Music festivals and concerts in Spain

Key rules

• Dates: Festival dates and lineups change every year, so confirm them on the festival's own site.
• Early buying: Early bird tickets are cheaper, and big events often sell out months ahead.
• City festivals: Primavera Sound, Mad Cool and BBK Live usually have no camping, so book accommodation early.
• Alcohol: Alcohol is sold only to people aged 18 or over.

Pick a festival by season

Spain's festival season runs from about May to August. Dates and lineups change every year, so use the list below to choose, then check the festival's own site.

• May and early June: Viña Rock (Villarrobledo, around May), Tomavistas (Madrid), Primavera Sound (Barcelona, late May or early June) and Mallorca Live (Calvià, May to June).
• June: Sónar (Barcelona), O Son do Camiño (Santiago) and Resurrection Fest (Viveiro, Galicia, late June or July).
• July: Mad Cool (Madrid), Cruïlla (Barcelona), FIB (Benicàssim), Bilbao BBK Live and Low Festival (Benidorm). Arenal Sound (Burriana) runs from late July into August.
• August: Medusa (Cullera, Valencia), Dreambeach (Villaricos, Almería) and Sonorama Ribera (Aranda de Duero).
• Summer: Starlite (Marbella).

Buy tickets at the right time

Buy early. Big festivals often sell out months ahead.

Large festivals usually announce their first headliners in autumn or winter. Discounted early bird tickets follow, from late autumn to spring. General sale comes after that. The timeline below shows the order.

Stadium and arena concerts usually go on sale 6 to 12 months ahead. Fan or presale access often opens 1 to 2 days before.

The main platforms are Ticketmaster, Entradas.com, Ticketea (now part of Eventbrite), El Corte Inglés tickets, Live Nation, Dice, Fever and Wegow. For club nights, try Resident Advisor or the venue's own site. Each event sets its own dates, so follow the festival's announcements.

Plan transport and where to sleep

Many festivals run shuttle buses from the nearest city or station. Regular trains, metro or rideshare also work. Big sites have paid parking.

Camping is common at Arenal Sound, Viña Rock, Medusa and Resurrection Fest. Options range from basic tents to glamping. City festivals such as Primavera Sound, Mad Cool and BBK Live usually have no camping, so book a hotel early.

Age limits and paying inside

Alcohol is sold only to people aged 18 or over. Under-16s usually enter only with an adult. Some festivals admit 16 and 17 year olds with signed parental authorisation. Children's tickets, or free entry for young children, are common.

Many festivals use cashless wristbands that you top up. Each festival's terms set its own age and camping rules, so read them before you buy.

Timeline and deadlines

• Watch for first headliner announcements for big festivals: In autumn or winter, months before the festival

• Buy early bird tickets at a discount: From late autumn to spring, soon after the first announcement

• Buy general sale tickets before they sell out: After early bird; big events often sell out months ahead

• Get stadium or arena concert tickets: Usually 6-12 months before the concert

• Use fan or presale access if offered: 1-2 days before the general sale

Where to find concerts, museum free days and cheap cinema

• Ticketing platforms such as Ticketmaster, Entradas.com, Fever, Wegow, Dice and El Corte Inglés tickets: Search and buy concert and festival tickets here. Large festivals usually announce headliners in autumn or winter, with cheaper early bird tickets soon after.

• Concert and event listing sites such as Songkick, Bandsintown, Eventbrite, Atrápalo and Time Out: Browse what is on near you. Time Out covers Madrid and Barcelona; Guía del Ocio and Spain.info cover wider listings.

• Your city council's official culture agenda: Find local events, many of them free. Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia all publish one. Elsewhere, check your town hall's website, regional tourism office or social media.

• State and major regional museums: Use free entry times. State museums are typically free on Saturdays from 14:00 to 20:00 and all day Sunday, and on 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December. The Prado is free in the last two hours before closing. Bring ID if you claim free entry as a student, under-18, over-65, unemployed or EU resident.

• Regional and city museums in Catalonia, Madrid and Andalusia: Check local free days. Barcelona municipal museums are free on the first Sunday and on Sunday afternoons from 15:00. Madrid and Andalusia offer free entry to EU citizens at many regional museums and monuments.

• Cinema chains such as Cinesa, Yelmo, Kinépolis, Renoir and Ocine: Go on the Día del Espectador, usually a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, when tickets cost roughly €3.5-€7 instead of the usual €8-€12. Loyalty cards and apps give further discounts, and under-26s, over-65s, large families and unemployed people often pay less.

• Independent cinemas and the Fiesta del Cine: Look for reduced prices at independent cinemas such as Renoir, Golem and Filmoteca. The Fiesta del Cine, held a few times a year, offers tickets at about €3.5.

Frequently asked questions

Can teenagers go to a Spanish music festival?

Yes, but under-16s usually get in only with an adult, and some festivals admit 16-17 year olds with signed parental authorization. Children's tickets or free entry for young children are common. Check the age terms of your festival before you buy.

Do I need a hotel for city festivals like Primavera Sound?

Yes, urban festivals such as Primavera Sound, Mad Cool and BBK Live usually have no camping, so you need to book a hotel or other stay. Book early, as rooms fill up around festival dates.

Which festivals have camping?

Arenal Sound, Viña Rock, Medusa and Resurrection Fest have camping, from basic tents to glamping at some large sites. Many also offer paid parking and shuttle buses from the nearest city or station.

How do I pay for drinks and food inside a festival?

Many festivals use cashless wristbands that you top up, so load some money before you queue. Alcohol sales are limited to adults aged 18 or over.