Sonorama Ribera 2026 is about to get underway this week. The massive lineup for the festival’s 29th edition offers a faithful snapshot of every facet of the national scene, from Leiva’s stadium rock to rusowsky’s urban futurism and Valeria Castro’s delicate sensitivity.
We have compiled a list of the ten essential artists you simply must see at Sonorama, but the program is so vast that names like Love of Lesbian, León Benavente, La Pegatina, Rvfv, Sexy Zebras, Samuraï, Niña Polaca, Ojete Calor and Xoel López had to be left out. Still, they are every bit as indispensable.
Leiva
What is left for Leiva to accomplish? He premiered ‘Hasta que me quede sin voz’, his own documentary, in cinemas late last year and recorded Robe’s final collaboration before the artist’s passing on the track ‘Caída libre’. Now, he returns to Sonorama to present ‘Gigante’ and prove why he is one of our country’s most beloved artists with his endless list of hits.
Guitarricadelafuente
In the midst of the farewell tour for the acclaimed ‘Spanish Leather’ and about to make his feature debut as one of the leads in ‘La bola negra’, set for release on September 25, Álvaro Lafuente is at his peak. His show in Aranda promises to be one of the biggest draws of this Sonorama edition, which will also feature contemporary anthems like ‘Full time papi’ and plenty of mud.
rusowsky
The futuristic textures of ‘DAISY’ have already conquered stages across the Atlantic and he will continue to do the same at Sonorama with wigs, memes, and new arrangements of tracks such as ‘BBY ROMEO’, ‘SOPHIA’ and ‘ALTAGAMA’. Ruslán Mediavilla is one of the key names on Thursday’s lineup, designed for the younger crowd.
Rigoberta Bandini
Rigoberta Bandini’s concert is set to be one of the most elaborate at Sonorama Ribera 2026. With a stage full of musicians, dancers, backing vocalists, and cameras, the author of ‘Ay Mamá’ will showcase the songs from her latest album, ‘Jesucrista Superstar’, but won’t forget essential hits like ‘Perra’ or ‘In Spain We Call It Soledad’.
Crystal Fighters
The Brits are the festival’s biggest international draw. Their show is the festival experience par excellence: peace and love, collective anthems, and electronic music for all audiences thanks to hits like ‘Love Natural’ or ‘Love Is All I Got’. The outfit led by Sebastian Pringle has been active for nearly 20 years, since 2007, and arrives just in time for the festival’s almost 30-year anniversary in Aranda.
Iván Ferreiro
The legendary Galician artist remains on the road presenting his latest work, ‘Trinchera Pop’, but his repertoire has been untouchable for decades. A tour through his discography is laid out: Ferreiro was already a key piece of the festival’s 20th-anniversary special and this time he promises to deliver one of the edition’s most special concerts.
Carlos Ares
Thanks to albums as surprising as ‘Peregrino’ and ‘La Boca del Lobo’, Ares has become one of the national artists you simply must see on a stage. The folk and rock elements in songs like ‘Aquí Todavía’ or ‘Importante’ will shine at Sonorama thanks to an impeccable band and the boundless talent of the Galician artist.
La M.O.D.A.
After reaching No. 1 on the Spanish charts with ‘San Felices’, the sizable Burgos-based band is ready to return to Sonorama with a grand entrance. The band’s monumental anthems, which this time play almost at home, are designed to lift any mood. Who knows. Perhaps they’ll surprise us again like they did at Plaza del Trigo in 2018.
Valeria Castro
The past months haven’t been easy for the prodigious Valeria Castro, forced to step away from the stages temporarily due to a vocal and emotional issue. Now recovered, and after sweeping the MIN Awards for Best Artist, Song of the Year, and Best Roots Music Album, the Canary Island artist is ready to silence an entire festival with songs like ‘debe ser’ or ‘la soledad’.
Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado
The performance of the Santiago Motorizado band at Sonorama is a must-see for rock lovers. After two decades of enchanting anthems, the Motorizados released their latest album in 2023, ‘Super Terror’. The rest of their repertoire is no less spectacular, from the popular ‘La Noche Eterna’ to the early and endearing ‘Amigo Piedra’, along with the iconic voice of their frontman.
