Launched in 2012 as the first international spin-off of Barcelona’s now-famous Primavera Sound, Primavera Sound Porto quickly forged its own identity. The event features concerts in an urban park overlooking the Atlantic, with a capacity of around 35,000 people per day. Held in the vast Parque da Cidade, the Portuguese festival opts for a more intimate and accessible format than its Spanish parent festival.
The 13th edition of Primavera Sound Porto recently took place from the 11th to the 14th June 2026. Spanning four days, the line-up offered a wide range of styles, alternating between afro-jazz, noise, indie rock, indie folk, fado, punk, electro, neo-soul, trip-hop, socially conscious hip-hop, experimental music and Iberian flavours. True to its eclectic formula, this year’s Portuguese festival brought together 55 artists on a line-up headlined by The xx, returning fourteen years after their last appearance at the festival; Gorillaz, who were there to promote their latest album The Mountain; and Massive Attack.
Then, alongside these headliners, were IDLES, Big Thief, Ethel Cain, Bad Gyal, JADE, KNEECAP, Yard Act, Slowdive, Sudan Archives, Panda Bear, Gisela João, Criolo, Joey Valence & Brae, Melt-Banana and Viagra Boys. Ninajirachi, Texas Is The Reason, Black Country, New Road, Model/Actriz, Nation of Language, Bad Gyal, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro and Portuguese artists such as NAPA, PAUS Emmy Curl, Rita Vian, Capicua, Sensible Soccers and Inês Marques Lucas, amongst others… Obviously, we couldn’t see everything. But we tried. Out of the thirty or so concerts I managed to attend, let’s focus on three. One for each day: Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Thursday: KNEECAP
Banned from performing in the United States, Canada and many other countries due to their political stances – particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – the show by the controversial Belfast hip-hop trio at Primavera was therefore unmissable. Whilst their incisive rap and aggressive beats are certainly worth listening to on record, it’s undoubtedly on stage that the magic happens. Fuelled by punk energy, defiant lyrics and biting humour, the band is one of the most original voices on the new Irish scene. Every track hits the mark, with the band giving the audience no respite. Somewhere between Sleaford Mods, Slowthai and The Streets, KNEECAP have found their own path, blending these influences with a typically Irish rebellious and defiant spirit. This ban on their concerts in Canada is utterly ridiculous, particularly when you realise just how essential this band is. On that note, the docu-drama KNEECAP, which traces the trio’s rather unique story, is well worth the 100 or so minutes you’ll spend watching it..
Friday: Baxter Dury
Apart from the wild concert by the Viagra Boys – whom I was seeing for the fourth time and who put on a truly off-the-wall and intense performance – it was Baxter Dury’s set that really stood out for me, and that I was really looking forward to catch. The son of the legendary Ian Dury has established himself as a key figure in contemporary British pop, and, strangely enough, he’s never played a gig in Montreal… It’s highly time to put a stop to that, as he’s a real force on stage, fully embodying his persona as a decadent playboy crooner – a sort of unlikely cross between Bukowski, Gainsbourg, Sleaford Mods (them again) and, of course, his famous father, from whom Baxter takes after greatly, particularly in his vocal delivery. The apple never falls far from the tree.
Since the early 2000s, the singer-songwriter has cultivated a unique style, blending spoken word, pop, rock and electro in songs – or rather, short stories – that are elegant, ironic and cinematic. His eight albums, notably Floor Show (2005), Happy Soup (2011), Prince of Tears (2017), The Night Chancers (2020), I Thought I Was Better Than You (2023) and Albarone (2025), have cemented his status as a standout artist on the British independent scene. His show is a distillation of all these albums, featuring the unmissable “Miami,” “Cocaine Man,” “I’m Not Your Dog” and the highly danceable and dynamic “Albarone,” which had the crowd on their feet at the end of the concert.
Saturday: Mike D 5D
Almost two decades after the Beastie Boys split up, Mike D’s return to the stage was eagerly awaited by the New York trio’s many fans. It was known that an album had been completed, and it was precisely this debut solo effort, Thank You (scheduled for release on the 28th of August), that Mike D came to promote on stage. He was accompanied by the 5D – his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond (who also form the electro-pop duo Very Nice Person) – alongside Eddie and Milo Ruscha and guitarist Will Graefe.
All dressed in orange-red and bouncing from one side of the stage to the other like a bunch of hyperactive rabbits, the 5D worked their way through the ten tracks on Thank You, some far more captivating (the bass-heavy “What We Got”) than others (the long and rather unremarkable title track, “Thank You”). Having kicked things off with a Beastie Boys track (a wildly energetic “Hello Brooklyn”), Mike D and his band wrapped things up with the unmissable “So What’cha Want,” virtually identical to the original and which sent the crowd into a frenzy. But the real highlight of this rather energetic concert was their flawless rendition of the Delta 5’s ‘Mind Your Own Business’. A completely unexpected cover, a little nod that proves that from D5 to Delta 5, it’s just one (dance) step away.
The Music and Everythign Elese
A good festival depends largely on its line-up, its vision and its artistic direction, but also on the audience and the venue. As for the Portuguese section of Primavera, the decision to feature artists who have been established for several years attracts a much less youthful crowd than you might find at events such as Osheaga, to stick with a familiar example. And the difference is striking. The atmosphere is more laid-back, people are calmer, and so the listening experience is all the more enjoyable.
With a maximum daily capacity of 35,000 people, Porto’s Primavera Sound remains a major festival, yet on a human scale; there are none of the massive, dehumanizing crowds found at certain other major events in Europe or North and South America. There’s no oppressive, ever-present security here, nor any aggression, so it’s no surprise to see many people enjoying the festival with their families. What’s more, the site is well-designed and pleasant, just a stone’s throw from the ocean yet right in the heart of the city, and there’s no one to complain about the concerts going on until the small hours… So the party doesn’t come to an abrupt end at 11 pm or midnight, like some other cities… There you have it: all the ingredients for a captivating and memorable festival. The team behind Porto’s Primavera Sound have understood this perfectly and have maintained this approach and artistic vision for thirteen editions, tirelessly and flawlessly. Add in good weather and warm temperatures, and the equation is perfect.
