Primavera Sound wrapped its 21st edition in Barcelona with a crowd of 253,000, then set its sights on Madrid to meet a fresh challenge. Of the total, 193,000 attended the core Barcelona days from Thursday to Saturday. The rest were spread across an opening-day crowd of about 20,000, several weeklong performances across venues totaling 15,000, and the electronic closer at Brunch This Sunday drawing around 25,000. In all, 317 performances featured notable acts including Kendrick Lamar, Depeche Mode, Blur, and Rosalía, underscoring the festival’s wide appeal across genres.
Organizers described the closing press conference as a moment of motivation, signaling the drive to translate Barcelona’s momentum into a confident entry into Madrid. Leadership stressed that Madrid would build on lessons from Barcelona and push the brand into a fresh market with an eye toward sustainable, long-term growth.
This year saw a shift in Barcelona’s venue strategy. After tensions at the Sant Adrià del Besòs beach and with local partners, the festival moved away from that seaside site. Daily attendance averaged around 65,000, with about 54,000 on Thursday, 68,000 on Friday, and roughly 70,000 projected for Saturday. Since the event is designed to absorb demand, organizers avoided stockouts and aimed for a steadier flow and improved crowd management. The revised layout at the Fòrum park reduced usable space compared with last year, a choice described by organizers as deliberate to maintain comfort and safety while handling a similar or higher overall turnout.
landing of strangers
The festival recorded a meaningful shift in its international audience. Attendees from 121 countries contributed to a vibrant mix, though the share of foreign visitors dipped versus the post-pandemic peak a year earlier. Last year, roughly seven in ten attendees traveled from abroad; this year the portion settled a little above half. Organizers noted practical frictions, including flight schedules and hotel availability intersecting with major events like Formula 1, which influenced travel plans for international guests. Ticket pricing also climbed, with the general pass rising from 245 euros in 2022 to 325 euros this year, reflecting broader cost pressures and investments in the festival experience. Leadership highlighted a forthcoming renewal of generations, noting the average age of festivalgoers has shifted and will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years.
Officials say Barcelona and Madrid editions together command a budget exceeding 65 million euros. A large portion of this allocation funds the Madrid venue and mobility infrastructure in Arganda del Rey, a plan designed to maintain smooth movement between stages, accommodations, and transit routes. The assistant director, who steered last year’s strategy, reaffirmed that a second Barcelona edition is unlikely in the near term. Instead, the focus remains on delivering Madrid as a strong, independent event with the aim of drawing around 40,000 participants per day in the Madrid program. The team emphasized that the momentum in Barcelona would inform Madrid’s path and ensure the festival can scale responsibly while keeping its core spirit and artist lineup intact.