As Europe looks forward to warmer days, Barcelona is preparing to host the best of music during June-July, 2025.
One of the main reasons I appreciate living in Europe is proximity to so many countries and the affordability of travel to and from these places. It’s unimaginable anywhere else in the world to casually go for a weekend to Barcelona, Paris, Rome or Amsterdam. Yet, it’s not unusual for Europeans: Just take a look at your city’s tourists and where they come from.
As winters get shorter and summers become more unpredictable in northern Europe, it’s the southernmost part of the continent that is desirable throughout the year. In my case, I’ve even taken the drastic decision to make the move itself: after living four years in London I am now based in Barcelona.
But good weather sometimes isn’t enough. Or at least, it doesn’t say anything about the character or the ambiance that makes a place special. Well, Barcelona is the perfect example for this: on top of many attractive events (soccer, technolog) it is one of Europe’s leading creative cities, and one of the best places to enjoy world-renowned music events.
So here’s my selection of 2025’s most important festivals and concerts to be enjoyed by the Mediterranean.
Sonar Festival
12 thru 14 June, Fira Barcelona.
Sonar is one of Europe’s most respected electronic music festivals for its leading role in music nnovation and creativity. Since 1994, it has positioned itself as the continent’s pioneering electronic music event, turning Barcelona into the rendez-vous for EDM lovers all over Europe and a global capital of electronic music.
In 2025, the three-day festival will welcome Names from the electronic scene such as Skrillex, Plastikman (Richie Hawtin), BICEP, Peggy Gou, Mochakk, Four Tet and Honey Dijon. But Sonar has diversified its offer over the years, especially with regards to the Hispanic music scene. From Nathy Peluso’s new album “Club Grasa” to Yerai Cortés’ flamenco ‘Guitarra Corral’ show – and a few months after it won Best Original Score at the Goya Awards.
Sonar Festival 2025 will make sure to entertain music enthusiasts with other musical genres as well.
Finally, Sonar is also the place where digital innovations – such as AI – and their effects on the music industry are discussed by industry leaders. The festival offers their one-of-a-kind conference, Sonar +, an ideal place to understand where digitalisation meets music and what possible futures await.
See the full lineup here. And tickets here, with packages starting at 210 euros.
Primavera Sound
June 5 thru 7, Parc Del Fòrum.
With most tickets already sold out for the June edition, Primavera Sound is set to position itself once again as Spain’s biggest festival – it attracted more than 130,000 visitors in 2024. The festival will be held at Barcelona’s Parc Del Fòrum, just 30 minutes away from the city center and just on the Mediterranean.
With a lesser focus on electronic music and a bigger focus on pop, rock, and hip-hop, Primavera will gather super-hot acts, such as Charlie XCX and Troye Sivan’s SWEAT show, as well as the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, FKA Twigs, Jamie XX, Chappel Roan or even LCD Soundsystem.
See here for more information on the lineup. Day tickets start at 135 euros and you can get yours here.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA
30 July 30 at Estadi Lluís Companys Stadium
As part of a 13-show tour in Europe, 30 July will be the iconic duo’s only “Grand National Tour” stop in Spain, making Barcelona feel more important than the country’s capital, Madrid. Held at the Estadio Lluís Companys – current home of FC Barcelona and Catalunya’s only full-size Olympic stadium , the show will start at 9 p.m. on what will assuredly be a warm night to wear your shorts and t-shirts.
Strategically located on the Montjuic hill and sitting on top of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the stadium is walking distance away from Plaza Espanya, reachable via the L3 metro. Your writer recommends going and visiting Montjuic hill in advance. You will be able to enjoy city views from Montjuic’s gardens, or have a go at visiting the Montjuic Castle with its scenic views on the Mediterranean and even try and visualise Dua Lipa’s ‘Illusion’ music video at the Olympic Pool mirador where it was shot.
You can get tickets here on LiveNation starting at 73 euros.
Guns N’ Roses
9 June at Estadi Lluís Companys
One of rock’s greatest bands will be landing in Barcelona at the Estadi Lluís Companys on Monday , 9 June. Part of their wider Middle East and European tour, this will be the only occasion in 2025 to see them in Spain.
Supported by Californian band Rival Sons, Axl Rose, Duff McKagan and Slash will take care of
rocking the Mediterranean just after Primavera Sound and a few days before the Sonar Festival.
Tickets start at 73 euros and you can get yours here.
Thinking about music-inspired holidays on the Med? Rest assured: Barcelona will deliver the best of both worlds in early June and July.
See more EDM festivals across Europe here.
Alex de Royere is a Franco-Argentine journalist and political scientist in Barcelona, Spain. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Alex moved to London in 2020 to pursue a European Politics BA at King’s College London. His eagerness to reconnect with his Latin roots and become a full-time journalist led him pursue a journalism and digital content innovation MA. Alex is a soccer enthusiast (and player), a jazz aficionado and loves to travel the world.
