Primavera Sound Barcelona will feature a state-of-the-art lineup for its 2025 edition. Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter — will headline the 23rd edition of the festival in an unprecedented milestone. They’ll be joined by LCD Soundsystem, FKA twigs, HAIM, Jamie xx, Fontaines D.C., Beach House, IDLES, Clairo, Turnstile, Sturgill Simpson, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Floating Points, Stereolab, Spiritualized, and Parcels — rounding out a list of 147 artists. The festival’s main days will take place from 5th to 7th June, but the event will once again extend over a whole week of music, with an opening day, a closing party, and a parallel programme yet to be revealed.
Even though this year’s tickets are already sold out, there is an available waitlist on the website and in the Access Ticket app.
She Is the Moment
Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter. The order of the names doesn’t matter — they are the moment. Whether it’s Charli XCX’s unstoppable BRAT phenomenon, Chappell Roan’s glittering Midwest princess crown, or Sabrina Carpenter’s infinite charm of Short n’ Sweet — this is a photograph to remember. Something to celebrate.
What makes their presence at Primavera even more significant is their deep connection to queer culture. Queer people have long been the arbiters and stewards of camp, and all three of these artists have been embraced by the queer community for their openness, aesthetic boldness, and lyrical authenticity. Chappell Roan, in particular, has crafted a drag-queen-inspired onstage persona to project confidence and joy, with songs like Red Wine Supernova and Good Luck, Babe! directly celebrating queer relationships. Charli XCX has been a longtime supporter and collaborator with queer artists, publicly standing up for LGBTQ+ rights. Sabrina Carpenter’s playful, irreverent approach to pop has also found a strong fanbase among the LGBTQ+ community, reinforcing the sense that this lineup isn’t just a moment in music — it’s a moment for representation and visibility.
Chappell Roan’s rise to prominence is culturally significant not just because of her music but because of her personal journey. Having recently come to terms with her sexuality while being in the spotlight, Roan has become an essential reference for queer women. Until now, pop culture’s queer icons were mostly queer men or allies, leaving a noticeable gap when it came to women openly expressing desire for other women. Roan fills that gap, creating a sense of community and unity that was long overdue. Beyond her personal experiences, her music also contributes to the queer canon — songs like Pink Pony Club, which she performs with Elton John, have already become modern queer anthems.
Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter headlining a such a major festival is an important milestone, not only challenging double standards for women in music and queer communities, but also reinforcing the cultural relevance of modern pop.
There was a meme that went viral by the end of last summer, depicting Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX as the Powerpuff Girls: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, respectively. As funny as it was to see how their hair colors and even clothes matched perfectly, what I find the most relevant about it is that it reminded us why it’s important to hear something empowering — and not in a “femme fatale” reductive way. As the Powerpuff Girls once said: “Being a Powerpuff Girl isn’t about getting your way. It’s about using your own unique abilities to help people and the world we all live in.”
While quoting the Powerpuff girls in our article may seem a little unorthodox, the main similarity between these three artists and the superheroes is their ability to represent different roles of women and make really different people feel seen and represented.
Primavera Sound’s Impact and Inclusivity
In this year’s “celebration of the moment,” the fact that the Holy Trinity is headlining a festival as influential as Primavera Sound reflects both the festival’s inclusive spirit and the status of these artists as the new faces of global pop.
On top of that, Primavera’s lineup — featuring almost 250 artists — is gender-balanced, which remains rare in festivals worldwide. Gender parity has proudly been Primavera’s hallmark since its 2019 edition. In 2023, the festival received the “Queer Destinations Committed” distinction, which allows companies to show their commitment to welcoming the LGBTQ+ audience. To meet this standard, each year all Primavera staff undergo a sensitization training using a digital educational program called Hospitality Meets Diversity.
International visitors attending the festival should be mindful of local customs and respectful of the space they are entering. Barcelona is proud of its cultural identity, and while the festival is a place of celebration and unity, it’s important to approach it with the same respect and openness that the city extends to its visitors.
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Words: Mar Rubio Boné