It is hardly groundbreaking to assert that British festivals rank among the world's finest. There is a reason devotees spend tens of thousands of pounds over a lifetime returning to Glastonbury as if on pilgrimage. Yet when Glastonbury takes a year off, many Britons now look abroad for their fix: Primavera Sound, a Barcelona-born festival boasting a packed lineup, nearly guaranteed sunshine, and the added allure of cervezas and patatas bravas.
This year, all eyes were on Barcelona as crowds from across Europe and beyond descended on Parc del Forum to enjoy acts like The Cure, Gorillaz, Geese, Little Simz, The XX, and Addison Rae under the warm Spanish sun. It sounds like the perfect recipe for a good time, but Primavera 2026 lacked the special ingredient that makes a festival truly memorable—and not for the reasons one might expect.
Thursday's Storms and Cancellations
The thunderstorms on Thursday were well documented. After several spellbinding performances in the rain—Geese on the Occident stage were outstanding, and Oklou's Cupra set was unexpectedly high-energy—a number of acts were canceled, including Massive Attack, Doja Cat, and Bad Gyal. Many attendees left and did not return. Those who braved the weather were rewarded with excellent sets by Overmono and Fcuckers, and Thursday day ticket holders received refunds.
Friday's Sunshine and Highlights
Friday brought sunshine, and festivalgoers returned with renewed optimism. We arrived in time for Addison Rae, who writhed around a mock gymnasium setup in a pearlescent bikini, evoking early 2000s Britney Spears—a comparison she well deserves. I sincerely hope she won over at least a few skeptical Cure fans who were staking out spots for their exhaustive two-and-a-half-hour set later.
I opted for Role Model instead (due to PinkPantheress timing issues), a gamble that paid off as I beamed at a young singer clearly thrilled to be there. “This might just be the best night of my life,” Tucker Pillsbury drawled before launching into hits like Look at That Woman, Writing’s On The Wall, and Sally, When the Wine Runs Out. He dropped his usual Sally guest star appearance for the first time that night, and the crowd didn't mind.
PinkPantheress followed, but even she seemed confused by being placed on the Cupra amphitheatre stage, which quickly became overcrowded. The sound was poor unless you were uncomfortably close, so it felt safest to leave and wait out the crowds. By the time Ki/ki took the same stage for a heavy techno closing set at 4am, space was plentiful, and ravers seemed content.
Saturday's Grand Finale
The final day was the biggest, with Gorillaz, The XX, Little Simz, and more. We arrived in time for Simz, who arguably played the best set of the weekend as the sun set over the Barcelona coastline. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Simbi,” she said after performing newer songs Thief, Flood, and Young. Even the most disengaged crowd member would have been won over by I Love You, I Hate You and completely enthralled by the fast-paced verses of Venom. Closing with showstopper Gorilla, Simz knocked it out of the park.
A surprise set by Olivia Rodrigo at Occident added to the excitement. We rushed there just in time to see the young American singer bring out Robert Smith for their new unreleased collaboration What’s Wrong With Me, a real treat.
We escaped the screaming crowds for The XX, who were moodier but just as masterful as Simz. Opening with Crystalised, the third track from their cult 2009 self-titled LP, attendees were hit with a suckerpunch of nostalgia that carried through the entire set. They picked carefully from each member's work: Enjoy Your Life by Romy, GMT by Oliver Sim (remix courtesy of Jamie), and Loud Places from Jamie xx. They closed with a double whammy of I Dare You, the closest thing to a happy XX track, and Intro, whose opening riff silenced the crowd instantly.
Gorillaz were the final headliners, closing the main stage with a slightly odd set that had a disappointing bangers-to-non-bangers ratio, notably lacking Dare because it's not on the current touring setlist. Damon Albarn seemed far from top form and disconnected from the crowd. It often took guests—of which there were many—to lift the energy, which seemed odd given Albarn's experience. Luckily, Kneecap and Peggy Gou delivered perfectly energetic final performances at Occident and Cupra, but Gorillaz's oddness deflated some punters' spirits.
A Lack of Soul
Overall, I left Primavera with a strange sensation I couldn't shake. While the bookings and sets were largely brilliant, something was missing in terms of the festival's soul. From the moment I arrived, the energy was off, with punters pushing and shoving without care for fellow attendees. I chalked this up to rain and bad moods, but it didn't let up all weekend and worsened. During PinkPantheress, people fell and weren't helped up. After Geese, elbows flew as crowds moved in different directions. It was upsetting and unfamiliar.
The disdain seems partly rooted in the anti-tourist sentiment that prevails across Barcelona, somewhat fairly given the city's overtourism issues. And it wasn't just locals; British and Irish attendees willfully neglected saying “excuse me” (or “disculpe”). Either way, spending three days jostling against people instead of alongside them leaves a strange taste that no amount of surprise sets and cervezas can mask.
