The Cure have just added yet another major date to their 2026 calendar: a headlining slot at Primavera Sound in Barcelona. The appearance further cements what is shaping up to be a full run of European festivals for Robert Smith and company next summer.
Primavera Sound—one of Europe’s most adventurous and influential music festivals—takes place in late May and early June, with The Cure’s set marking their long-awaited return to the Parc del Fòrum stage. The band previously headlined Primavera in 2012 during their “Reflections” era, making 2026 their first appearance at the Barcelona festival in over a decade.
This new booking follows the recent announcements of The Cure’s headlining appearances at Austria’s Nova Rock Festival on June 12, 2026, and Rock en Seine in Paris on August 30, 2026. With three major European dates now confirmed—stretching from late May into the end of August—the summer schedule looks increasingly like a coordinated run across the continent, echoing their 2019 pre-pandemic sweep of festivals tied to the band’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
Primavera’s 2026 lineup is stacked with artists that resonate deeply with the post-punk and alternative world. Alongside The Cure, the festival welcomes long-awaited returns from My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Massive Attack, while noise-industrial pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten join the bill. Cult favorites such as Viagra Boys and Lambrini Girls are also set to appear, alongside many more.
While no North American shows have yet been hinted at, Robert Smith has repeatedly teased a sustained cycle of touring leading up to The Cure’s 50th anniversary in 2028. This string of European festival confirmations may only be the beginning of a much larger slate of shows.
Additionally, speculation about new music persists. Smith has stated in recent interviews that the follow-up to 2024’s Songs of a Lost World is “virtually finished” and could arrive before next summer’s festivals kick off. The band’s last official release was 2025’s charity remix set Mixes of a Lost World, featuring contributions from Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital, Chino Moreno, Trentemøller, and more, with proceeds benefiting War Child UK.
Tickets
Primavera Sound Barcelona (late May–early June 2026): passes via primaverasound.com
Nova Rock (June 11–14, 2026, Nickelsdorf): passes via novarock.at
Rock en Seine (Aug. 26–30, 2026, Paris): The Cure headlining Aug. 30—via rockenseine.com
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