Sónar Festival 2025: A masterclass in musical entertainment [Event Review]

One of the most unique events on the festival calendar ever since its inception in 1994, Sónar Festival is a  beacon of music, technology, art and more.

With such an extensive programme including Sónar by Day and Night, +D and Off Sónar, this event sheds a dynamic light on the European (and beyond) music scene. Where up-and-coming artists combine with some of the worlds biggest DJs, 2025 saw one of the most comprehensive programmes in its 32-year impressive run, and we were there to witness it all when it went down on 12-14 June.

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This year, Sónar Festival drew in a huge total of 161,000 visitors across the three days and events at Off Sónar, with 52,000 of those attending the day events, 66,500 in the evening and 42,000 across the Off events (including RÜFÜS DU SOL, Keinemusik, two nights of Afterlife by Anyma and MRAK, and more). Increasing by nearly 10,000 attendees since 2024, its clear that its reputation is inviting more people to travel from across the world.

By Day

Not wasting any time in getting superstars on stage and crowds into the festival, the By Day programme was the best possible start to the festivities. Already curating a vibrant energy and feel-good vibe as the sunshine beat down, its various stages showcased acts such as Honey Dijon, Overmono, Todd Terry, DJ Heartstring, Ewan McVicar, MOCHAKK and countless other DJ and live acts.

With people of all ages coming together under the sun, it added to that unifying feeling, with a diverse crowd here for one thing: music. For many, it was the pre-game to the By Night programme, but also felt as if it was its own separate festival. Essentially giving its crowds two festivals in a day, it was non-stop entertainment from the moment doors opened.

+D

Adding another unique edge to its calendar, the event also has its +D arm for budding producers, established producers, artists and all of those who are interested. Walking around the Project Area, the sense of creativity is apparent, and you could spend all day seeing everything in store. With a big focus on AI and pushing the boundaries of technology, giants such as Google, Ableton, AudioStellar and more, there were also artists from all corners of the world (even Korea!) showcasing their work.

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With many artworks being interactive, it bridged the gap between art and viewer, making everyone feel as though they could be involved and be part of something big. From robotics that connected AI and yoga elements together to a piece about smelling frequencies, and even Ableton showcasing some hardware, +D had so much to offer that you could easily spend hours in there without once being bored. It wasn’t even just the artworks, but workshops and panels too.

By Night

Going on until 7:00AM, the By Night is a playground for electronic fans (in the literal sense too, with its Dodgem area). Under the crystal clear Barcelona night, Sónar came to life even more through sets by Armin van Buuren b2b Indira Paganotto, Skrillex b2b Blawan, Eric Prydz, BICEP present CHROMA AV/DJ, Four Tet, Peggy Gou… the list just goes on and on.

With so many stages and surprises to discover from the Sónar Pub to the Sónar Club and the Boiler Room and Printworks stage takeovers, the action was non-stop. Hopping from stage to stage, it was evident that each area had its own distinct energy and vibe, proving that there was something for every kind of electronic music lover to enjoy.

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Next Steps

Always planning ahead, Sónar Festival is making a radical change for 2026, by putting its +D, Day and Night programme under one roof at Fira Gran Via for the very first time. Said to be groundbreaking and elevating the overall experience significantly, all eyes will be on it to see exactly what will happen. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be spectacular.

Celebrating its 33rd edition on 18-20 June, you can sign up to the newsletter here to grab your tickets at the first chance. See you there?