12 June 2025 |
Primavera Sound Barcelona 2025 painted an impressive picture, one worth stepping back to fully appreciate.
The 23rd edition of the iconic Spanish festival took place June 5 to 7 at the Parc del Fòrum, a modern public park on Barcelona’s coastline. With 14 stages scattered across the site and all tickets sold out by 2 January – five months before the festival took place – the 290,000 attendees, from more than 136 countries, reflect a unique harmony between the festival and its audience.
Festival-goers were greeted by a giant statue of the Powerpuff Girls — an homage to social media’s fan-led casting of Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli xcx as the cartoon’s protagonists.
Dishing out “sugar, spice, and everything nice” in spades, with performances that reached every corner of the pop-sphere, these three women don’t just perform, but dominate stages worldwide, making international hits that define a whole generation through their specific fashion styles and personalities. If those aren’t superpowers, what are?
While at first glance this might appear as a playful marketing tactic — perhaps an attempt to coachellise Primavera Sound and appeal to TikTok content creators — it is true that these three artists represent the holy trinity of contemporary pop. This powerful image of three women headlining such a major festival isn’t just a milestone for Primavera Sound’s history: it’s a significant moment for pop culture itself. What is even more remarkable is that Primavera Sound Barcelona is the only festival worldwide where all three will perform this year.
So, did the festival live up to the hype? Let’s get into the highlights.
Day 1: Dancing the night away
The first day of the festival was an invasion of one colour: brat green. A year after kicking off her triumphant brat summer at Parc del Fòrum, Charli xcx returned to the festival, joined by one of her closest friends and collaborators, Troye Sivan. Together, Charli and Troye presented their collaborative Sweat Tour show — its European debut. The two pop stars took turns swapping the spotlight and the concert felt like a journey through a wild party: a high-energy show packed with fun, chaos and even emotional moments of vulnerability and reflection. While Charli’s charisma and energy were impossible to ignore, the genuine affection and joy the two artists shared on stage truly made us melt. Trend alert: Troye Sivan’s T-shirt featuring Spanish singer Guitarricadelafuente and Charli’s viral statement piece by Spanish designer Luis De Javier that reads “puta” became festival highlights.
Day one also featured the incredible Eusexua world of FKA twigs. The avant-garde pop artist served soaring vocals and jaw-dropping choreography, including levitating around a pole while delivering an out-of-body experience that celebrated human connection and self-healing; reaffirming the joyous abandon of dancing away your problems together with your loved ones. Berlin-based electronic duo Brutalismus 3000 blasted through one of the other smaller stages, mixing hardstyle, gabber and techno for a wild underground vibe.
Day 2: Pop and vocal perfections
On day two, Sabrina Carpenter showed us another side of pop: polished, effortless and full of charm. Her Short N’ Sweet tour performance was inspired by the world of Hollywood’s Golden Age, packed with cute choreography and sparkling mini-dresses set in a life-size two-floor dollhouse. While delivering a flawless vocal performance, she shared smiles, jokes and stories with the crowd, creating a warm, kind atmosphere. Almost every song had its own vintage infomercials (like the repellent spray named after her song “Manchild”), proving to be a star who doesn’t take herself too seriously.
The day also featured Haim, the three-sister band who mix rock, pop and R&B. Their new tour had a strong “anti-relationship” theme, with robotic vocals and LED signs flashing statements like “I quit relationships”.
Day 3: An emotional finale
The final day of Primavera Sound brought a powerful, emotional close. Chappell Roan did not disappoint her fans, transporting them to an enchanted world of fairies, gothic castles, fantastic creatures and heart-wrenching songs. The first feeling I had was that I landed into the world of Wicked, but the clusters of pink cowboy hats and chaps in the crowd brought me back to a Stateside rodeo. The Midwest Princess’ grand entrance, complete with mythical projections and pyrotechnics, set the stage for a performance that solidified her status as a pop luminary, turning her personal struggles and triumphs into anthems for her queer crowd. No other artist at Primavera had the crowd in her palm like Chappell Roan; she didn’t even need to prompt them for the call-and-response on “Femininomenon” and “Hot to Go!”
Within the diverse offerings of a festival like Primavera, the voice of Anhoni and the Johnsons represented an angelic call from heaven. Their show was a powerful political statement, with the environmental theme at its core.
Fontaines D.C. also delivered a powerful festival performance, showcasing their moody post-punk and 90s alternative sound. During their set, they made a clear political statement, dedicating the ballad “I Love You” as a solidarity song to Palestine.
While the main headliners represented the queens of pop culture, Primavera Sound is a festival that hides many different festivals within it. Beyond the Powerpuff Girls statue at the entrance, a banner proudly declares “Steve Albini First,” honoring the late musician and producer whose noise rock band, Shellac, was a festival staple. This stands as a reminder that alongside chart-topping pop, the festival stays true to its alternative rock roots, offering a diverse lineup—from Idles to Spiritualized and Beach House to Armand Van Helden. Each attendee will have their own unique adventure, but no matter their tastes, everyone will be part of the history of this incredible 23rd edition.
