Primavera Sound 2026 in Barcelona is just around the corner, returning to Parc del Forum from June 4th to 6th. After booking Chapel Lawn, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX in 2025, this year’s headliners lean more towards classic indie, with The XXX, Gorillaz, My Bloody Valentine and Massive Attack topping the list. Still, I have to qualify by saying that XX’s headlining set was placed between Addison Rae and Skrillex, with Massive Attack’s performance followed by Doja Cat. This is just one reason why there aren’t more fun festivals out there. Over the past few years, we’ve featured several artists worth seeing at our events, but we haven’t featured some of their names at the top of the poster. (If you’re going to this festival, you don’t need to be told to catch Geese or Cameron Winter.) Here are five must-see acts from each day of Primavera Sound 2026.
June 4th
Father John Misty
Father John Misty is cooking. something. The acclaimed singer-songwriter hasn’t announced a new album for 2026, but he has released two singles: “The Old Law” and, most recently, the excellent “The Payoff.” Whether he’s premiering new music at a festival or not, Josh Tillman is quite the showman, and there’s no failure in his catalogue. His latest record, 2024 Mahashmashanawas full of expansive, apocalyptic songs. Despite following his career for over a decade, I’ve never seen him live, so I’m going to prioritize him over the inevitable scheduling conflicts.
occlu
The performance of the occlu in broad daylight would be amazing. The Okulu performance until late at night is nothing short of magical. No matter where organizers place her, the French artist’s set is not to be missed. Her music is understated yet heartfelt, and a clip from this year’s Coachella appearance proves she has no problem bringing it to life at the festival. (However, if you were hoping for a guest spot with Underscore, unfortunately she’s not on this year’s lineup. I think that will change in 2027.) Let’s warm up by revisiting some of the great work from 2025. enough chalk Check out her recent Tiny Desk performance.
caroline
Oklu played her match for Caroline Polachek bread Despite touring, it’s strange that two left-of-center pop artists have yet to collaborate on a record. Even stranger is British post-rock ensemble Caroline, who released one of the best albums of 2025. caroline 2I actually had Polachek sing on my second record. They were also a major force behind former black midi member Cameron Picton’s critically acclaimed debut solo record. my new band believe. and like a band they are The opening act for Black Country’s New Roads (and they’ve played enough consecutive festivals to take a break this year), they’re a shape-shifting live entity whose ambient symphonies never fail to amaze no matter how rigorously recorded they are.
panda bear
Just over a year ago, Panda Bear returned. Sinister Grifta collection of some of his most brilliant, seductive, and improvisational songs to date. This is also Noah Lennox’s first solo record featuring all of his Animal Collective band members. Heading to Primavera wasn’t such a big journey for the other members of AnCo, as he was working on this record in his studio in Lisbon, Portugal, as detailed in our Inspirations interview. But in other ways, hearing his antics and soothing songs live is quite the journey.
skull crusher
skull crusher 2022 Please keep the room quiet This is still one of my favorite ambient folk records and last year she returned with another beautiful collection. and your song is like a circle. I haven’t completely gone back to it many times since it was somewhat overlooked, but I keep coming back to the live videos she released during the rollout, especially “Dragon.” Hearing Helen Valentine’s intimate, soothing songs live is something else entirely. We are sure that you will leave feeling like you have breathed in a different atmosphere than usual.
June 5th
Amaarae
Amaarae has had great success with their last two records. fountain baby and black star. Although she may not be as well-known as Pink Panthers, the fact that she will be performing at the festival on the same day will result in more people getting to know the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter. Their live debut may even come true. black star The collaboration “Kiss Me Thru the Phone pt 2” is reason enough to be excited. You won’t find a more sultry performance throughout the entire festival.
lilo kiley
Rilo Kiley reunited last year to perform their first show in 17 years. Jenny Lewis said at the time: “It couldn’t have happened sooner.” “We feel like now is the time to share that joy and love with each other and everyone else.” The energy was palpable, and the show garnered great reviews. Those who missed them still have a chance to see the band this year, and Primavera, known as the festival celebrating their reunion tour, is one of the few destinations they’ll be visiting. And, to quote the classic song that has become the tour’s tagline, “Sometimes when you’re turned on, you’re really fucked up.”
slow dive
I mean, if you don’t need me to tell you to go see My Bloody Valentine, I don’t need you to do the same for Slowdive, right? Both shoegaze pioneers reunited in the 21st century for an appearance at the festival, although MBV, of course, hasn’t played in more than a decade, while Slowdive have performed there twice in recent years. I missed both performances, but had seen them on two separate occasions before the darkly shimmering 2023 LP. everything is alive. But those records were very good, so I hope I can prioritize them this time.
viagra boys
The Viagra Boys’ best songs are as silly as they are anthems. I’ve never completely loved their records, but their highlights are fascinating, and the Swedish sextet seem like the kind of band you’ll never understand unless you see them live, especially looking at the reckless enthusiasm with which Sebastian Murphy approaches every performance. If you have to pick a hot post-punk band, choose this one.
mark william lewis
Mark William Lewis is about to embark on a North American tour with Ivy Knight, the subject of our latest Artist Spotlight. Then his first stop is Primavera Sound. There, he plans to perform some skeletal yet mesmerizing songs, preferably after midnight. There’s a reason A24 chose the London singer-songwriter to be the first artist to sign to the record label that released her self-titled record last year. His music is more subtly cinematic than any of the day’s headliners, but you don’t have to be completely familiar with it to be captivated by its charm.
June 5th
dijon
The last day of the festival will be packed, and I’ll start with the most obvious picks. Like many people, I was surprised by Dijon’s 2025 record babyThis established him as one of the most original artists working today. 2021 absolutely and was captivated by the raw energy he brought to the accompanying live footage. But what really got me excited about seeing him at this year’s Primavera was watching his performance at Coachella. Even through a livestream, it was chillingly contagious. I hope his set doesn’t clash with any of the headliners, but I look forward to the day he gets one of those spots.
Ninajirachi
I’m calling it: i love computers “” is the best album of 2026 that has not been released in 2026. Few albums this year have generated more hype than Ninajirachi’s August 2025 debut. And it’s clearly on the best-of-the-decade lists of publications that didn’t even feature it the year it was released. (This album features one of the best album covers in recent memory, which she told us a little about.) That’s why having her name in the penultimate column is about as strange as having Geese under Bad Gal. Have you seen how joyful and elated she is? set Do you tend to do that? Have you seen it? she Coachella performance? And on the final day of the festival, it’s sure to be a featured late-night show. Please find me writing notes on my laptop in the back row.
Anna von Hauswolff
Anna von Hasswolff’s 2025 album iconoclast Although this was her sixth album, it was loved by many who had not previously heard of the Swedish musician’s work. It’s hard to imagine exactly how she brings these singular, transcendent, strangely groovy songs to the stage. Perhaps Ethel Caine, who appeared the day before, will also be joining in on the collaboration “Aging Young Women.” Lift your mood by listening to her amazing songs Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival record.
Jeri haha
Spending more time on last year’s stuff switch roux After falling in love with Jeri Haha’s latest single, “Klouds Will Carry Me to Sleep,” it’s one of the best of 2026 so far. Not only would it be a colorful, quirky, maximalist performance, but some of the theatrical and clownish elements of her music would probably make more sense in a live setting. In other words, it’s a portal to Geriverse.
Grace Ives
For those who are salty about the fact that Primavera didn’t book enough pop stars this year, I’d like to point out Grace Ives, who put out a great record earlier this year. she. Indeed, Lorde will not be returning to the festival this year, despite posting a better record than this year. solar power (Record she supported in 2022) But she It’s better than that album virgin;Let’s just say Ives embraces melodrama. (She was recently announced as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming tour.) This year’s Primavera lineup is introverted, right down to the headliner, and if that’s your type, trust me when I say no one does pop music like Grace Ives.
Source: Our Culture – ourculturemag.com
