Primavera Sound

Primavera Sound, which adds a different dimension to Barcelona’s cultural richness, has been bringing music lovers together since 2001. The festival started as a small event in Poble Espanyol and today it has become one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world. In this article, I will try to share the details of this festival that has been going on for more than 20 years.

When is Primavera Sound?

Primavera Sound, one of Barcelona’s most colorful music festivals, will be held at Parc del Forum between June 4-8 in 2025. Before and after the festival, side events are organized in different parts of the city. Started in 2001 in Poble Espanyol, the festival has now turned into a huge organization that welcomes more than 200 thousand visitors. Since June is the beginning of the high season in Barcelona, I recommend making your flight and accommodation plans in advance.

Where is Primavera Sound being held?

Primavera Sound has been held at the Parc del Fòrum since 2008. This modern complex is one of the most important buildings in the city after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Set on 67 hectares of land, the festival hosts many performances at the same time with different sized stages.

How to get to the Festival Grounds?

Metro transportation is the most practical option in Barcelona. El Maresme Forum stop on the L4 (yellow) line is only a 5 minute walk from the festival area. The metro is open 24 hours a day during the festival. Taxi and private festival shuttles are also among the alternative transportation options.

Hola Barcelona Card

Primavera Sound festival ticket holders have a special advantage with the Hola Barcelona Travel Card. When you buy a festival ticket, you get a 25% discount on Barcelona’s public transportation card. Just use the code HOLAPS24 to get the discounted card. The card is valid for 2 days (48 hours), 3 days (72 hours), 4 days (96 hours) or 5 days (120 hours) from the first use. The card allows unlimited travel on the metro, buses and Montjuïc funicular (TMB), city trains (FGC, zone 1), trams (TRAM) and Barcelona suburban trains (Rodalies de Catalunya, zone 1). You can also take the metro from the airport to the city center and back.

Website holabarcelona.com

Metro

It is very easy to reach the festival area by metro. You can use two stops of the L4 line (yellow line): Maresme-Fòrum station is only 150 meters from the festival site. During rush hours, you can choose Selva de Mar station. From here it is a pleasant 12-minute walk to the festival grounds.

On weekdays from Monday to Thursday, Metro is open from 05:00 am to 00:00 pm. On Fridays and holiday eve, it is open from 05:00 in the morning until 02:00 at night. The best news for festival-goers is that on Saturdays the subway runs 24 hours a day. For line details and more information, you can check the Metro in Barcelona.

Bus

Bus transportation to the festival area is quite easy. During the daytime, H16, V29, V31, V33, 7, 136, B20 and B23 lines are in service. These buses run regularly from 06:30 in the morning until 23:15 at night. Don’t worry about night entertainment – the night buses N6, N7 and N28 run from 23:00 until 06:00 in the morning. You can find detailed information about bus lines and routes on the official website of TMB.

Website: tmb.cat

Tramway

For those who prefer to use the tram, the T4 line operates from Forum and Maresme stops. On Wednesdays, trams run until 01:00 at night. During the festival, from Thursday to Sunday, service is available 24 hours a day without interruption. You can visit the website for line details and up-to-date information.

Website: tram.cat

Cycling

If you plan to bike to the festival grounds, you can take advantage of the free bike parking at Plaza Leonardo da Vinci. With easy access to the Forum, this park is controlled by security guards during festival hours. All you need to do is bring your own padlock. The parking lot is open from 16:00-00:00 on Wednesday, 16:00-06:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 12:00-22:30 on Sunday.

For those who want to use Bicing, Barcelona’s city bike system, there are nine stations within a 500-meter radius around the festival: Station 160 on Avda. d’Eduard Maristany near the Forum entrance, 158 on Rambla Prim, 159 on Avda. Diagonal, 159 on Rambla Diagonal, 35 on Sant Ramon de Penyafort Street, 178 on Garcia Fària Passage, 157 on Llull Street, 67 on Josep Pla Street, 451 on Pallars Street and 168 on Selva de Mar/Pssg. Taulat, stations 168 are located in Selva de Mar/Pssg. For more information, you can visit the website below or check the Barcelona Cycling Guide.

Website: bicing.barcelona

Taxi

There are two main taxi stands around the festival area. The first one is located at C/Josep Pla 2, 4, 6, 400 meters from the festival entrance. From midnight until 06:00 in the morning, the Primavera Sound team manages the taxi queue here, so you’ll be able to get a taxi after the festival without any problems. The second stop is right at the entrance of the Forum, at Pssg. Taulat / Pl. de Llevant, right at the entrance of the Forum and is open until 01:00 at night. For detailed information, you can check the Barcelona Taxi Guide.

Primavera Sound 2025 Lineup

Primavera Sound Festival’s 2025 program has been announced. World-renowned names such as Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, LCD Soundsystem and Haim will take the stage at the festival, which will take place between June 4-8. Fontaines DC, Beach House, Turnstile, TV on the Radio, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Sturgill Simpson, Jamie xx, Floating Points and Stereolab also took their places on the festival stage, while it was announced that FKA twigs, who left the stage last year, will return to the festival this year.

Primavera Sound Festival Tickets

Here is the latest situation in festival ticket sales: Full Festival Ticket, VIP Full Festival Ticket and VIP Full Festival Ticket Revolut categories are completely sold out. However, the Full Festival Ticket Revolut category is still available for purchase and costs 315€. For those who want to attend the festival on a single day, day tickets are on sale. Special tickets for different stages, VIP options and Primavera Pro tickets for music industry professionals are also available for purchase.

You can buy festival tickets from primaverasound.com.

Accommodation during the Festival

One of Barcelona’s biggest problems during the festival season is accommodation. With the peak season in June and the demand created by the festival, hotel and rental house prices rise significantly. For this reason, the first thing you should do after buying your ticket for the festival is to book your accommodation.

Staying in neighborhoods close to the festival area is a great advantage in terms of transportation, especially late at night. Poblenou is a modern neighborhood that has become a center of technology and art. It is within walking distance to the Forum and on the metro line. El Born is a neighborhood full of cafes and restaurants where you can experience the historical texture of the city. Vila Olimpica is a modern neighborhood built for the 1992 Olympics, close to the beach and within easy reach of the festival.

If you are looking for more budget-friendly alternatives, consider the Clot, Sant Martí or Badalona neighborhoods on the metro line. The area around Sagrada Familia also offers reasonably priced accommodation and has good transport links. Sant Adrià del Besòs, very close to the Forum, is a quieter and generally more affordable option.

You might consider staying in the Barceloneta beach area, but this area is quite busy and expensive during the tourist season. The Gracia neighborhood is a bit far from the festival, but it is an ideal option for those who want to experience the authentic atmosphere of Barcelona.

What You Should Have in Your Festival Bag

The weather in Barcelona in June can be quite changeable. While the Mediterranean sun can be scorching during the daytime, it can suddenly get cooler at night with the wind blowing in from the sea. Moreover, due to the open nature of the festival area Parc del Fòrum, you are directly exposed to both the sun and the wind. To make the long festival days comfortable and enjoyable, there are some essential items you should keep in your bag. Planning for these is especially important for first-time festival-goers.

– Sunscreen (for daytime activities)
– Cardigan or thin coat (for cooler nights)
– Comfortable shoes
– Water flask (free water filling points are available in the festival area)
– Powerbank

Festival History and Key Performances

In its 23-year history, Primavera Sound has hosted countless legendary names from Radiohead to Björk, Nick Cave to Arctic Monkeys. The festival offers a wide range of music from alternative to electronic music, indie rock to hip hop.

The legendary performance of My Bloody Valentine in 2013, Arctic Monkeys’ concert in 2018 as part of their new album tour and Rosalía’s spectacular show in 2019 are among the highlights of the festival’s history.

Environmental Awareness and Sustainability

In recent years, the festival organization has paid special attention to environmental awareness. Minimizing the use of single-use plastics, the festival aims to be a sustainable event with recycling points and the use of renewable energy.

– Reusable cup system
– Bicycle parking areas
– Public transportation incentive
– Solar-powered charging stations

Primavera Sound is not only a music festival, but also an important part of Barcelona’s cultural identity. Welcoming thousands of music lovers every year, the festival perfectly reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the city and its love for art. If you want to experience a unique festival experience, Primavera Sound is for you.