Mad Cool 2026

What is Mad Cool?

First held in 2016, Mad Cool quickly established itself as a major stop on the European festival circuit, known for booking marquee headliners across several large stages. Staged in the Spanish capital, it regularly draws tens of thousands of attendees per day.

The festival is held at a purpose-built venue in the southern Villaverde district, offering a spacious arena layout with multiple stages, food courts, and art installations.

• Where: Iberdrola Music, Villaverde, Madrid, Spain.
• When: each summer, typically in early July — see the event page for the confirmed 2026 dates.
• Format: multi-day, multi-stage festival with a major international lineup (no on-site camping).

Mad Cool 2026 headliners

For its 10th-anniversary edition, Mad Cool features a stellar roster of international artists and daily headliners, covering rock, alternative, pop, and electronic genres:

Major headliners and high-profile acts for 2026 include Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Pulp, Lorde, Moby, Twenty One Pilots, Kings of Leon, Halsey, David Byrne, Pixies, and JENNIE. The deep undercard is filled by Interpol, Zara Larsson, Teddy Swims, The Black Crowes, Kasabian, and The War on Drugs.

Public transport directions & mobility plan

Madrid's regional authorities run a special mobility plan during Mad Cool to handle the large crowds, including extended night hours for major transit networks. Taking public transport is highly recommended, as local parking is extremely limited:

Metro Line 3: Take the metro directly to the Villaverde Alto station. During the festival, Line 3 features extended service running until 3:30 AM. A special return shuttle connects Villaverde Alto back to central Sol, with stops at Legazpi and Embajadores.

Cercanías (Trains): Local commuter lines C3, C4, and C5 run to the Villaverde Alto and San Cristóbal Industrial stations. Line C4 runs a dedicated night route from Villaverde Alto back to Atocha station.

Bus Services: Daytime lines 22, 79, and T41 provide access. During late-night hours (after regular service ends), special EMT night shuttles connect the festival gates directly to the Atocha and Legazpi transport hubs.

Planning a trip to Madrid for Mad Cool

Madrid is a major European capital with excellent flight and high-speed rail connections and an extensive metro, so reaching the festival site by public transport is straightforward. The city has accommodation for every budget, though it books up around festival dates.

Book travel and accommodation early, and confirm the exact dates, venue, ticket tiers and lineup on the official site before you go.

Where is Mad Cool held?

At Iberdrola Music in the Villaverde district of southern Madrid, Spain. The venue has served as the festival's home since 2023.

When is Mad Cool 2026?

Mad Cool 2026 runs from Wednesday 8 July to Saturday 11 July. See our linked event page and the official site for ticket availability.

How do I get to Mad Cool by public transport?

The easiest route is taking Metro Line 3 or Cercanías train lines C4/C5 to the Villaverde Alto station. From there, it is a 15–20 minute walk to the main entrance. Special late-night metro shuttles and EMT buses run back to central Madrid (Atocha, Sol, Legazpi) until 3:30 AM.

Can I drive and park at Mad Cool?

No. Driving is highly discouraged as there is no dedicated public parking at the Iberdrola Music venue, and local streets are closed to non-resident traffic. Use Metro, trains, or official shuttles.

Are single-day tickets available?

Mad Cool typically offers both multi-day passes and single-day tickets. See the official site for current options and prices.