Culture, Spanish Travel Blog

Heady summers, long nights and time off from work allow us to indulge in all sorts of fun. No matter your age, life stage or persuasion there’s a music festival to suit everyone.

Souvenirs don’t always have to be physical things. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, so they say, and everyone takes home that special ‘holiday song’ as a lasting memory. Much easier to carry home than a straw donkey!

What better way to create a whole music memory album of your holiday, than by attending one of the upcoming festivals? There might be one close to your planned holiday destination, so browse our list of some of the hottest Spanish (and Gibraltar) music festivals for 2018.

Mad Cool Festival – Madrid

When? 12th – 14th July 2018

A newbie on the summer Spanish festival scene, Mad Cool Festival is only in its second year. It means business, though, with big indie acts like Green Day, Kings of Leon, and the Foo Fighters headlining as well as Neil Young, The Who, The Prodigy, Die Antwoord, Biffy Clyro, Jane’s Addiction, Editors and Two Door Cinema Club. This rock/pop festival in Madrid with four stages is going from strength to strength, promising to be one of the best urban music festivals in Spain.

More information: Madcoolfestival.es.

Bilbao BBK Live

When? 12th – 14th July 2018

When it comes to festivals there aren’t many in Europe that beat the location of Bilbao BBK Live – the Arriaz Mountains as a backdrop, views over Bilbao city, nearby beaches and stunning sunsets at the end of the day. It’s simply stunning. The music starts late so it’s ideal for visitors as you can sunbathe during the afternoon or even see some sights in the city. If this year’s line-up – featuring the likes of Muse, Mumford & Sons, alt-J or Disclosure, Depeche Mode, Die Antwoord and Fleet Foxes – doesn’t tempt you, then we’re not sure what will.

More information: Bilbaobbklive.com.

Festival Internacional de Benicassim – Castellon

When? 19th – 22nd July 2018

FIB to its friends, with four days of non-stop rock, alternative, indie and electronic music in a beach setting, Benicassim has become a permanent fixture on the Spain festival circuit. Running for 23 years, tickets are quickly sold out, so if you still want one you’ll have to start hunting.

The most successful music festivals now offer more than just music and FIB, being something of a veteran now, is no different. We want more from our festival experience, and FIB delivers – expect to see a short film festival, fashion shows, art exhibition, and a festival of dance and choreography, with educational arts courses provided by a local university, too. If you’re bored by all of that there’s even a water park just down the road for a cooling respite. Headliners this year are The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kasabian.

More information: Fiberfib.com.

Marbella Starlite

When? Jul 11 – Aug 25, 2018

This eagerly awaited annual event has celebrities, pop stars, and Marbella’s elite reaching for their Louboutins at the chance to see Anastacia, Juan Magán, Art Garfunkel, Elton John, and more over the course of an event that runs well over a month in total. In true Marbella style, the Starlite’s a glamorous affair – no dust or porter loos here. Instead it’s very much a case of see and be seen, with the chance to rub shoulders with the rich and famous at an important annual social event for the town.

More information: Starlitemarbella.com or contact our Concierge to book your tickets or VIP entrance

DGTL Barcelona

When? Aug 10 – Aug 12, 2018

If you like electronic music and house is on your playlists then DGTL is for you. The Spanish spin-off of the Dutch festival is celebrating all things in digital arts. World-class DJs provide the sound while visual arts play a huge part in the ambience, too. This is no one-dimensional concert: sculpture, futuristic design, boundary-pushing experimental visual arts and around 60 DJs all make for one of the best examples of clubbing in 2017. Big names like Jackmaster, B.Traits, Seth Troxler and Tale Of Us will all be stepping up to the decks to play to an artsy, hipster-heavy crowd.

More information: Bcn.dgtl.nl.

Arenal Sound – Arenal de Burriana

When? July 30th – 4th August 2018

The first beach-side Arenal Sound was in 2010, and with its location on the Costa del Azahar about 60km outside Valencia it’s proved very popular with a younger crowd, camping and hanging out on the beach. You’ll require energy for this one – it lasts for six days. Into its eighth year, and proving more and more popular with each passing year, it attracts fans of pop, indie, electronic, and rock with headliners of the calibre of Clean Bandit, Jake Bugg, Bastille and Martin Garrix.

More information: Arenalsound.com.

MTV Calling Gibraltar Music Festival – Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

When? 21st and 22nd September 2018

It may not be the first time this festival has taken place, but it is the first year it’s been produced by MTV – a guarantee that the music-filled weekend will be a roaring success. Ok, so technically its not Spain, but its the best musical event by far that’s close enough to be enjoyed by anyone staying on the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz.

A stellar line-up is on the cards in the shadow of the Rock, with Craig David, Fatboy Slim, Jonas Blue, The Kaiser Chiefs, Tinie Tempah and The Vaccines all confirmed and various other acts still to be announced.

It’s the perfect family weekend with the added bonus of superb acts, food stalls, and of course, warm September sunshine. For more information and tickets, go to: Gibraltarcalling.com.

Like our pick of the best summer music festivals in Spain? For more after dark activities, check out our guides to the best Marbella nightlife and beach clubs.