Tickets for Primavera Sound in Madrid, priced between 125 and 140 euros, have seen resales at substantial discounts. Some sellers report that buyers simply cannot be found, and offering a portion of the original price is preferable to losing the money outright. The festival did not sell all passes, which reduced resale activity. This outcome stands in contrast to last year when the Barcelona edition sold out within days of general sale.
“It is better to lose 37 euros than 132 euros,” remarks Marta, who bought a Saturday ticket for 132 euros and eventually sold it for 95 euros because she could not attend. “I understand the hesitation, but losing money is frustrating.”
Initial sales for the Madrid edition, which celebrated the macro-festival, began on December 1 with prices higher than in prior years. Overall subscriptions rose from 245 to 325 euros for both Barcelona and Madrid editions. Day passes ranged from 110 to 125 euros. Options varied, with premium packages and cancellation insurance on one end, and discounts for Madrid Community residents and Banco Santander customers on the other.
Today, second-hand tickets are available around 170 euros and daily passes around 85 euros. Listings appear on platforms like Wallapop and Milanuncios, along with social networks. During the reporting period, Wallapop removed several listings for violating resale rules. Maria notes, “I posted my pass on Twitter and received one offer from a girl who asked me to drop it to 150 euros.” She refused, explaining that the value was higher, and ultimately decided to attend instead.
Leyre reports a similar experience, listing a pass at 170 euros. She lowered her price not only because it was hard to place otherwise but also because it was a Wednesday afternoon and the festival warned of rain. The event later announced the cancellation of Thursday due to rain and storms impacting pre-production. Season ticket holders still await clarity on refunds for that portion of the pass.
The organizers informed on social media that Thursday tickets could be used for either Saturday or Sunday. They did not address fertilizer concerns. By publication time, the festival had not responded to requests for information. Maria adds, “When weather is involved, the fine print often says refunds are not guaranteed, but it seems City of Rock may not be fully ready for rain. The outcome remains uncertain.”
Consumer group Facua stated on Thursday that those affected by the cancellation are entitled to proportional reimbursement of their payment and a full refund for day passes. By noon, the festival announced that Blur, the leading act of that day, would perform in La Riviera, a venue with a 2,500 capacity. Ticket holders could book access starting at 4 p.m., but the brief window sold out in minutes, leaving many hopeful attendees unable to participate. Non-transferable and non-resellable terms were asserted for this surprise event, according to festival communications.
“My hope is that the entire festival gets canceled”
Porto, who bought a Saturday ticket during Rosalía and Calvin Harris’s performances, has been trying to sell his pass for 95 euros for several days. “Since I’m using a private platform, I had to announce it on Twitter. I can’t list it on TicketSells or similar sites at their original price,” he explains. “I can’t go, I need to sell to avoid losing 140 euros. It cost me a lot.” He has encountered a mix of offers, including suspicious bids and scams. With dwindling buyer interest, he contemplates cancellation to recover funds.
Forecasts from AEMET suggested rain possible around the evenings in Arganda del Rey, but organizers stated that Friday and Saturday activities could proceed as planned. The organization did not indicate any cancellation as of the report.
The Madrid edition, held at City of Rock in Arganda del Rey, spans a large area about a 40-minute drive from central Madrid. The venue opened in 2006 on land belonging to the Community of Madrid, originally hosting the Rock in Río festival. City of Rock can accommodate about 96,000 people, though organizers planned for daily crowds near 40,000 spectators, based on statements given in an interview with El País.
The festival moved ticketing from Thursday to Friday and then to Saturday without apparent location issues. Final attendance data were not released at the time of reporting. In Barcelona, the event drew roughly 253,000 participants with an average of 65,000 daily attendees, about 15,000 fewer than in 2022.
Overall, the Madrid edition has faced the usual resale pressures seen in major festivals, with ticket holders weighing refunds, weather risks, and the likelihood of full or partial reimbursement. Communities and organizers continue to navigate the balance between accessibility for fans and the financial realities of live events.