With Glastonbury off in 2026, European festivals like Mad Cool are capitalising with massive lineups.
In this image released on December 31, 2025, Zara Larsson performs onstage at "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" 2026.
Gilbert Flores/Penske Media
With Glastonbury, the U.K.’s biggest and most-beloved festival, taking a fallow year in 2026, the market for summer events and festivals had been blown wide open for many punters. The European festival circuit has never looked more appealing for those wanting to combine seeing some of the touring game’s biggest names and combine it with a jaunt to a holiday destination.
Mad Cool, held in Madrid, Spain (July 8-11), is a top option for punters in 2026 and has been for over the past 10 years. First held in the Spanish capital in 2017, the festival has become a magnet for acts looking to play in the city on tour: Arctic Monkeys (2018), Depeche Mode (2018), Green Day (2017), The Cure (2019), Metallica (2023), Dua Lipa (2024), Olivia Rodrigo (2025) and more have all entertained locals over the years.
