Sónar Barcelona is recognized as one of the most important electronic music festivals in the world. It consists of the official event, Sónar, as well as a bunch of satellite events like OFFSónar or OFFWEEK Festival, not to mention the countless open-air and evening parties scattered all over the city. Feeling lost? No worries, I'll explain. Follow the guide!
Sónar Barcelone : 30 years of history
Sónar was created in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau, and Sergi Caballero, who wanted to combine the best of music, technology, and art with a focus on innovation. From the beginning, the emphasis was on the eclecticism of electronic music, pop, and hip-hop.
The fundamental idea was to create a shared space to showcase music and art linked to emerging technologies, taking in all the styles that were emerging at the time, no matter how disparate, and paying homage to the pioneers.
30 years later, Sónar has become an essential event for fans of electronic music, multimedia art, and innovation. For a week, Barcelona transforms into a giant festival/club where music enthusiasts, artists, music professionals, and curious people from all over the world come together to party in the sun.
Sónar Barcelone: practical guide
The first time you go to Sónar, unless you focus solely on the official festival, you quickly find yourself lost among the multitude of festivals and parties scattered throughout the city. With this Sónar Barcelona guide, you should find it easier to navigate.
SÓnar by day
Sónar by Day takes place near Plaça d'Espanya, in the Fira Montjuïc area. It is held in a huge venue usually intended for conferences, divided into several sections hosting different live performances and DJ sets. While the venue lacks charm compared to other festival locations, the lineup is high quality year after year.
SÓnar by Night
We take the same and continue. This time, you’ll have to move to Fira Gran Via, on the outskirts of the city, to party until the early morning with artists more focused on techno. A good tip: leave before it ends to make sure you catch a taxi. At 7 a.m., it's an authentic warzone.
OFFSónaR
About fifteen years ago, 'Sónar Off' referred to all the parties and events taking place throughout the week, but over time, the 'wild' parties on the seaside were banned, and a true organization was put in place. This led to the creation of two official offshoot festivals.
OFFSónar is definitely my favorite among them all. Set in the incredible Poble Espanyol, one of the city's most sought-after historic sites, it brings together several events on the same site, divided into three parts:
- Plaza Mayor
- Monestario
- Carpa & Picnic
Sometimes the events are separate (requiring a ticket for each area), sometimes they are combined, allowing you to move freely throughout the entire Poble (this year, it's elrow on Sunday). Therefore, it's important to carefully check the location for each day/evening. It takes place every year from Thursday to Sunday.
OFFWEEK Festival
The second festival that emerged from the split of the off week has actually taken its name. Located at Parc del Fòrum, a large urban public park, it generally brings together major labels like Diynamic and Afterlife for two big open-air days. While the venue could benefit greatly from more shaded areas, it remains impressive, and the sound is absolutely amazing—one of the best I've heard anywhere, even compared to the Germans, who are the benchmark.
Castel de BEN Viure
Probably the least known to foreigners and the most coveted by locals. Located 30 minutes by car from the city, Castel de Ben Viure is the setting for cutting-edge electro parties, including the famous FRRC by Ricardo Villalobos, who this year is celebrating Fabric's 25th anniversary with Zamna. It's a spot that's definitely worth the trip. The cherry on top: unlike other events that are split between daytime and after-parties, this one runs the full course (6 PM - 6 AM).
Barcelona: a quick food guide
One of the aspects I appreciate most about Sónar is the access to local cuisine. I don't intend to turn this guide into a culinary guide, but here are a few good spots I've discovered, which might come in handy. If you plan to have a nice meal, a tip: plan ahead and go upon arrival, as it will be more difficult by the third day!
- Martinez (paella)
- La tartareria (raw meat)
- Brabo (grill)
- Taps (tapas)
- NYB (burgers)
- Cruix (mediterranean) ❤️
- Teoric (catalan) ❤️
- Alapar (izakaya omakase) ❤️
summary
I've been to quite a few festivals all over Europe, but personally, this is my favorite festival because unlike others that take place in remote locations where camping or long journeys are mandatory, here it's an entirely urban festival, with the comfort that brings: decent accommodation, plenty of restaurants and bars, beach, unusual places, and almost guaranteed sunshine.
pros
- Musical ecclectism
- Several festivals in one
- Plethora of party options
- Unusual venues, especially Poble Espanyol
- Local food
- The weather
- The friendly atmosphere
- The warm audience
Cons
- Price
- Choosing is giving up ...
- You need at least one week to recover
Not convinced yet? Follow me on instagram for the duration of the festival, guaranteed immersion !
Article written by Ben