Mad Cool Festival

How Madrid’s Biggest Party Became Europe’s Best-Designed Weekender

Madrid’s most electric week of the year is back, and Mad Cool Festival 2025 is more than ready to raise the bar — again. This isn’t your average muddy, mid-field free-for-all. Think crisp artificial turf underfoot (no dust, no dirt, no regrets), back-to-back sets with minimal sprinting required, and a city-savvy schedule built for those rolling in straight from tapas, a siesta, or shaking off whatever last night left behind.

If you’re heading to this year’s edition, here’s everything you need to know before gates open.

The Headliners Bringing
the Heat

Muse steps in to headline Thursday night after Kings of Leon dropped out, and honestly? It might be for the best. If you’ve ever seen Muse take the main stage at a festival, you know what’s coming: face-melting riffs, laser-drenched theatrics, and the kind of cinematic drama only they can deliver. 

Friday belongs to Nine Inch Nails, returning to Madrid with a set that promises to be as punishing as it is precise. Trent Reznor doesn’t do nostalgia trips. He builds pressure slowly and knows exactly when to let it detonate. Expect a performance that is raw and relentless, where every sound and silence is carefully crafted to draw you in and hold you there until the very last note.

Closing out Saturday is Olivia Rodrigo, fresh from a global victory lap with GUTS. Her live show has grown teeth since SOUR, and she now performs like someone with nothing to prove and everything to scream about. Known for dropping surprise guests at major festivals like Glastonbury and BST, she could easily bring an unexpected twist to her Mad Cool set.

Further down the bill, it’s a stack of heavy-hitters and cult favourites: Thirty Seconds To Mars, Iggy Pop, Alanis Morissette, Justice, Benson Boone, Gracie Abrams, Weezer, Noah Kahan, Royel Otis, Kaiser Chiefs and Artemas. It's Mad Cool doing what it does best — assembling a lineup packed with major acts throughout the schedule, all for an unbeatable price of around €200 for three full days, making it one of the best-value festivals on the calendar.

Start Late, Stay Loud

Mad Cool isn’t here to burn you out by brunch. Gates swing open at 6PM, giving you plenty of time to soak up Madrid’s sun, sleep off the night before, or just take it easy. The music rolls through until 2AM, with DJ sets and late-night slots stretching deep into the city’s warm summer air.

This night-owl-friendly model means no sunstroke, no slogs, and plenty of energy to actually enjoy the headliners. Getting there and back is just as effortless, thanks to impeccably organised transport options including late-night Metro Line 3 services, Cercanías trains, shuttle buses, and dedicated pedestrian routes — all designed for maximum convenience and safety, 

Two Main Stages, Zero Stress

Here’s where Mad Cool nails the logistics. The two main stages are set side by side — so when one headliner ends, the next begins. No sprinting across fields. No impossible choices. Just back-to-back big moments. The schedule is staggered to minimise clashes, letting you see more of what you came for.

For a festival of this scale, that’s rare. For Mad Cool, it’s just smart.

And it’s not just about what’s on stage, the whole site is designed to keep things moving without ever feeling overwhelming. Despite its size, Mad Cool feels remarkably intuitive. Fewer stages mean better flow. Wide walking paths, shaded rest zones, and a layout that actually makes sense take the usual friction out of festival-going. Clear signage, short queues, and proper facilities keep the pace relaxed, never tipping into discomfort or survival mode. Accessibility is built into the experience, with thoughtful provisions for wheelchair users and inclusive access throughout.

It’s a Gen-RAP blueprint (Green, Responsible, Accessible, Progressive) and a glimpse of how large-scale festivals should be done.

Where Sustainability Meets Crowd Comfort

Sustainability at Mad Cool isn’t a marketing line, it’s built into the bones of the festival. The entire site is laid with artificial turf, a move that keeps things clean underfoot and sidesteps the usual dust and mud issues. Single-use plastics are out, replaced with compostable and biodegradable alternatives across all food and drink vendors. More than 500 recycling bins are spread throughout the grounds, with waste sorted into four separate streams to keep things efficient and transparent. Water refill stations are easy to find, and the entire operation is powered, where possible, by renewable energy. Their partnership with Iberdrola isn’t just symbolic — it’s helping to boost efficiency and cut down on emissions in real, measurable ways.

This kind of setup doesn’t just benefit the planet, it makes the experience smoother for festival-goers. Bring a refillable bottle to save on drinks and stay hydrated between sets. Comfortable shoes are a must — even with no mud to battle, you’ll be racking up steps. The grounds are spacious, and if you’re smart, you’ll carve out time to explore the art installations and food pop-ups between headline slots. And dont worry about carrying a layer for later, Madrid nights barely drop below 23 degrees so keep it light and breezy.

Mad Cool 2025 isn’t just about who’s on stage (though, let’s be honest, the lineup speaks for itself). It’s about thoughtful design, low-effort logistics, and a festival experience that puts people and the planet first. This is what the future of live music looks like — sharp, sustainable, and rooted in the city it calls home.

Big sets. Clean exits. Zero nonsense. Madrid’s ready. Are you?