Azkena Rock Festival unveils its schedule, the lineup for the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, and its family-friendly area, Txiki ARF

Azkena Rock Festival has announced the schedule for its 24th edition, which will take place on June 18, 19, and 20 in Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz. With Alice Cooper, Social Distortion, and The Hives headlining a lineup that once again explores rock ’n’ roll in all its forms, the festival is beginning to shape the full experience of this new edition: three days of music, community, and memorable live performances that will also extend to the city center with free concerts in Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. In addition, the venue will once again feature Txiki ARF, the space designed so that families can also experience Azkena from the inside.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18
 THE HIVES / IMELDA MAY exclusive rock & roll show feat. Darrel Higham / THE ADICTS Adios Amigos / CORROSION OF CONFORMITY / DEWOLFF / ROBERT FINLEY / NHIL
Trashville: LES ROBOTS / ÁNGEL Y CRISTO / CAPTAIN TRASHO / THE CONCRETE BOYS / RADIOACTIVAS

The first day will welcome the Swedish powerhouse The Hives, who will deliver an adrenaline-fueled show packed with hits like “Hate to Say I Told You So” and “Main Offender.” In an exclusive show, Imelda May will arrive at Mendizabala accompanied by Darrel Highman to perform her most rock ’n’ roll repertoire, and The Adicts will stop by the festival on their farewell tour, bringing an end to nearly five decades of irreverence and punk partying. Rounding out the day will be the unstoppable metal machine of Corrosion of Conformity, the virtuosity combined with youth courtesy of Dewolff, the blues veteran Robert Finley, and the refined pop-soul-funk of the Guipúzcoa-based band Nhil. At Trashville, the instrumental surf rock of Les Robots, the unclassifiable chaos of Ángel y Cristo, the primitive noise of Captain Trasho, the garage rock fun of The Concrete Boys, and the Barcelona-based riot quintet Radioactivas.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19
 ALICE COOPER / SUGAR First show in Spain since 1993 / CIRCLE JERKS / COUNTING CROWS / EVARISTO / OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW / VOIVOD / BLACK MARACAS / THE DAMN TRUTH / THE DEL FUEGOS / HÄLLAS / THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT / TROPICAL FUCK STORM
Trashville: THE DWARVES / CAVEGIRL + THE NEANDERGALS / HENGE / RESTLESS RAMONE / STOMPIN’ RIFFRAFFS

Virgen Blanca: Bywater Call

The second day will feature the godfather of shock rock, Alice Cooper, in a theatrical horror and hard rock show that has established him as one of the key figures in rock music over the past few decades. Sugar’s reunion tour will make a stop at the festival, marking their first visit to the country since 1993 and one of the most special shows of the event. From California, Circle Jerks will unleash their hardcore punk, brimming with rage and social commentary, while Counting Crows will revisit their hits led by the unmistakable voice of Adam Duritz. Evaristo, for his part, will take the audience on a journey through all his projects and a discography that has earned him the title of the flagship of Basque punk. Old Crow Medicine Show’s American folk will make its debut in Spain, Voivod will unleash their dystopian metal, Black Maracas will unleash their psychedelic fuzz, and The Damn Truth, led by the charismatic Lee-La Baum, will set their rock & roll machine in motion. Experimental punk will also be represented by Tropical Fuck Storm, as will modern hard rock in The Temperance Movement’s set, fantastic adventure rock from Hällas, and brothers Dan and Warren Zanes will take the stage as The Del Fuegos. Attendees at the Trashville tent will witness the punk provocation of The Dwarves, the troglodyte garage of Cavegirl + The Neandergals, the sci-fi rave of HENGE, the sweaty punk of Restless Ramone, and the Japanese rock of Stompin’ Riffraffs to close out a truly heart-stopping day.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20
 SOCIAL DISTORTION / CARPENTER BRUT / JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT / ALCALÁ NORTE / SLEAFORD MODS / SUPERCHUNK / THERAPY? Plays ‘Troublegum’ / DISCHARGE / LEPORA / RODEO / SPLIT DOGS / STARBENDERS / VANDOLIERS / LADY BANANA
Trashville: CUIR / BLOODSUCKING ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE / BRIDGE CITY SINNERS / CAPITÁN ENTRESIJOS feat. Garganta Profunda / TWIN GHOSTS

Virgen Blanca: The Backyard Casanovas

On the final day, featuring a particularly diverse lineup, Social Distortion will return following their 2022 visit to present *Born To Kill*, their first album in fifteen years, and to deliver a masterclass in classic rock & roll, country, and blues courtesy of Mike Ness and the band. Carpenter Brut will arrive at Mendizabala to win over rock fans with their distinctive electronic sound, where synthesizers blend with the heaviest industrial metal, and (former Drive-by-Truckers member) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will demonstrate why he is considered a key figure in today’s alternative country scene. Alcalá Norte will prove themselves to be much more than just a promising band; Sleaford Mods will examine the uncomfortable truths of our society through irony and post-punk; Superchunk will delight lovers of the most honest power pop; Discharge will sound devastating with their veteran blend of hardcore d-beat; and Therapy? will perform their most acclaimed album, Troublegum, in its entirety. Street-punk will also be present at Mendizabala courtesy of Split Dogs, as will cow-punk from the Vandoliers, and new wave and glam aesthetics will be provided by Starbenders. Lepora’s hard-hitting Basque rock and Rodeo’s stoner rock will represent local talent on this final day. Additionally, the stoner rock of the Zaragoza-based power duo Lady Banana will also be featured on this day thanks to the initiative of the +Músicas Live program, aimed at promoting female representation at festivals. At Trashville, the most hypnotic synth-punk will take center stage thanks to Cuir, and the venue will also feature horror punk and psychobilly from Bloodsucking Zombies from Outer Space, subversive folk-punk from Bridge City Sinners, as well as a bizarre performance led by Capitán Entresijos feat. Garganta Profunda and the otherworldly rock of Twin Ghosts.

As usual, downtown Vitoria-Gasteiz will kick off the festivities on Friday and Saturday, transforming Plaza de la Virgen Blanca into a hub where live music, cuisine, and a great atmosphere will converge—an energy that will later spill over to Mendizabala.

On Friday, Bywater Call will kick off the day. Having become one of the strongest acts in contemporary soul-blues, and backed by a sound that draws from classic rhythm & blues, southern rock, and gospel, the Toronto-based band will showcase their vibrant horn sections in the city center, always led by the commanding voice of Meghan Parnellen.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, The Backyard Casanovas will deliver a performance of swampy blues and rock ’n’ roll intensity, infused with the spirit of the 1950s. Formed in 2018, these four rockers from Bonn (Germany) will perform their explosive repertoire during happy hour, featuring original songs and gems from their idols Hound Dog Taylor and Hasil Adkins, true masters of raw, garage-style blues.

Txiki ARF: the family-friendly space at Mendizabala

For the third consecutive year, Azkena Rock Festival will feature a program designed to introduce younger audiences to rock culture through fun.

From the second Trashville tent and in collaboration with Rock en Familia, on Friday and Saturday families can attend tribute concerts to rock legends who have performed at the festival starting in the early afternoon, as well as workshops and children’s activities (face painting, air guitar contests, rocker bingo, making custom guitar picks and badges, etc.).

Day passes and 3-day passes are still available at azkenarockfestival.com. The Gaztea Pass (€100 + fees, for those under 24) is also available, and the option to pay in installments remains, as does free admission for children under 14.

For 2026, the festival has increased the frequency and number of buses to and from the festival, offering organized trips from nearby towns such as Altsasu, Arrasate, Barakaldo, Bilbao, Burgos, Donostia/San Sebastián, Errentería, Getxo, Irún, Miranda de Ebro, Pamplona, Portugalete and Zarautz.

The organizers of the Azkena Rock Festival would like to extend special thanks to the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Provincial Council of Álava, and Cervezas La Salve, St. Petroni, Kutxabank, and Petronor for their support, which makes this event possible.