Sónar+D, Barcelona's arts & tech event unveils 2026 programme ft Yancey Strickler, Roxanne Harris, Evicshen and more

Sónar’s innovation and digital culture lab, SónarD, today announces its 2026 programme. This year is an invitation to shift from passive consumption of technology to active engagement with it, emphasising the human in an increasingly automated world. The programme is organised around three main themes: ‘AI & Music’, as the world moves towards a post-AI reality; ‘Beyond the Screen’, which explores how to inject physicality and humanity into digital creations; and ‘Digital Gardens and Dark Forests’, investigating alternative futures for the current, commercially-dominated model of the internet.

The 14th edition of SónarD takes place on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th June, 2026 at Llotja de Mar, its new venue in the centre of Barcelona. The majestic neoclassical building hosts two days of talks, panels, workshops, performances, exhibitions, community takeovers, and interactive installations in a celebration of creativity, innovation, technology, exchange, and critical thinking.

Highlights include talks by Australian brand consultant Eugene Healey, who blurs the lines between marketing, brand strategy, and culture; writer and entrepreneur Yancey Strickler, who's helping artists and creators regain control of the internet; famed digital artist niceaunties, known for her surreal everyday vision of femininity; Mónica Rikić, a renowned new media artist who works with robotics; AV artist Daito Manabe, in conversation with Google DeepMind; writer and technologist Mindy Seu, who leads a collective reading of her book A Sexual History of the Internet; and Catalan artist and researcher Joana Moll. The workshops programme features designer and web artist Chia Amisola, artist collective Keiken, online community 0xSalon, and visual artists desilence, amongst others.

- SónarD 2026 also includes experimental and provocative performances that challenge our relationship with technology and reassert the physical nature of performance. Sound artist Evicshen delivers an intense, confrontational noise set; performance artist Fitnesss and contemporary dancer Riusforza are developing a brand-new collaborative show; and experimental producer Shoeg eschews AI for controllers, synthesisers, and motion sensors. AI & Music powered by STARTS features an interactive generative audio performance by music hacker duo Dadabots, and jazz pianist Ignasi Terraza performing a duet with an AI system developed by UPC researcher Philippe Salembier.

- Llotja de Mar also hosts interactive exhibitions and art installations across several rooms. Announced today are a showcase by Arts Korea Lab, a selection of works by South Korean artists that look to the future creative technology; plus Belgian studio Superbe’s sonic, visual and kinetic installation From0; and Brooklyn-based creative studio Volvox Labs’ Astral Twin, presented in collaboration with OFFF. More exhibitions and installations will be announced soon, including two at Fira Gran Via, the first time that SónarD appears at Sónar’s biggest venue.

- New for 2026, standalone tickets for SónarD have been made available, offering the possibility to experience this year’s programme as a standalone event or in combination with Sónar 2026 at Fira Gran Via. There are a variety of tickets available at different prices, ensuring that anyone who wants to attend will be able to. The SonarPassD includes access to both SónarD at Llotja de Mar (18th and 19th June) and Sónar at Fira Gran Via (18th, 19th and 20th June). New this year are SónarD 2-Day Tickets and Day Tickets, which offer access only to the programme in Llotja de Mar at affordable prices. All tickets are on sale now at the Sónar 2026 tickets page here.

SónarD 2026 Lineup

18.19 June 10am - 9pm Llotja de Mar

AI & Music powered by STARTS

Anna Xambó François Pachet Google DeepMind & Daito Manabe Magda Polo (Grup EKHO) & Miquel Àngel Pujana (IDIBELL) Nao Tokui Rob Clouth

Beyond the screen

Luca Cingolani aka Outer desilence Eneritz Tejada The Glad Scientist Internet2 Keiken Mónica Rikić niceaunties Roxanne Harris

Digital Gardens and Dark Forests

0xSalon Chia Amisola Eugene Healey Joana Moll Mario Santamaría Mindy Seu Yancey Strickler

Performances

AI Performance Playground* dadabots* Evicshen Fitnesss & Riusforza Ignasi Terraza & Philippe Salembier* Shoeg

*AI & Music powered by STARTS

Exhibition

Arts Korea Lab AUSGANG studio Superbe Volvox Labs more to be announced

CommunitiesD

Barcelona Music Tech Hub The Generative Art Museum more to be announced