Sónar will return to Barcelona’s waterfront in 2027, with organisers confirming plans to hold the festival’s daytime edition and Sónar +D at Port Vell from June 17th to 19th. The exact layout is still to be finalised, but the area is expected to include the Tinglados zone, marking a return to the city centre after years of relocation due to infrastructure works.
Day and Night Events to Be Separated Again
This new configuration will reverse the 2026 format, which merged day and night events at the Fira Gran Via in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. That trial arrangement, intended to accommodate the renovation of Avinguda Maria Cristina in Plaça d’Espanya, left some attendees feeling the festival had lost its intimate atmosphere due to the vastness of the venue.
Under the planned 2027 return to Port Vell, Sónar de Noche will remain at the L’Hospitalet exhibition centre, preserving night-time concerts while re-establishing a distinct daytime experience closer to the sea.
Reconnecting with the Festival's Urban Roots
The move aims to recapture the spirit of Sónar’s early years, particularly its beachside editions between 1997 and 2000 at the Mar Bella pavilion. Although those events were night-time, the new daytime format seeks to evoke a similar coastal vibe.
One key motivation is improving accessibility. In 2026, Sónar +D was held at La Llotja de Mar, more than six kilometres from the main concert site, requiring a separate journey and reducing footfall. By relocating +D to Port Vell, closer to the city centre and near La Llotja, the organisers aim to strengthen the festival’s connection with Barcelona and encourage greater crossover between music, talks, and exhibitions.
Sónar is returning to its urban and Barcelonian roots, close to the beach and the heart of the city.
The 2026 edition featured six stages, three covered, three open-air, designed by studio Twofiftyk, with music running from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The 2027 plan is expected to revert to a more compact schedule, likely opening at 4 p.m. and closing at midnight, with dedicated spaces for concerts, DJ sets, the experimental Sónar Lab, and the green-carpeted Village area.
The festival was founded in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau, and Sergi Caballero. While the move to L’Hospitalet was announced by the founders, the execution has been led by new management under François Jozic. No official details have been released about long-term plans beyond the current three-year agreement, but the return to Port Vell signals a clear shift away from permanent relocation outside the city.
Sources: La Vanguardia, cccb.org.
