Mad Cool Festival 2026 runs from 8 to 11 July at Iberdrola Music, Calle Laguna Dalga, in Madrid’s Villaverde district. This 10th-anniversary edition brings together 72 artists over four days: Foo Fighters (their only Spanish date in 2026), Florence + The Machine, Lorde, Twenty One Pilots, Kings of Leon, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Pulp. 4-day passes are sold out; single-day tickets are available from €95. Buy only at madcooltickets.com.
Ten years after bursting onto the scene with The Who and Neil Young headlining, Mad Cool Festival has established itself as one of Southern Europe’s premier music events — think Glastonbury but under blazing Madrid sunshine. For its milestone 10th edition (8–11 July 2026), the festival has assembled a heavyweight line-up at Iberdrola Music in Villaverde, with five exclusive dates you won’t find anywhere else in Spain this summer. There’s one logistical catch worth knowing before you book: 4-day passes have been sold out for months.
1. Ten Years of Mad Cool: a Festival Built on Its Line-Up
Mad Cool was born in June 2016 at Madrid’s Caja Mágica, with The Who, Neil Young and The Prodigy on the bill. The ambition was clear: give the Spanish capital a rock and indie festival to rival Glastonbury or Primavera Sound. The gamble paid off immediately, drawing 100,000 people in its debut year. According to Wikipedia, the following year Foo Fighters, Green Day and Kings of Leon sold out three months in advance, with 135,000 attendees.
The festival relocated to Valdebebas-IFEMA (2018–2022), where it achieved its all-time record of 240,000 people in 2018 with Pearl Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails. The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations in 2020 and 2021. Its 2022 comeback took place during an intense heatwave, with Metallica and The Killers headlining.
In 2023, Mad Cool moved again — this time to Iberdrola Music in the Villaverde district, south of Madrid. This 185,000 m² site, fully powered by green energy according to esmadrid.com, is now the festival’s permanent home.
Key moments in the festival’s history
- 2016: born at Caja Mágica, 100,000 people from day one
- 2017: Foo Fighters headline, sold out 3 months early
- 2018: all-time record of 240,000 festival-goers at Valdebebas
- 2023: moves to Iberdrola Music Villaverde (current venue)
- 2025: €50.5 million economic impact on Madrid
2. Mad Cool 2026 Line-Up: Five Exclusive Dates You Can’t Miss
According to NME, the artistic direction has secured five major exclusives for the 10th edition. The deliberate reduction in daily capacity (from 70,000 to 50,000–55,000 per day) has made the programme even more selective and the atmosphere more intense.
Wednesday 8 July: Rock Opening with Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters headline the Region of Madrid Stage at 10pm. This is their only Spanish date in 2026 — nine years after their first Mad Cool headline in 2017. Wolf Alice (8:20pm) and The War on Drugs (9pm, Orange Stage) round out a superb opening night. Special mentions go to Dogstar (yes, Keanu Reeves’ band) and The Last Dinner Party, one of the most exciting British acts of the moment.
Thursday 9 July: The Most Unmissable Night
This is the night stacked with exclusives. Lorde opens in style (8:30pm) with tracks from her 2025 album Virgin, making her Madrid debut. Jennie (ex-BLACKPINK) then headlines at 10:30pm — her only confirmed solo European date in 2026, making it a historic K-pop moment in Madrid. The night closes with Florence + The Machine at 12:30am: the only Spanish date of the Everybody Scream Tour, and arguably the most anticipated show of the entire festival according to Wikipedia.
Friday 10 July: The Alternative Night
Pixies celebrate their 40th anniversary (formed in Boston in 1986) with a confirmed setlist of classics, as noted by Happymag. They precede Kings of Leon (10:15pm) and Twenty One Pilots (12:25am). The Orange Stage hosts A Perfect Circle and Interpol late into the night.
Saturday 11 July: The Grand Finale with Legends
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds close the Region of Madrid Stage at 10pm, in what promises to be one of the defining rock moments of the decade. The night continues with Pulp at 12:40am — Jarvis Cocker returns to Madrid 14 years after their last show here, according to Cult Following. The Orange Stage offers Kasabian and David Byrne, who presents his new album Who Is The Sky? The Loop wraps up with Richie Hawtin and Nina Kraviz, a world-class techno duo.
The 5 exclusive dates to remember
- Foo Fighters (Wednesday): only Spanish date of their 2026 tour
- Jennie (Thursday): only confirmed solo European date in 2026
- Florence + The Machine (Thursday): only Spanish date of the Everybody Scream Tour
- Pixies (Friday): 40th anniversary tour, confirmed classic setlist
- Pulp (Saturday): first Madrid show in 14 years
3. Mad Cool 2026 Tickets: Current Availability & Where to Buy
According to the official ticket office, the situation as of 15 June 2026 is clear: 4-day passes (GA and VIP) have been sold out for several months. The deliberate reduction in daily capacity to 50,000–55,000 (down from 70,000 in 2023) mechanically accelerated the sell-out.
Tickets available as of 15 June 2026
- Single-day GA tickets: €95 (Spain) / €105 (international): available
- VIP single-day tickets: partially available depending on the day
- 4-day GA pass: sold out
- 4-day VIP pass: sold out
The ticketing operator is Ingresse (a Brazilian platform). Tickets are digital-only via the Ingresse app and are non-transferable — photo ID is required at entry. Avoid resale sites such as Viagogo, which the festival explicitly discourages.
4. Getting to Iberdrola Music: Metro, Shuttle Buses & Map
Iberdrola Music is located in south Madrid, 12–15 km from the city centre (Sol/Gran Vía). According to the festival’s official travel guide, driving is strongly discouraged: parking is virtually non-existent and roads become gridlocked late at night.
Metro (main option)
Line 3 serves Villaverde Alto station, roughly a 15-minute walk from the site (along Avenida Real de Pinto then Calle Valle de Tobalina). The service runs until 2am on Wednesday, and until 4am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Frequency is increased between Villaverde Alto and Sol/Legazpi/Embajadores during festival peak hours. Line 12 (Los Espartales) is an alternative depending on your departure point.
Cercanías (suburban trains)
Two Cercanías lines serve the area: C4 towards Villaverde Alto and C3 towards San Cristóbal Industrial. These trains are often less crowded than the metro after the concerts.
Free shuttle buses
The festival runs free shuttles from Getafe (Wednesday–Thursday 4pm–10pm, Friday–Saturday 4pm–9pm). Return shuttles run from Villaverde Alto to Legazpi/Atocha between 1am and 3:30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Night buses
The night bus N14 (Cibeles–Villaverde Alto) runs from 11:40pm to 5:50am for those heading back after the final sets.
5. Where to Stay in Madrid for Mad Cool 2026: Neighbourhoods & Price Ranges
Mad Cool has no on-site camping. Madrid’s July heat (28–34°C during the day, 22–25°C at night) would make it thoroughly unpleasant anyway. The official option is the Mad Cool Travel platform, which offers festival + hotel packages — though availability is limited as of 15 June 2026. Booking directly via a Madrid itinerary remains the most flexible approach.
| Neighbourhood | Distance to festival | Hotel price/night | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sol / Gran Vía | ~30 min metro | €80–200 | Central, touristy, great shopping |
| Lavapiés | ~25 min metro | €50–120 | Bohemian, international, affordable |
| Malasaña | ~30 min metro | €60–150 | Hip, live music bars, indie scene |
| Atocha | ~20 min (C3) | €70–160 | Handy for C3 trains |
| Villaverde | 15-min walk | €30–70 | Residential, quiet, few tourist options |
Recommendations by profile
- Budget-conscious: Lavapiés or Atocha (direct C3 Cercanías access)
- Madrid nightlife: Malasaña or Chueca (bars open until 3am)
- Comfort + convenience: Sol/Gran Vía, well-connected all night
- Early flight the next day: stay near Barajas airport (Hortaleza district)
July is Madrid’s peak tourist month. According to Safestay, prices climb noticeably during festival dates. Booking 3–6 months in advance is strongly recommended. UK travellers flying from London Heathrow or Gatwick should check fares early — Madrid is well-served by British Airways, Iberia and easyJet.
6. Heat, Packing & Site Rules
Madrid in July can hit 40–43°C at peak. Spain recorded record heatwaves in spring 2026, and the trend shows no sign of reversing. The festival has improved its infrastructure for 2026 (extra shaded areas, more water fountains), but conditions remain demanding — more like Download Festival in the Sahara than Glastonbury in a drizzle.
What to bring
- Wide-brimmed hat or cap (acts play from 5pm–6pm in full sun)
- SPF50+ sun cream — reapply every two hours
- Empty water bottle up to 50cl (free water fountains throughout the site)
- Electrolyte tablets or sachets (heavy sweating in 35°C+ heat)
- Light, loose-fitting clothing and comfortable closed-toe shoes
- Soft bag no larger than 30 × 30 cm (site regulation)
What’s banned on site
- Glass bottles and rigid containers
- Aerosols, perfume, deodorant spray
- Selfie sticks and umbrellas
- Large power banks, suitcases, trolleys
- Professional cameras and tripods
The festival is entirely cashless: all transactions go through your RFID wristband. Top it up in advance at madcoolarea.es. Remaining balances can be refunded between 14 July and 14 August 2026 only.
Practical info for your Madrid trip
Get 4G/5G coverage in Madrid the moment you land. No physical SIM needed — activation takes minutes. Essential for digital festival tickets and GPS navigation to Iberdrola Music.
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From $56 / 4 weeksMad Cool 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mad Cool Festival 2026 at IFEMA or Iberdrola Music?
Since 2023, Mad Cool has been held at Iberdrola Music, Calle Laguna Dalga, 28021 Madrid, in the Villaverde district (south of the city). The festival was indeed at Valdebebas-IFEMA from 2018 to 2022, which still causes confusion. IFEMA is in the north-east of Madrid and no longer hosts the festival. Source: esmadrid.com.
Can you still buy tickets for Mad Cool 2026?
4-day passes (GA and VIP) are sold out. Single-day tickets remain available at €95 (Spanish price) or €105 (international), plus a 12% Ingresse booking fee. Buy only at madcooltickets.com (official ticket office) to avoid fraud. Source: madcoolfestival.es/tickets.
How do you get to Iberdrola Music from central Madrid?
The easiest option is metro Line 3 to Villaverde Alto station, then a 15-minute walk. The service runs until 4am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Cercanías lines C4 and C3 are alternatives. Free shuttle buses run from Getafe (outbound) and from Villaverde Alto to Atocha (return, 1am–3:30am). Source: madcoolfestival.es/como-llegar.
Does Mad Cool Festival offer camping?
No. Mad Cool has no on-site camping. Madrid’s July heat (28–34°C during the day) makes it impractical. You’ll need to book a hotel in Madrid. The official Mad Cool Travel platform offered festival + hotel packages, but availability is very limited at this stage. Source: madcoolfestival.es/faqs.
What should you pack to survive the Madrid heat at the festival?
Wide-brimmed hat, SPF50+ sun cream (reapply every 2 hours), empty 50cl water bottle (free fountains on site), electrolyte tablets, light clothing. Aerosols (deodorants, sprays) and selfie sticks are banned at entry. Sets begin at 5pm–6pm in direct sunlight. Source: madcoolfestival.es/faqs.
Is there an electronic music stage at Mad Cool 2026?
Yes. The Loop is the dedicated electronic music stage (Thursday–Saturday). The 2026 programme includes Richie Hawtin (Plastikman), Nina Kraviz, Boys Noize, Polo & Pan (DJ set), Weval and Palms Trax. The Saturday techno closing set from Hawtin and Kraviz is one of the strongest electronic bookings of the year. Source: taleofmusic.com.
- madcoolfestival.es/tickets: Official ticket office and stock availability
- madcoolfestival.es/faqs: Official FAQ (rules, RFID wristband, accessibility)
- madcoolfestival.es/como-llegar: Official transport guide
- NME: Confirmed 2026 set times
- NME: 10th anniversary line-up announcement
- IQ Magazine: €50.5m economic impact (2025)
- Tale of Music: Full line-up by day
- esmadrid.com: Official Iberdrola Music presentation
- Cult Following: Pulp headline 2026
- Wikipedia: Mad Cool Festival history
- La Voz de Ibiza: Capacity reduction and 2026 changes
- Soompi: Jennie only confirmed solo European date 2026
Research completed 15 June 2026. Ticket availability should be verified at the time of purchase.