The Madrid music festival Mad Cool is gearing up for a grand celebration of its tenth anniversary. Organizers have unveiled the lineup for the milestone event, set to take place from July 8 to 11, 2026, at the familiar Iberdrola Music venue in the Villaverde district. The roster of more than seventy artists is headlined by giants like Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Nick Cave, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Moby, and Pulp, promising an unforgettable four days of music.
This year, the festival brings Wednesday back to the schedule, dropping Sunday from its lineup. The anniversary event kicks off with the legendary Foo Fighters, whose performance will be their only show in Spain as part of their global Take Over Tour. Joining them on opening day are Moby, The War on Drugs, Wolf Alice, and The Blaze.
Thursday will shine with powerful female energy. The headliners for the day are Florence + The Machine, returning to Madrid with their new album Everybody Scream, and New Zealand artist Lorde, whose festival debut with her fourth album Virgin is among the most anticipated acts. Jennie, a member of the popular South Korean group Blackpink, will also take the stage with her solo project.
Friday’s lineup is headlined by Twenty One Pilots, whose appearance, according to organizers, was one of the most requested by fans. Also performing that day are Kings of Leon, making up for last year’s missed appearance, and American rockers Pixies, who are celebrating their fortieth anniversary.
The grand finale of the festival on Saturday, as organizers put it, was entrusted to the ‘best master of ceremonies’—the incomparable Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Another headliner is the iconic band Pulp, led by Jarvis Cocker, making their return to the capital after three decades. The final day will also feature The Black Crowes, Talking Heads founder David Byrne with a new album, as well as Kasabian and The Vaccines.
Although there won’t be a dedicated electronic music day like last year, fans of the genre won’t be disappointed. The famous The Loop stage will host stars such as Richie Hawtin, Boys Noize, Polo & Pan, and Nina Kraviz. The Spanish scene is also in the spotlight: the lineup includes local bands like La Paloma, and there will again be competitions for up-and-coming artists with Mad Cool Talent and Mad Cool DJ Talent.
Organizers have announced not just another festival, but a shift to a new model that aims to completely transform the audience experience. This move comes after analyzing feedback and suggestions from fans in recent years. The goal is to make Mad Cool more comfortable, spacious, and exclusive, with fan convenience and well-being as top priorities.
Concrete improvements include capping daily attendance at 50,000 people, opening gates later in the day to avoid the midday heat, a complete redesign of the festival grounds, and a stronger emphasis on sustainability. The approach to the lineup has also changed: each of the four days will have its own unique musical identity.
Ticket sales begin on November 17. Santander bank clients and festival club members can purchase passes and single-day tickets in the presale from 10:00 on November 17 to 09:59 on November 20. During this phase, passes will cost €225 and single-day tickets €85, not including fees. General sales will start on November 20 at 10:00, with passes priced at €240 and single-day tickets at €95, plus service fees.
