Known as one of the best festivals dedicated to music, creativity and technology, Sónar made a huge splash with the third edition of Sónar Lisboa. First founded in 1994 by Richard Robles, Enric Palau and Sergi Caballero, the festival reflects the evolution and expansion of electronic music and digital culture. This year, an impressive 19,500 festivalgoers from more than 50 countries, including Germany, Spain, the UK, France, and Italy attended the festival. Over three days, Lisbon transformed into the prime destination for music enthusiasts, solidifying the festival’s status as a key event on Sónar’s annual calendar.  

Below, we run down the best bits of this year’s festival, from the incredible line-up to the venue and art installations.

THE LINE-UP WAS MORE THAN IMPRESSIVE 

This year’s festival showcased artists defining Lisbon’s contemporary sound. From Branko, founders of Buraka Som Sistema and head of the Enchufada label, to Vanyfox, Yen Sung b2b Photonz, XEXA, DJ Lynce, RUUR, Magupi’n’liquid bass, iolanda and more. Sónar Lisboa also featured artists from 16 different countries: Iranian-Dutch singer and songwriter Sevdaliza commanded the stage on the first night, using AI to provoke questions around identity and gender, and on day two, Tommy Cash performed his transgressive trap and hyperpop mash-ups. To end the night, our very own Nia Archives performed a triumphant and energetic set that left everyone feeling more alive. Day three featured a ‘Club Shy’ live set by pop icon Shygirl, with reworks of her provocative, tender and sensual tracks, and ended with the electrifying Eliza Rose closing the festival.  

THERE WERE THREE DISTINCT STAGES 

Sónar Lisboa had three different interactive stages that enhanced the festival experience. The Sónar by Day program was across two outdoor and one indoor stage, while the Sónar by Night program took place indoors at the Pavilhão Carlos Lopes. The outdoor areas were expanded from last year to incorporate new food courts and upgraded services, which further improved the overall festival atmosphere.

IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC 

Zabra, a multidisciplinary art collective headquartered in Lisbon, stole the show with their immersive composite installation at Sónar Lisboa, fusing technology and nature in a thrilling and musical way. LIMBIC LANDMARKS invited visitors to reflect on how emotional landmarks and physical geography condition our relationship with the natural world. The work was inspired by the limbic system, the part of our brain that controls emotional and behavioural responses. The installation was hosted at the festival’s Estufa Fria venue, which also hosted Future Days, a series of conferences and workshops discussing the future of urban living.