Barcelona’s Primavera Sound 2026 is simply across the nook, returning to the Parc del Fòrum on June 4-6. After reserving Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX in 2025, this yr’s headliners lean extra classically indie, with the xx, Gorillaz, My Bloody Valentine, and Huge Assault topping the invoice. But I’ve to qualify that by saying the xx’s headlining set is slotted between Addison Rae and Skrillex, whereas Huge Assault’s efficiency might be adopted by Doja Cat, which is simply one of many causes there’s no competition fairly as pleasant as this one. For the previous few years, we’ve been highlighting a number of acts value seeing on the occasion, not together with a few of these names on the prime of the poster. (In case you’re going to this competition, you most likely don’t must be informed to catch Geese or Cameron Winter, both.) Listed below are 5 must-see acts from every day of Primavera Sound 2026.
June 4
Father John Misty
Father John Misty is cooking up one thing. The acclaimed singer-songwriter hasn’t introduced a brand new album for 2026, however he’s dropped two singles, ‘The Outdated Legislation’ and, most lately, the implausible ‘The Payoff’. Whether or not or not he debuts new materials on the competition, Josh Tillman is sort of the showman, and there’s no dud in his catalog; his newest file, 2024’s Mahashmashana, was filled with sprawling, apocalyptic tunes. Regardless of following his profession for effectively over a decade, I’ve by no means caught him stay, so I’ll attempt to prioritize him over any schedule battle that inevitably arises.
oklou
An oklou efficiency in broad daylight could be fantastic. An oklou efficiency deep into the night time could be pure magic. Irrespective of the place the organizers slot her in, the French artist’s set is to not be missed; her music is unassuming but transportive, and clips from her look at this yr’s Coachella proved she has no problem bringing it to life in a competition setting. (In case you’re hoping for an underscores visitor spot, although, she’s sadly not on the lineup this yr, which I wager goes to alter in 2027.) Heat up by revisiting 2025’s marvelous choke enoug and trying out her current Tiny Desk efficiency.
caroline
oklou opened for Caroline Polachek on her Pang tour, and it’s bizarre that the 2 left-of-center pop artists have but to collaborate on file. What’s weirder is that caroline, the UK post-rock ensemble who delivered among the best albums of 2025 with caroline 2, truly did get Polachek to sing on their second file. They had been additionally an enormous power behind the acclaimed debut solo file from ex-black midi member Cameron Picton, My New Band Imagine. And just like the band they opened for, Black Nation, New Highway (who’ve performed the competition sufficient consecutive instances to warrant a break from it this yr), they’re a shapeshifting stay entity whose ambient symphonies are certain to shock regardless of how exacting their recordings are.
Panda Bear
Simply over a yr in the past, Panda Bear returned with Sinister Grift, a set of a few of his most radiant, mesmerizing, and instant songs to this point. It’s additionally Noah Lennox’s first solo file to characteristic all of his Animal Collective bandmates. As he detailed in our inspirations interview, he labored on the file in his personal studio in Lisbon, Portugal, so heading to Primavera isn’t as a lot of a visit as it might be for AnCo’s different members. In one other sense, although, listening to his playfully disarming songs stay needs to be fairly the journey.
Skullcrusher
Skullcrusher’s 2022 Quiet the Room stays considered one of my favourite ambient folks data, and final yr, she returned with one other stunning assortment, And Your Track Is Like a Circle. It went considerably ignored, and whereas I haven’t returned to it in full too many instances, I hold going again to the stay movies she launched throughout the rollout, particularly for ‘Dragon’. Listening to Helen Ballentine’s intimately disarming songs stay and uncooked is one thing else; I assure you’ll go away with the sensation of respiration a special air.
June 5
Amaarae
Amaarae has knocked it out of the park with each of her most up-to-date data, Fountain Child and Black Star. She might not be on the identical stage of fame as PinkPantheress, however the truth that she’s taking part in the competition on the identical day ensures that extra folks might be launched to the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter because of this. We’d even get the stay debut of their Black Star collab ‘Kiss Me Through the Cellphone pt 2’, which is sufficient motive to get excited. I doubt there’ll be a sultrier efficiency throughout the entire competition.
Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley reunited final yr for his or her first exhibits in 17 years. “It couldn’t have occurred any sooner,” Jenny Lewis mentioned on the time. “It seems like now could be the time to share that pleasure and love with one another and with everybody else.” That power was palpable, and the exhibits garnered nice critiques; those that missed them nonetheless have an opportunity of seeing the band this yr, and Primavera – a competition recognized for honouring reunion excursions – is considered one of their few stops. And to cite the basic music that serves because the tagline for the tour: “Generally if you’re on, you’re actually fucking one.”
Slowdive
I imply, if I don’t must inform you to go see My Bloody Valentine, I most likely don’t have to do the identical for Slowdive, proper? Each shoegaze pioneers marked their Twenty first-century reunions with appearances on the competition, however whereas MBV have after all been absent for over a decade, Slowdive carried out there once more twice in recent times. I missed each of these performances however have seen them on two separate events previous to their darkly shimmering 2023 LP, the whole lot is alive. That file was so good, although, yhsy I’m hoping I can prioritize them this time.
Viagra Boys
Viagra Boys’ finest songs are as absurd as they’re anthemic. I’ve by no means completely adored any of their data, however these highlights are irresistible, and the Swedish sextet looks as if a “You need to see it stay to get it” form of band, particularly having seen the reckless fervor with which Sebastian Murphy treats each efficiency. In case you’re going to see any talky post-punk band on the invoice, make it this one.
mark william lewis
mark william lewis is about to embark on a North American tour with Ivy Knight, our newest Artist Highlight topic. After that, his first cease is Primavera Sound, the place he’ll be performing his skeletal but beguiling songs, hopefully after midnight. There’s a motive A24 picked the London singer-songwriter as the primary artist to be signed to their file label, which launched his self-titled file final yr. His music is extra understatedly cinematic than any of the day’s headliners, however you don’t must be completely acquainted with it to be enchanted by it.
June 5
Dijon
The ultimate day of the competition goes to be a packed one, and I’m going to start out with the obvious choose. Like many, I used to be amazed by Dijon’s 2025 file Child, which established him as probably the most creative artists working as we speak. 2021’s Completely piqued my curiosity, and I used to be mesmerized by the stay power he delivered to its accompanying stay movie. However what actually excited me about seeing him at Primavera this yr was catching his efficiency at Coachella; even by way of a livestream, it was spine-chillingly infectious. I hope his set doesn’t conflict with any of the headliners, however I’m wanting ahead to the day he’ll take a type of spots.
Ninajirachi
I’m calling it: I Love My Laptop is the most effective album of 2026 not launched in 2026. Few albums have generated extra hype this yr than Ninajirachi’s August 2025 debut, and I can see it touchdown in best-of-the-decade lists from publications that didn’t even characteristic it the yr it was launched. (It additionally has among the best album covers in current reminiscence, which she informed us a bit about.) Which is why it’s virtually as bizarre seeing her title on the second-to-last row as it’s seeing Geese beneath Dangerous Gyal. Have you ever seen how delightfully exhilarating her units are usually? Have you ever seen her Coachella efficiency? And on the ultimate day of the competition, it’s certain to be a late-night showstopper. Catch me writing notes on my laptop computer within the again row.
Anna von Hausswolff
Anna von Hasswolff’s 2025 album Iconoclasts was her sixth, however it was beloved by many who had by no means heard of the Swedish musician’s work earlier than. It’s laborious to think about precisely how she’s going to carry a few of these idiosyncratic, transcendent, unusually groovy songs to the stage. Perhaps Ethel Cain, who’s acting on the day prior to this, will be part of her for his or her collaboration ‘Ageing Younger Girls’. Get within the temper by listening to her nice Stay at Montreux Jazz Competition file.
Gelli Haha
I’m spending extra time with final yr’s Switcheroo after being received over by Gelli Haha’s newest single ‘Klouds Will Carry Me to Sleep’, among the best of 2026 to this point. Not solely is it going to be a vibrant, weird, and maximalist efficiency, however among the theatrical, clownish components of her music are most likely going to make much more sense in a stay setting. A portal to the Gelliverse, if you’ll.
Grace Ives
I might level anybody who’s salty over the truth that Primavera didn’t guide sufficient pop stars this yr to Grace Ives, who put out a wonderful file earlier this yr referred to as Girlfriend. Certain, Lorde isn’t returning to the competition this yr regardless of placing out a greater file than Photo voltaic Energy (the file she supported in 2022), however Girlfriend is best than each that album and Virgin; let’s simply say Ives is embracing the melodrama. (She was additionally lately introduced as an opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming tour.) This yr’s Primavera lineup is introvert-friendly all the best way as much as the headliners, and if that’s your kind, belief me after I say that nobody is doing pop music fairly like Grace Ives.
