The Fòrum will hold five festivals in 2026, plus Cruïlla and Primavera Sound.
The five festivals that will be held at Parc del Fòrum over the next three seasons have now been announced. They will join Primavera Sound and Cruïlla to fill the 27 days that the Barcelona coastal venue will dedicate between 2026 and 2028 (9 per year, therefore) to this type of event, licensed to program music beyond 11 p.m. Four of the promoters already hold a festival at the venue: B360 Produccions SL (Festival B), Associació Musical TGK (Telecogresca), The Project Music Company (Maleducats), and Ex-centris Productions (Brunch Elektronik).
The fifth of the selected artists, Autopark SA, is linked to the Apolo venue and will develop a completely new proposal. Along the way, Loud Contact, responsible for the electronic music Off Week, and Murmurtown Producciones, responsible for the first editions of Primavera Sound, have also been left behind.
The distribution of dates and capacity among the selected companies remains to be determined. The competition stipulates that, of the nine nights per year, three will be for large-scale events, i.e., for up to 30,000 people, one of them for one night and two for two days. The other two festivals will be small-scale (up to 9,000 people) and will have two nights each. Regarding dates, for next year, the dates will be March 26, August 7-8, and September 18-19 for large-scale events, while the small-scale events will be held on October 2-3 and 3-31.
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The public competition awarded a maximum of 100 points to the candidates, taking into account aspects such as each candidate's programming, originality, the presence of local artists, the international dimension of the proposal, the plan for social return to the neighborhood, as well as the installation setup and dismantling plan and experience in organizing this type of event.
Festival B, with 10 editions under its belt, including three at the Fòrum (this year will be the fourth), was the highest-rated festival with a total of 96 points, a symbolic award that nonetheless fills the event's director, Adrián Jarri, with pride, satisfied with the stability the competition will bring to the festival. "It's recognition of the work carried out by this festival, independent, without any local or foreign investment funds," emphasizes Jarri, boasting about the event, which this year will bring Amaia, Ralphie Choo, Judeline, and Alizz. "It's a festival made in Barcelona for the Barcelona public, which sells out year after year, recognized by critics, audiences, and artists."
The director recalls the legal uncertainty that the festival, which traditionally takes place in early autumn, has faced until now. "Now we'll be able to work a little more in advance," he comments, with his sights set on progressively growing from the 9,000 people who have attended recent editions. "We don't want to become a mega-festival, but we have the right, like any other festival, to be able to accommodate more spectators," he warns, with his mind set on growth that he defines as organic, "at the request of the project and the public" so as not to lose the festival's leading role.
The Apolo venue has won one of the places, while Festival B has been the best ratedIn second place was The Project, which obtained 90.5 points with its proposal to hold a Latin music festival called Salsón Barcelona, designed for two days in a venue for 9,000 people. "We envisioned a festival of styles focused on the world of salsa, which will also tap into Barcelona's Latin roots," comments Tito Ramoneda, president of The Project. In addition to organizing festivals such as Porta Ferrada and tours like Sabina's, this promoter is responsible for the Maleducats festival, which held its first edition this year at the Fòrum with Estopa headlining, and which plans to repeat next year with a program that will end at 11 p.m.
“We're very excited about this new festival,” Ramoneda commented on the future of Salsón. “The Project has already scheduled concerts by Rubén Blades, Fania All Stars, Buenavista Social Club, Óscar d León, and other kings of Latin music.” This new festival project is designed for all audiences, “whether local or foreign,” added the promoter, convinced that there is an audience in Barcelona “eager for these styles and to have a good time with quality music.”
"We're happy and surprised," said Autopark, a promoter associated with the Apolo venue, which finished in third place with 90 points, tied with the organizers of the Telecogresca. "We didn't know the scope this would have, or how many people would show up," emphasized Naiara Lasa, manager of the legendary Paral•lel venue. "We're waiting in anticipation, but now we know we'll be able to develop something at the Fòrum, although we still don't know the format or capacity," she added, leaving the project up in the air while waiting for these variables to be finalized. For now, what's most clear is their desire to convey "the essence of Apolo," and that includes everything from concerts to the various club sessions. "We're really looking forward to getting started; for now, we're focused on the artistic side," she commented.
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