Festival Preview: Mad Cool Festival // Madrid 2026
Marking its tenth-anniversary milestone, Mad Cool Festival returns to the Iberdrola Music space in Madrid from July 8th to July 11th. This edition promises to be one of its most ambitious yet, featuring a powerhouse lineup that bridges the gap between rock legends, pop sensations, and electronic innovators.
The 2026 bill is topped by an impressive set of headliners including Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Twenty One Pilots, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and a highly anticipated headline slot from Lorde, bringing her Ultrasound tour for its only date in Spain. The lineup also features JENNIE (from BLACKPINK), Pulp, Wolf Alice, David Byrne, Halsey, and others.
The four day festival is carefully divided by themes and genres: the first day is led by rock and indie staples such as Wolf Alice, The War On Drugs, Kings of Leon, and The Last Dinner Party; the second day focuses on pop and rising stars like Florence + The Machine, JENNIE, Lorde, Reneé Rapp, Teddy Swims, Zara Larsson, and CMAT; the third day features huge names from the "Tumblr era" such as Halsey and Twenty One Pilots, along with rock acts like Pixies and Kings of Leon; and the closing day features legendary icons such as Nick Cave, Pulp, and David Byrne.
With over 70 artists confirmed for this decade-anniversary celebration (and the set-times out already), Mad Cool 2026 cements its status as one of the biggest festivals on the European circuit. From the high energy of the main stages to the curated late night sets at The Loop, the Villaverde area will once again become the focus of Madrid's music scene.
Words by Marcos Sanoja
