Thaïs Parvez
Summer 2026 in Madrid has a name, and it’s Mad Cool Festival!
Get ready, because this year’s edition promises a total blast of adrenaline, nostalgia, and musical vanguard at the Iberdrola Music venue.
At Hot BuZz (Mag), we’re already counting down the days until we lose our voices in front of the stages, and for good reason: the lineup is a true love letter to rock and alternative pop.
Here is our guide to the must-see acts that will turn Madrid into the world’s music capital.
Foo Fighters: The rock throne with grunge roots led by Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl’s (Nirvana) crew returns to Madrid to prove why they are one of the biggest rock bands on the planet right now.
After showing unbreakable resilience following the loss of drum legend Taylor Hawkins and the departure of his successor in May 2025, Josh Freese, Foo Fighters land at Mad Cool to unleash a setlist packed with anthems like Everlong (check out the video below for three facts about this hit and a guitar cover), The Pretender, or Best of You.
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Their live show is a celebration of life and an unmissable event for any fan of heavy riffs and thundering drums.
And it doesn’t stop there: Grohl and his troop have just dropped a bombshell. Their twelfth study album, “Your Favorite Toy,” will hit our hands on April 24, 2026, under the Roswell Records/RCA Records label.
Produced by the band alongside Oliver Roman, and with the self-titled single already melting speakers, the Americans are teasing a “new era”: an energetic, fresh sound that we can’t wait to dissect note by note at Mad Cool 2026!
The Warning: The new queens of modern hard rock
The hard rock phenomenon breaking all the molds arrives from Mexico: The Warning.
The Villarreal sisters have evolved from a viral promise playing Muse, Metallica, or AC/DC covers to a crushing reality on world stages.
With surgical technical precision, Pau, Dany, and Ale promise one of the most authentic live shows of this edition.
The Monterrey-born trio, besides revisiting “XXI Century Blood” (2017) or the acclaimed “Keep Me Fed” (2024), will present new tracks like Kerosene, Ego, or Love To Be Loved featuring Carín León.
Check out the video below to discover a cover of Sick! and the reasons why you can’t miss them live. You’ve been warned!
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Dogstar: When Neo (Keanu Reeves) from “The Matrix” picks up the bass guitar
One of this year’s biggest curiosities and highlights is the presence of Dogstar, the band where Keanu Reeves handles the four strings of the bass.
Beyond the Hollywood aura, the trio offers an honest, nostalgic sound that transports us straight back to the 90s.
Seeing Keanu in his most music-loving facet is one of those magical moments that only Mad Cool can deliver.
Moreover, with their fourth album “All in Now” set for release on May 29, 2026, their performance will be a unique opportunity to rock out to brand-new material.
Twenty One Pilots: Overwhelming energy with Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun
The duo Twenty One Pilots is synonymous with a total spectacle. Twenty One Pilots don’t just play concerts; they create immersive experiences blending hip-hop, rock, and electronica with a theatrical, frenetic stage presence.
Get ready to jump like a true “Skeleton Clique” member to tracks from their 2025 album “Breach,” such as ‘City Walls,’ alongside classics like Stressed Out, Ride, and Heathens.
Kings of Leon: Intergenerational stadium anthems
The Followill brothers bring indie rock elegance to Madrid.
With an impeccable career and a collection of hits that are already modern classics, Kings of Leon guarantee a solid, melodic live show.
They are the perfect band to lose your voice singing Sex on Fire or Use Somebody under the Madrid sky while they present their latest “EP #2,” which revisits the signature sound of their early albums.
Pulp: It’s Britpop nostalgia o’clock
Jarvis Cocker and company will bring a touch of artistic distinction to Mad Cool.
Pulp returns to remind us why songs like Common People defined an entire generation.
Cocker’s magnetism on stage is something you have to experience live; pure sophistication that will also serve as a chance to discover singles from their 2025 album, “More.”
Alt-Pop Divas at Mad Cool 2026: Halsey, Florence + The Machine, and Lorde
The festival is also betting heavily on the most influential female voices on the international scene:
- Halsey: With her chameleon-like style flowing between dark pop and raw rock.
- Florence + The Machine: A mystical, epic “a cappella” coven powered by Florence Welch’s massive vocals.
- Lorde: Minimalist pop and lyrics that capture the essence of modern youth.
Other Confirmed Bands for Mad Cool 2026
In addition to these heavyweights, the lineup features an eclectic mix including Pixies, Moby, Palaye Royale, The Black Crowes, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, David Byrne, Kasabian, The Vaccines, Wolf Alice, Charlie Puth, Interpol, Nina Kraviz, A Perfect Circle, and Zara Larsson, among many others.
Tickets are already on sale via the festival’s official website.
Mad Cool Festival 2026 will take place from July 8th to 12th at the Iberdrola Music space in Villaverde, Madrid. See you in the mosh pit!
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