Primavera this year was kind of perfect.
The weather was warm, the breeze hit at just the right times, and thanks to Cupra (shoutout Cupra), we got to roll in with a little style. They hosted us and ran the Cupra Pulse stage—which was basically a rave vortex. Total time warp. You’d go in “for a bit,” and come out two hours later fully transformed. Deep in it with people from five different continents, everyone drenched in strobe and sweat. Tame Impala played one of the best sets we've ever seen. That corner of Parc del Fòrum felt like Berlin met the beach, in the best way.
Primavera always feels a little different because of where it is. Being in Barcelona means you get to actually enjoy the city in the hours before the music starts. Wake up late, grab a café con leche, maybe hit a gallery or sneak in a beach swim, nap, and then wander toward the festival just as the sun starts to dip. You don’t get that with most festivals. Most of them are exhausting by design. Primavera lets you breathe.
This year’s lineup was stacked and chaotic in a good way. Charli XCX was insane. Fully in her brat era. She basically led a glittery electronic riot. Sabrina Carpenter played her pop princess cards right, tight choreo and everything, and then Chappell Roan came through with one of the most genuinely electric sets we’ve seen.
Central Cee surprised us—in a good way. The crowd was properly locked in, the energy was real, and he played an unexpected set of . And beyond the big names, there were so many little unexpected pockets: DJ sets on hillsides, people rollerblading past the stages, entire dance circles forming around impromptu remixes.
The Green Stage felt like a well-kept secret. Not even that hidden, but the programming there was just... right. If you’re a raver, that’s where you wanted to be. It had this way of drawing you in and making you stay longer than you planned. You’d catch a bassline in the distance and suddenly forget whatever else you were on your way to see.
What stood out most though—aside from the music, the food, the outfits, the endless sunsets—was the vibe. Primavera doesn’t stress you out. There’s space. The crowd is cool. People are there because they actually like music, not just for the Instagram. It felt like everyone was in on the same secret: that this is one of the few festivals that still understands how to mix a proper party with a real sense of place.
Anyway, thanks Primavera. Thanks Cupra. Thanks Barcelona. We’re still recovering, and already plotting our return.
