Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte return to Sónar electronic music festival

Belgian DJs Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte will return to Barcelona's Sónar electronic music festival with their new audiovisual shows. The two "world techno queens" will take part in the 2026 edition of the event.

Charlotte de Witte will present her latest album with her newest show after performing Overdrive in 2024, while Amelie Lens will present AURA, a new concept focused on shadows, light, movement, and energy. Aside from the two queens, as the festival calls them, Dutch DJ Chris Stussy will show why he has become one of the world's rising stars in house music.

Taking place on June 18, 19, and 20 at the Catalan capital's Fira de Gran Via exhibition halls, the festival will drop its Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night format in favour of just Sónar, offering "the most comfortable experience" with "uninterrupted music during the evening and all night."

On Thursday at 10 am, organizers revealed one third of the program, which will feature over 100 shows in total. Aside from the two Belgian DJs, fans will get to see live US singer Kelis, British rapper Skepta, electronic pioneers Cabaret Voltaire, Danish trio WhoMadeWho, and Germany’s Modeselektor, to name just a few.

Kelis, a New York R&B legend, will perform at Sónar for the first time in her over two-decade career. She became a cultural sensation after releasing her global hit 'Milkshake.' At the Catalan capital, she will bring her innovative rhythm mixing R&B, hip hop, soul, pop, and electronic music.

Later in the 2000s, she made a name for herself with other super hits such as 'Trick Me,' 'Acapella,' 'Caught Out There,' and 'Millionaire.' With six albums already published, she has worked with Pharrell Williams, Calvin Harris, Disclosure, and Björk.

Sónar will also feature Skepta, a leading figure in British rap, who will present his newest album, Fork & Knife, expected to be released in early 2026.

The German duo Modeselektor will return to Sónar to present a never-before-seen live show. Also performing are Sammy Virki, Boys Noize, Nia Archives, DJ Gigola, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, Gerd Janson b2b Marcel Dettmann, Joy Orbison, Ogazón, Danielle b2b Ryan Elliott, Kettama, ascendant vierge hybrid set, TSHA b2b MK, 30drop, RONI, Funk Tribu, Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, DJ MARIA, ISA, riria, DJ AYA, La Sofy, and Alba Franch.

New format

For the first time, the event will take place under one roof, rather than being divided between Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night. 

"Barcelona has to be, once again, the capital of electronic culture," François Jozic, director of Sónar, said in a shared statement.

"We have designed a festival that not only celebrates music but also integrates technology, art, and creativity in a unique experience," he added. He was recently appointed director after the founders of the music festival stepped away last month.

At the 2026 edition, there will be six stages, divided into three indoor and three outdoor, to create a "more comfortable and immersive experience."

Sónar will start at 5 pm and finish at 3 am on Thursday, and at 7 am on Friday and Saturday.

Aside from Sónar, there will also be Sónar+D, the research activities that accompany the music event.

Tickets are already on sale, with weekend passes, day tickets, and a new Sónar+D experience.