Portugal’s Rock in Rio Lisbon has stolen a march on the competition by announcing Linkin Park as its first headliner for 2026.

The US rockers, who have previously graced the event’s main stage in 2008, 2012 and 2014, will top the bill on 21 June next year. Tickets went on sale today, priced €89 for general admission and €157 for a weekend pass.

The biennial festival’s 11th edition will take place in Parque Tejo from 20-21 & 27-28 June 2026.

“We are very pleased to announce Linkin Park as the first major headliner for Rock in Rio Lisboa 2026,” says Rock in Rio EVP Roberta Medina. “The band has an emotional and historic connection with the festival — having performed at several editions. They are one of the biggest bands in the world, with tremendous relevance in music history.

“Choosing Rock in Rio Lisboa to be part of their world tour on this return to the stage reinforces the scale and prestige of our festival.”

Linkin Park also headlined last weekend’s 2025 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show in Munich and are set to play stadiums across Europe this summer.

This announcement marks the start of a strategic journey that goes far beyond music

The band’s confirmation as Rock in Rio Lisbon headliners coincides with the launch of the Road to Rock in Rio project, billed as a “national and international communication journey” featuring experiences and activations across various cities in Portugal and Europe.

To enhance audience comfort, the festival site is also being expanded by 25%, with organisers strengthening its premium hospitality and services offering by creating distinctive areas within the venue, to be managed by partners and tour operators.

According to a study by Nova SBE, Rock in Rio Lisbon 2024 generated an economic impact equivalent to €120 million for the Portuguese economy, representing €11.8m in tax revenue.

“This announcement marks the start of a strategic journey that goes far beyond music,” says Medina. “Rock in Rio Lisboa takes place only every two years and has become an unmissable destination on the international circuit of major events — a true hub of culture, sustainability and innovation that projects Portugal onto the world stage as a creative, inspiring and emotionally significant country.

“We are a global project with Portuguese DNA and we want to be, increasingly, a lever to position the city and the country as a cultural and emotional destination.”

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Andrea Bocelli is believed to have performed the biggest classical music concert ever held in Portugal after packing out the 25,000-seater Leiria Municipal Stadium.

The Italian tenor, who celebrated his 30th anniversary in music last year, played the venue on 31 May, backed by an orchestra and a choir.

“We are convinced that we will have the largest audience ever for a classical music concert in Portugal”, Tiago Castelo Branco, executive director of Madeira-based promoter MOT (Memories of Tomorrow), told news agency Lusa ahead of the event.

“It’s a great moment in the career of the artist who is very connected to Portugal [and] has a very close relationship with Portugal and the Portuguese public.”

The 66-year-old previously sold out Lisbon’s MEO Arena in 2017 and 2023, and also headlined the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra in 2021 – the first post-pandemic stadium concert held in Portugal.

In 2024, Bocelli headlined the largest classical concert to take place in Europe this century at BST Hyde Park in London, becoming the 65,000-cap series’ first classical headliner.

Bocelli’s remaining 2025 tour dates will feature stops in Europe and North America

Bocelli’s remaining 2025 tour dates will feature stops in Europe and North America, including shows in his native Italy at Pompeii amphitheatre (27-28 June), organised by DuePunti Eventi with Klassics Music Management and Almud Edizioni Musicali, as well as the 20th edition of his Teatro del Silenzio (Theatre of Silence) in Lajatico, Tuscany (22 & 26 July).

Bocelli, who is repped by WME’s Kirk Sommer and David Levy, recently inked a five-year deal with AEG Presents “for the creation and management of his live performances”.

The agreement, described as “the most significant ever for a classical artist,” takes effect from 2026, spanning all five continents and covering all ticketed live events.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports Quest Management (UK) has initiated a High Court action against Bocelli, seeking unlimited damages, plus costs, after the star’s wife Veronica allegedly ended his longstanding relationship with the company by email last month.

Quest claims the “wrongful purported termination” has caused it “very substantial loss and damage” that it “will continue to suffer”, and is seeking unlimited damages from Bocelli, plus costs. A spokesperson for Bocelli has declined to comment on the case.

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Long-running Portuguese festival Super Bock Super Rock will not take place in 2025, according to the beer brand.

“As is public knowledge, Super Bock Super Rock is changing promoters,” reads a statement from the sponsor, Super Bock. “In this sense, we are in the process of transitioning with the aim of holding a major festival in 2026.”

Late last year, it was announced that Música no Coração would no longer organise the major international festival after launching it 30 years ago.

“My company turned 33 last Friday – 29 of those years were made in a partnership with the Super Bock brand,” Música no Coração MD Luis Montez told IQ in February.

“We are in the process of transitioning with the aim of holding a major festival in 2026”

“We are still partners in other events, but I realised, as a businessman and in tune with the brand, that this was the right moment for Música no Coração to end its involvement with Super Bock Super Rock, leaving behind a unique brand and legacy that has, year after year, built a national and international reputation.”

Super Bock Super Rock has been organised in various formats and locations in Portugal, Spain and Angola. The festivals have hosted international stars such as Prince, The Cure, David Bowie, Van Morrison, Coldplay, Pixies, Metallica, Arcade Fire, Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar.

The 2024 edition, which took place between 18–20 July at Herdade do Cabeço da Flauta, was headlined by Måneskin, Stormzy and 21 Savage.

The Lisbon counterpart Super Bock em Stock, organised by Música no Coração, did not take place last year.

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Global entertainment firm TMG (The Malachite Group) has reaffirmed its commitment to hosting Afro Nation festival in Portimão, Portugal, by inking a multi-year exclusive site licence agreement – and pledged to bring other events to the region.

The renewed partnership with the Municipality of Portimão was officially signed during a special presentation at Better Tourism Lisbon’s Feira de Turismo de Lisboa.

The first festival held under the new deal will be this summer’s Afro Nation Portugal, which debuted in 2019 and holds its fifth edition on 9-11 July this summer.

“Portimão is the birthplace of the global Afro Nation movement, and Praia da Rocha has become an iconic gathering place for our growing community – and our team,” says TMG CEO Natasha Manley. “As part of our continuing partnership between TMG and Portimão and our core values as a business, we are committed to uplifting the local industries by working with local suppliers to generate sustainable and responsible economic growth.

“Over the coming years we look forward to expanding our events portfolio and launching exciting new brands. We wish to be here for decades to come, continuing to build special and unique experiences that bring communities together in one of the most beautiful beach locations on the planet.”

“Through this partnership, we will enable it to expand beyond the event itself, reaching a truly global scale”

Afro Nation 2025 headliners include Burna Boy, Tems and Davido, alongside Mary J. Blige.

“Since we welcomed the Afro Nation community in 2019, the festival has become part of the Portimão family, with a visible impact across the Algarve,” adds Portimão’s mayor Álvaro Bila, who highlighted the festival’s cultural and economic significance for the region. “This event has brought internationally renowned artists to Portugal for the first time and has solidified Portimão as one of the top destinations for world-class events. Moreover, Afro Nation’s presence has significantly benefited our tourism and hospitality industries, generating many millions of euros annually.

“We know that Afro Nation is more than just a festival – it is a global cultural movement – and through this partnership, we will enable it to expand beyond the event itself, reaching a truly global scale.”

TMG, whose founder is music entrepreneur Obi Asika, also produces live entertainment brands including Piano People, Afrotronic and LIT Everywhere. Together, they have sold over one million tickets, created 16,000 jobs worldwide and generated over US$1 billion in economic impact.

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Rock in Rio Lisboa has announced a raft of improvements for its Parque Tejo site ahead of the next edition in 2026.

The biennial festival relocated from its longtime home of Parque da Bela Vista to Parque Tejo for last year’s 20th-anniversary edition.

After the first weekend at the new venue, Rock in Rio director Roberta Medina was forced to respond to complaints about difficulty accessing the venue, lack of shade and long queues to access restaurants and bathrooms. However, a post-event survey commissioned by Rock in Rio Lisboa found that 70% of attendees had positive opinions.

Now, organisers have announced that in 2026 the area for the public will increase to 145,000 square meters – 15,000 square meters more than last year – “guaranteeing more circulation space and greater comfort for everyone”.

“Mobility will also be strengthened, with an improved transport plan, more options and new partners, to facilitate access to the venue”

In addition, there will also be a 40% increase in bathrooms and 30% in food areas, as well as new rest areas. It was also announced that mobility “will also be strengthened, with an improved transport plan, more options and new partners, to facilitate access to the venue”.

The Portuguese festival took place across two weekends last June, attracting 300,000 attendees and selling out three of the four dates.

Scorpions, Jonas Brothers, Doja Cat, Macklemore and Ed Sheeran, who previously played at the 2014 edition, headlined the event.

While the Lisboa event celebrated its 20th anniversary, the Brazilian flagship marked 40 years. Read more about the festival through the ages here.

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Música no Coração MD Luis Montez has announced the cancellation of Sudoeste festival, which has been held in Zambujeira do Mar in Portugal since 1997. Montez said that the event – which this year hosted international artists including Martin Garrix, Tems, Don Toliver, Charlotte De Witte and Anitta – will take a break in “preparation for a new chapter”.

The decision was made due to not being able to find a sponsor for the event, Montez tells IQ, adding that it was “difficult to compete” with free concerts from city councils in a year of local elections.

The cancellation comes months after it was announced that Música no Coração would no longer organise Super Bock Super Rock after launching the major international festival 30 years ago.

“My company turned 33 last Friday – 29 of those years were made in a partnership with the Super Bock brand,” Montez tells IQ. “We are still partners in other events, but I realised, as a businessman and in tune with the brand, that this was the right moment for Música no Coração to end its involvement with Super Bock Super Rock, leaving behind a unique brand and legacy that has, year after year, built a national and international reputation.

“As happens in all companies, we are restructuring the business”

“My decision is part of the strategy that we have been preparing for over a year for the near future,” he continues. “The world has changed, festivals are changing, and we want to stay at the forefront, always among the best.”

Montez refuted claims made in local media that the ownership of the Sudoeste brand had been transferred to state tax authorities. “Sudoeste Festival brand is ours,” he tells IQ. “Because of Covid, we made an agreement plan with the tax authorities and have regularised declarations. For this plan to happen, we provided the Sudoeste brand as a guarantee.”

Super Bock Super Rock was organised in various formats and locations in Portugal, Spain and Angola. The festivals have hosted international stars such as Prince, The Cure, David Bowie, Van Morrison, Coldplay, Pixies, Metallica, Arcade Fire, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, and Måneskin.

Dates for Super Bock Super Rock 2025 have been outlined but no acts have been announced. Last year, Lisbon counterpart Super Bock em Stock, organised by Música no Coração, did not take place.

Addressing speculation about the company’s financial position, Montez says: “As happens in all companies, we are restructuring the business. Covid caused us difficulties, like all entrepreneurs in this area, but we are recovering, and we are solid. I am making capital injections into Música do Coração as needed.

“We started 2025 with liquidity and ambition. It’s the year to solidify and grow our festivals but we also aim to align with the market trends and also focus on headline shows.”

Música no Coração’s festival portfolio also includes Sumol Summer Fest, Jardins do Marquês and Caixa Alfama, all of which have been announced for 2025.

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Portugal’s Meo Kalorama has been brought forward by two months due to the “reduced availability of artists” at the end of August, when the festival has typically taken place.

The Last Tour-promoted event will now take between 19–21 June at its usual location of Parque da Bela Vista in Lisbon, per yesterday’s approval from the city council.

“It was found that holding the festival at the end of August 2025 poses constraints regarding the reduced availability of artists, thus reducing the possibility of choosing the best options, with potential for quality and diversity of the offer that is intended to be provided to the target audience,” read the proposal from Last Tour.

“It was found that holding the festival at the end of August 2025 poses constraints regarding the reduced availability of artists”

It is unclear whether Meo Kalorama’s Spanish counterpart, Kalorama Madrid, will also be moved forward from August. After the debut edition last year, the festival has not announced a return in 2025.

The twin festivals took place between 29–31 August 2024, with acts including Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem, Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service, Sam Smith and The Smile.

Meo Kalorama was founded in 2022 by Last Tour and House of Fun, which is no longer involved in the festival. The likes of Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Róisín Murphy, Years & Years, Disclosure, Jessie Ware and Bonobo have performed at the event.

Kalorama Madrid was launched after Last Tour axed its Spanish festival Cala Mijas, following a dispute with the local municipality.

Last Tour is also behind events such as Bilbao BBK Live, Azkena Rock Festival, Cala Mijas and BIME Live.

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Portugal’s competition authority has greenlit Live Nation’s acquisition of Lisbon’s MEO Arena, along with promoter Ritmos e Blues (Rhythm & Blues).

It was revealed in April last year that Live Nation was purchasing a majority stake in the venue’s owner Arena Atlântico and subsidiaries including ticketing company Blueticket, in addition to an “indirect controlling stake” in Ritmos e Blues.

The deal was held up by an in-depth investigation by regulator Autoridade da Concorrência (AdC), but has now been cleared, more than 18 months on, after LN proposed “adequate, sufficient, proportionate and feasible” commitments to address potential competition law concerns.

The 20,000-cap MEO Arena opened in 1998 for the Expo 98 World Trade Fair and has hosted superstar acts such as Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Adele, André Rieu and Travis Scott.

“Lisbon is one of Europe’s most exciting capitals, and we’re honoured to be part of its cultural fabric,” says John Reid, president of Live Nation EMEA. “With this investment, we’re committed to bringing more shows to Portugal, supporting the local economy and creating incredible experiences for fans.”

Ritmos e Blues, which was founded in 1990 by Nuno Braamcamp and Álvaro Ramos, has promoted concerts by the likes of Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Prince, U2 and the Rolling Stones, and was part of the consortium that controlled Arena Atlântico.

“MEO Arena is known nationally and internationally for hosting Portugal’s major shows and events”

LN, whose partnership with the firm dates back to 2011, is also active in Portugal in the promotion of the Rock in Rio Lisbon festival through its Better World subsidiary, and holds a stake in the Rolling Loud festival.

AdC says the commitments put forward by LN include a guarantee of “effective freedom of choice of the ticketing company by the promoter who uses the services of MEO Arena”.

Following the deal, renovations are planned at MEO Arena to upgrade premium seating, skyboxes, dressing rooms and concessions, while Live Nation will also build on current sustainability efforts – focusing on reducing its environmental impact and increasing social benefits in line with its Green Nation pledges.

“MEO Arena is known nationally and internationally for hosting Portugal’s major shows and events,” adds MEO Arena CEO Jorge Vinha da Silva. “With this deal we want to build on the arena’s reputation as a cultural destination, and we feel that Live Nation is the right strategic partner to achieve this. I am really excited to enter this new era, not only for MEO Arena but also for Portugal.”

Daily operations at the venue will remain under its current leadership team, supported by Live Nation’s global network, with the acquisition expected to be finalised in late 2024/early 2025.

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Rock in Rio bosses have given an update on the brand’s expansion plans after its 40th anniversary edition in Brazil pulled in 730,000 fans across two weekends.

Held at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, from 13-15 & 19-22 September, the festival’s headliners included Travis Scott, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Avenged Sevenfold and Mariah Carey, as well as the likes of Evanescence, Ne-Yo, Deep Purple, Charlie Puth and Hollywood star Will Smith.

Roberta Medina, EVP of Rock World, the company behind the biennial event, trumpets the 2024 flagship as a “tribute to the ability that music and culture have to unite people in peace and harmony and to show new possibilities”.

“It was a peaceful event, where thousands of people came together, vibrating with happiness and sharing unforgettable moments,” she says.

The Brazilian festival, which will return in 2026, also upped its sustainability push – initiating a reusable cup drive for the first time in partnership with Heineken, Red Bull, Coca-Cola, Schweppes and Braskem, which encouraged conscious consumption and correct disposal.

More than 150,000 cups were collected, washed and returned for use, while 1.5 tons of cups were collected for reuse in the VIP area. Consequently, the festival avoided generating more than 14 tons of waste.

At last count, Rio-based company Comlurb had collected 288.5 tons of waste from inside Rock in Rio, of which 129.8 tons were potentially recyclable materials.

“We’re not planning international expansion at this point, but we decided to expand to the closest market to Rio – that is São Paulo”

Earlier this month, Rock in Rio founder Roberto Medina unveiled a “visionary project” to turn the area around the Rock in Rio site into the largest entertainment complex in Latin America. In partnership with financial group Genial Investimentos, the Imagine scheme will transform the Olympic Park, home to Rock in Rio Brazil since 2017, into a leisure, sports and entertainment centre.

The Rock World portfolio also includes Portugal’s Rock in Rio Lisboa, which takes place in the even years, and The Town in São Paolo, held in the odd years. It also took over the running of Lollapalooza Brazil in 2023. Rock in Rio Lisboa staged its 20th anniversary edition in June at the 80,000-cap Parque Tejo, attracting 300,000 attendees and selling out three of the four dates. Acts included Scorpions, Jonas Brothers, Doja Cat, Macklemore and Ed Sheeran.

Meanwhile, The Town (cap. 105,000-cap) launched at the Interlagos race track in September last year, headlined by Post Malone, Foo Fighters, Maroon 5 and two nights with Bruno Mars. It welcomed more than 500,000 fans over five days.

Roberto Medina discusses potential future expansion of Rock in Rio as part of a feature celebrating 40 years of the festival in the new issue of IQ.

“I think expansion in Latin America is possible, but it is not in my plans because I am now focused on Lollapalooza and The Town in São Paolo, and Rock in Rio, which makes us one of the biggest festival companies in Latin America,” he says. “This year, with the three events all put together, we made R$1.1bn, while we sold 2m tickets over the past two years. So I want to focus more on these [existing] markets where there is lots of opportunity to grow.”

Roberta Medina adds: “We’re not planning international expansion at this point, but we decided to expand to the closest market to Rio – that is São Paulo. They are both big cities, but São Paulo is very different to Rio. It’s been a conversation for a number of years to take Rock in Rio to São Paulo, but what we realised is that Rock in Rio sees 50% of our revenues coming from sponsorship and 50% from ticket sales – it’s a very different model, and we understand it’s not similar in other territories. But we can definitely grow in our own markets and become bigger in Brazil, while the new site in Lisbon allows us to concentrate on making that bigger, too.”

The full feature on 40 years of Rock in Rio appears in the issue 130 of IQ, out now.

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Continuing our weekly preview of European festivals, IQ gives readers a glimpse of what’s in-store this week…

In Switzerland, Paléo is gearing up for a banner edition having sold all 200,000 tickets for the 2024 event in just 21 minutes.

The 35,000-capacity festival will run in Nyon from 23-28 July, featuring acts such as Sam Smith, Burna Boy, Booba, Mika, Sean Paul, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Patti Smith, The Blaze, Paul Kalkbrenner, Aurora and Royal Blood.

Paléo booker Dany Hassenstein spoke to IQ earlier this year about the festival’s longstanding bond with its audience.

Meanwhile, the stage has been set for Electric Castle‘s 10th-anniversary edition, which will welcome over 230,000 visitors to Transylvania’s 15th-century Banffy Castle.

Paléo is gearing up for a banner edition having sold all 200,000 tickets for the 2024 event in just 21 minutes

The Romanian festival will see acts including Massive Attack, Bring Me the Horizon, Chase & Status LIVE, Sean Paul, Paolo Nutini, and Khruangbin perform between 17–21 July.

Czech Republic’s Colours of Ostrava (17–20) also kicks off today, with Sam Smith, James Blake, Tom Morello, Lenny Kravitz, Sean Paul and Khruangbin among the top-billing acts.

The festival launched in Ostrava in 2002 and has become the country’s biggest international music festival.

Belgium’s biggest festival, Tomorrowland, will also take place this weekend with 400,000 guests.

Tickets for the 20th-anniversary edition sold out in less than a day, IQ reported in February.

The electronic music extravaganza is held across two weekends in Boom, Antwerp, from 19-21 and 26-28 July.

Tickets for the 20th-anniversary edition of Tomorrowland sold out in less than a day

Staged under the ‘LIFE’ theme, more than 400 acts including Armin van Buuren, Amelie Lens, Bonobo B2B Dixon, David Guetta, ANNA, Vintage Culture, Tale Of Us, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Solomun B2B Four Tet and Swedish House Mafia will appear across 16 stages.

In neighbouring Germany, Parookaville is ramping up for another sold-out edition with 225,000 attendees. The electronic music event has been sold out every year since launching in 2015.

Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Felix Jaehn, Hardwell, Timmy Trumpet and W&W are among 300+ DJs that are set to perform at this year’s instalment, at Weeze Airport between 19–21 July.

And, elsewhere, the gates to Super Bock Super Rock will open tomorrow, offering headline sets from Måneskin, 21 Savage and Stormzy.

Royal Blood, Tom Morello, Black Coffee, Slow J, Mahalia, Fisher, Vulfpeck and Will Butler are also slated to perform on Meco Beach, South Lisbon, from 18-20 July.

Other festivals due to kick off within the next week include Benicassim (ES), Positivus (LV), Ejekt Festival (GR), Lucca Summer Festival (IT) and Zwarte Cross (NL).

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