activities, nor for Sónar District, nor for the three musical days at the Fira Gran Via venue. Therefore, it is difficult to compare it with 2025, beyond the fact that last year the global figure was 161,000 attendees: 52,000 at Sónar de Dia in Montjuïc, 66,500 at the two days of Sónar de Nit in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and 42,000 at OffSónar.

The new layout of Sónar at Fira Gran Via means that the simultaneous offering grows considerably. Up to six simultaneous stages operate during a large part of the afternoon, night, and early morning. The feeling of frustration for not being able to get everywhere exists, but perhaps it is not as evident as in other festivals. Well into midnight, the public moves between the stages and rest areas without haste and with a more contemplative than restless attitude. Surely managing energies to be in top form when it's time to give it all at Charlotte de Witte's set, one of Friday's early morning highlights.

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (Idibell) and the Ekho Research Group of the University of Barcelona (UB) have presented at Sónar+D, at La Llotja de Mar, HÈLIX. Genomic Variations, a project that, based on genomic and epigenetic data, creates music with artificial intelligence models. It is inspired by studies that consider human musicality to be partially conditioned by genetic and epigenetic factors, with an estimated heritability between 40% and 70%, and proposes a new way to explore and communicate biological complexity by making biomedical research dialogue with the arts and creative technologies.

Feeling 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 distinction between Sónar de Dia and Sónar de Nit 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 is premiering location at La Llotja de Mar and Sónar Kids is being revived, 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.

A new stage begins at Sónar, with a change in management and concentrating musical activity at Fira Gran Via de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat because the Sónar de Dia, which was held in Montjuïc, is disappearing. In this edition, which takes place from June 18 to 20, 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. Sónar+D is also being separated, relocated to La Llotja de Mar. There are still tickets on sale: Thursday, at 49 euros; Friday, at 99 euros, and Saturday also at 99 euros. The pass for two days (Friday and Saturday) costs 159 euros. Below, ten artistic recommendations from Sónar 2026.

British band The Prodigy is the main new addition to the lineup for Sónar 2026, the first edition to be held in a single venue: the Gran Via Fairgrounds in Hospitalet de Llobregat, on June 18, 19, and 20. Another significant change is the separation of Sónar+D, the professional trade fair and congress, which is moving to the Lonja de Mar after sharing space with Sónar by Day performances at the Montjuïc Fairgrounds since 2013. The ongoing construction at the Montjuïc fairgrounds has forced the festival to adjust its daytime and nighttime programming: concerts will be spread across six stages, three outdoors and three indoors. This consolidation of the program also affects the opening hours: the venue will open at 5:00 PM (Sónar by Day already started at midday at Montjuïc).