Sun, sand, and a sensational lineup, our Music Editor, Emma Harrison, attends the largest cultural event in the Balearic Islands – the Mallorca Live festival made a stunning return last weekend.
For what many regarded to be its strongest and most diverse lineup to date, this was an invariable celebration of Spain’s diverse and flourishing music scene which showcased a fantastic selection of homegrown icons who effortlessly performed alongside global music titans.
The Mallorca Live Festival Is the Best Music Festival in Spain You Have Not Been to Yet
The Mallorca Live festival has quietly grown into one of the most exciting and genuinely surprising music festivals on the European calendar. Now in its eighth edition, it continues to distinguish itself with genre-defying programming that sits comfortably alongside homegrown Spanish talent and global headline acts. For music lovers wanting to swerve some of the bigger Spanish big hitters such as Primavera and Mad Cool, Mallorca Live offers something more intimate, more adventurous, and easier to navigate, all set against the stunning backdrop of the island of Mallorca. This year’s three-day lineup made a compelling case for putting it at the very top of your festival wishlist for 2026.
From Massive Attack to Iggy Pop, This Year’s Lineup Was Absolutely Brilliant
Friday brought Massive Attack’s visceral and profoundly moving performance, where music met imagery and activism intertwined with art, while Suede delivered a ferocious and energetic masterclass that had Brett Anderson performing like his life depended on it. Saturday closed with Iggy Pop, 78 years young and utterly unstoppable, tearing through wall-to-wall classics with showmanship that left the crowd speechless. Emerging acts like East London’s Fez proved the festival is just as committed to breaking new talent as it is to booking icons. As a first-time Mallorca Live festival goer, every aspect impressed, from the food options to the drink prices, and this year’s lineup was absolutely brilliant. Make sure you add Mallorca Live to your festivals to go to in 2026.
Mallorca Live, which is in its eighth edition, is shaking things up with thrilling, genre-defying festival lineups where the festival organisers are pioneering a bold new wave of programming that celebrates diversity, unpredictability, and boundary-pushing creativity.
Their commitment to tearing up the rule book is commendable. And for music-loving festival goers who want to swerve some of the bigger Spanish big hitters such as Primavera and Mad Cool, Mallorca Live is not only a music festival that is growing at a massive rate, it is also one of the easiest festival sites to navigate around and is also garnering a reputation for its green credentials too!
With an impressive lineup coupled with the festival’s beautiful location on the island of Mallorca, how could I resist an opportunity to check out this intriguing music festival for myself?
Thursday 12th June
After checking in to the Dreams Calvià, which was a handy 15-minute walk away from the Mallorca festival site, my fellow journalists and I walked in the evening sunshine to check out the first night of festivities. For me, it was not only my first time in Mallorca, but my first time at Mallorca Live. My new colleagues enthralled me with their stories and certainly set the tone of what to expect from night one.
Mallorca Live has an abundance of both Spanish and Spanish-speaking acts on the bill, and traditionally, the first evening serves up a stellar showcase of Spanish talent.
Whilst I was largely unfamiliar with most of the acts hitting the stage, the energy and atmosphere was palpable with each performer delivering a show-stopping set across the five stages.
Natalia Lacunza was sensational and sultry, effortlessly engaging with the enraptured crowd. She previously took part in a reality TV competition in Spain placing in a very impressive third place. She delivered a magnetic performance blending genres such as pop, urban, indie, and electronica.
The Latin-pop stylings from Nathy Peluso, who originates from Argentina but resides in Spain, certainly added some razzle-dazzle to proceedings. This was a total powerhouse of a performance and further demonstrated the importance of showcasing Spain’s home-grown talent.
Friday 13th June
Without a doubt, Friday 13th was in no way, shape, or form unlucky for any of the festival goers at Mallorca Live. Whilst it still had a plethora of Latin talent on display, the programme for the second night also had some world-renowned headliners performing as well.
Niños Bravos, a perky quartet from Madrid clad in football shirts were full of punch, and their set on the Radio 3 stage was both spirited and effervescent.
London-based Spanish-Cameroonian singer-songwriter Bikôko’s set was assured and compelling. Maika Makovski was one of my favourite new finds of the festival thanks to both her impressive talent and her theatrical and spirited performance. She is an innovative and intoxicating artist who sings with passion and emotion.
Hypnotic, mesmerising, and compelling, the pioneers of trip-hop Massive Attack delivered a powerful and profound set that highlighted the band’s ongoing commitment to using their platform to demanding an end to the genocide in Palestine as well as highlighting the need to end the conflict in Ukraine and other regions.
Their impassioned messages coupled with the footage of the devastation in Gaza and Ukraine was visceral and clearly resonated with the audience with Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja telling the crowd that the show was in ‘solidarity with the Palestinian people’.
Massive Attack were joined on stage by two formidable singers: The Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser and Deborah Miller, both of which gave heartbreaking renditions of ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Unfinished Sympathy’, respectively — which elevated the emotion even further.
This was a first-class performance from the band who crafted a flawless and transcendent set where music met imagery, activism intertwined with art, and community stood at the heart of it all.
One of the best live acts of the festival, Suede were in formidable form, and Brett Anderson was having the time of his life. Ferocious, passionate, and energetic, the frontman performed like his life depended on it.
Despite having a new album in the pipeline, the band’s set was an extension of the ‘Autofiction’ tour with the delighted audience being treated to some of Suede’s most beloved hits such as ‘Beautiful Ones’, a heartfelt rendition of ‘The Wild Ones’, ‘Trash’, and ‘Animal Nitrate’.
From encouraging a musical battle between the ‘boom boom’ from the dance music of the opposing stage to jumping into the crowd, Brett couldn’t have given any more, and it was great to hear tracks from ‘Autofiction’, which Brett admitted was their best album.
Anthemic, explosive, and dynamic, Suede once again proved what a tour de force they really are, and they were absolutely superb.
Saturday 14th June
The Mallorca Live festival was sadly drawing to a close, but there was still plenty of talent to see. From an extravagant performance from Latino popster Judeline, who is equally renowned for her raunchy and provocative live shows as she is for her vibrant vocals. The singer-songwriter actually took her stage name from the Beatles song ‘Hey Jude’.
East London boys Fez were another standout for me. They had brought with them a few of their home fans and their witty lyrics and uplifting melodies have converted me as a new fan.
The festival even used one of the band’s tracks, ‘Boarding School Blues’, for the festival announcement video. Charismatic with groove-laden tunes, it’s clear that Fez’s star is continuing to rise, and I am excited to see what they do next.
From the neo-psychedelia vibes of Fez to the rock ‘n’ roll superstar that is Iggy Pop, who delivered a riotous set that was wall-to-wall classics. Despite being 78 years young, Iggy’s performance, showmanship, and energy were outstanding. From ‘The Passenger’ and ‘Lust For Life’ to the brilliant ‘Wild One’ and ‘Funtime’, Iggy and his super-talented band were a force to be reckoned with.
He spoke Spanish, he launched himself around the stage and put on one hell of a performance, and it was an absolute pleasure to see his world-class set. As part of the festival promo, a papier-mâché mask of his face had been crafted, and whilst every track was infinitely marvellous, my favourite was The Stooges’ classic ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’.
This was an inspiring and unforgettable masterclass in rock ‘n roll, and Iggy and his enduring legacy will forever be emblazoned in my Mallorca Live festival memories.
After the high-octane energy of Iggy, I headed over to the Es Jardi stage to see Mercury Rev, whose set was cinematic and beguiling. Impressive from the very start, the psychedelic rockers from upstate New York always deliver a stirring yet powerful performance. This felt like a very intimate set despite being on one of the biggest stages of the festival.
Three days gone in a flash, but what a three days it was. As a first-time Mallorca Live festival goer, I was deeply impressed with every aspect of the festival — from the prices of the drinks to the food options — and it goes without saying that this year’s lineup was absolutely brilliant.
If you are looking ahead to plot out what festivals you want to book in for next year, make sure that you add Mallorca Live to your festivals to go to in 2026.
Photo Credits: Xavi Torrent, Andreas Iglesias, Tomas Moya
