Madrid has unveiled all the details for the upcoming Mad Cool Festival 2026. Organizers surprised fans not only with the artist lineup but also with changes to the event’s format. Major acts like Foo Fighters, Lorde, Florence + The Machine, and Nick Cave are set to take the stage. The festival will be held from July 8 to 11 at the familiar Iberdrola Music venue in the Villaverde district.
This year, the organizers decided to add an extra day to the program to space out performances and reduce crowd density. Now, the music marathon will kick off on Wednesday and conclude on Saturday. This move will allow guests to move more freely between stages and enjoy the music without the usual crush.
For greater visitor comfort, it was decided to remove one of the main stages. This should make the grounds more spacious and shorten the lines. Additionally, concerts will start an hour later to avoid the worst heat, which has often been a problem for festival-goers in past years.
A key innovation is the cap on the number of guests. In 2026, no more than 55,000 people per day will be allowed onto the festival grounds. This should help prevent congestion both inside and around the venue. The city has promised extended public transport hours to help people get home after the concerts.
Organizers insist that all these changes are a response to numerous requests from regular attendees. People have long complained about overcrowding and difficulties moving around. Now, everyone will have more space, and the atmosphere promises to be even more welcoming.
It is worth noting that the changes in organization are expected to ease tensions with residents of neighboring areas, especially those from Getafe. Last year, they sued the festival over noise complaints, and now the organizers hope the new measures will help prevent further conflicts.
