Sónar

Sónar is a pioneering festival of electronic music and digital arts held annually in Barcelona, Spain. Since 1994, it has brought together cutting-edge music, creativity, and technology over three days each June, drawing global artists and visitors.

• Founded in Barcelona in 1994
• Features Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night events
• Hosts Sónar+D, a congress on creativity and technology
• Attracts over 120,000 visitors in recent years
• Artists include Björk, Kraftwerk, Rosalía, and Aphex Twin

What it is

Sónar is an annual festival in Barcelona that celebrates the intersection of electronic music, creativity, and technology. Divided into Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night, it offers a mix of concerts, DJ sets, digital art installations, and a concurrent congress, Sónar+D, focused on innovation. The festival is known for its forward-thinking programming, hosting both experimental and crowd-pleasing acts, and is considered a major event in the European music calendar. Sónar’s atmosphere is vibrant and diverse, attracting music lovers, artists, and creative professionals from around the world.

Where it comes from

Founded in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau, and Sergi Caballero, Sónar began as the 'Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art.' Its first edition was held at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona and the Apolo club, featuring a blend of live performances and technology fairs. Attendance grew rapidly, and the festival soon moved to larger venues to accommodate its expanding audience. Over the years, Sónar has evolved into a global brand, with events in cities such as Bogota, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, and Reykjavik, while maintaining its flagship event in Barcelona.

How it is celebrated

Sónar unfolds over three days, with Sónar by Day offering performances, exhibitions, and talks across multiple stages and spaces, and Sónar by Night hosting large-scale concerts and DJ sets in expansive venues. The festival’s music program spans electronic, urban, and experimental genres, featuring renowned artists like Björk, Kraftwerk, and Rosalía. Sónar+D runs alongside, providing a platform for creative professionals to explore new ideas in music, technology, and business. Attendees experience immersive audiovisual shows, interactive installations, and a lively atmosphere that extends into the city, with related events and showcases taking place beyond the official venues.

Joining in

To experience Sónar, visitors head to Barcelona each June, with main events held at the Fira Montjuïc (by day) and Fira Gran Via (by night). Expect a bustling crowd, diverse music, and a mix of indoor and outdoor stages. Tickets can be purchased for individual days or the full festival, and the city’s hotels and apartments fill quickly. Whether you’re a dedicated electronic music fan or simply curious about digital arts and innovation, Sónar offers a welcoming space to explore, dance, and connect with creative communities from around the world.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Sónar, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Sónar on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Official websiteOfficial site
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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