Primavera Sound overcomes the storm and draws 287,000 attendees

The figure confirms the strength of an event that continues to shape Barcelona’s cultural and economic life at the beginning of every June. For several days, the Fòrum, Diagonal Mar, the Besòs and much of the seafront once again saw thousands of journeys, queues, hotel bookings, full terraces and reinforced public transport.

The most difficult moment came on Thursday, when heavy rain affected several stages and forced the cancellation of anticipated concerts. Those affected included Doja Cat, Massive Attack, Bad Gyal and Alex G, a decision that left the public frustrated but which the organisers defended on safety grounds.

The festival’s response came over the following days. Friday and Saturday regained momentum with major concerts, full venues and an audience that returned to the Fòrum despite the bitter aftertaste of the first big night. The organisers plan to refund part of the tickets for the affected day, with the details still to be specified.

One of the major surprises came with Olivia Rodrigo. Her surprise concert on the Occident stage became one of the most talked-about moments of the edition, after days of rumours among attendees. The artist’s appearance added a note of euphoria to a festival that needed to change the narrative after the storm.

The overall result leaves a clear image for Barcelona: Primavera Sound can suffer a serious blow from the weather and still retain its importance as one of the city’s major events. For attendees, the 2026 edition will be marked by a very specific mix: rain, cancellations, pending refunds, mass concerts and a pop surprise that changed the mood at the end.