MIRA 2026: Arca and Max Cooper headline its 15th anniversary

Convergence of synthesis and digital arts at Fira Montjuïc

The city of Barcelona prepares to host one of the most relevant events in the European electronic ecosystem. On November 6 and 7, 2026, the Fira Montjuïc venue will open its doors to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of MIRA Festival, an event that since its creation in 2011 has consolidated an unwavering identity based on the intersection between contemporary music and digital arts. After several months of anticipation, the organization has recently unveiled the final configuration of its lineup, marking a milestone in its trajectory by bringing together pioneers of sound synthesis and the most disruptive figures of the current scene.

The confirmation of Arca as the centerpiece of the musical program has closed the festival's cycle of announcements. The Venezuelan producer and artist, based in Barcelona, will present an audiovisual show in constant transformation on Friday, November 6, a show that promises to translate her deconstruction of pop and club music into an environment where sound, body, and technology converge viscerally. Alongside her, the acclaimed British producer Max Cooper will deploy an immersive 3D set based on his upcoming record, Feeling is Structure. This performance reinforces the festival's commitment to complex sensory experiences, where electronic music transcends the traditional dance floor.

A line-up curated for the vanguard of clubbing

The design of the programming for this fifteenth edition reflects a meticulous curatorial effort that covers multiple spectrums of contemporary electronic music. Among the most outstanding performances in Live AV format is the joint presentation by Austrian producer Christian Fennesz and visual artist Lillevan. Both will commemorate live the 25th anniversary of the acclaimed album Endless Summer, a timeless masterpiece that laid the foundations for the evolution of experimental electronics and ambient glitch in the early 2000s.

The most purist and historical spectrum of the lineup is backed by the imposing presence of Martin Rev, founding member of the legendary New York duo Suicide, who will perform in collaboration with visual artist Divine Enfant to offer a retrospective of his industrial textures. Likewise, the most cerebral European electro will be represented by Anthony Rother, who resurrects his acclaimed DATAPUNK project in a hybrid format after years of silence on stage. Added to these names are key figures of the international underground circuit such as Helena Hauff, known for her relentless force on the decks based on EBM and acid techno, and the acclaimed collaborative duo formed by digital artist Daito Manabe and producer Nosaj Thing, who will fuse mathematical algorithms with abstract rhythms.

• Shygirl, bringing her unmistakable fusion of grime, deconstructed club, and industrial pop.
• Nicola Cruz, whose live audiovisual set promises to integrate Latin American rhythmic influences with field recordings and modular synthesis.
• Machine Girl and underscores, representatives of the most accelerated currents of hyperpop and digital hardcore.
• Tortoise, the iconic Chicago post-rock band, which will bring an analog and instrumental dimension to the event.
• ML Buch and Ryoichi Kurokawa, providing explorations that oscillate between experimental guitar pop and millimetric audiovisual architecture.

The festival's infrastructure will maintain its characteristic technical deployment at Fira Montjuïc, transforming the immense industrial spaces into authentic sensory laboratories through interactive installations and immersive projections. With full festival passes set at 95 euros and day tickets at 50 euros, the event promises a high turnout due to the magnitude of this commemorative edition.

Consolidation of an immersive cultural model

Reaching fifteen editions in the competitive European festival market is a testament to the viability of the model proposed by MIRA. Far from the massive dynamics of other mega-events, the organization has managed to maintain a boutique approach, prioritizing acoustic quality, visual innovation, and attendee immersion. The integration of disciplines such as virtual reality, generative art, and new media programming in parallel with DJ sets and live acts has generated an ecosystem where clubbing is elevated to the category of contemporary art exhibition.

MIRA explores the creative potential of digital arts, bringing together cutting-edge electronic music and immersive technologies in works that transcend formats and disciplines.

— Curatorial manifesto of MIRA Festival

The November 2026 edition not only celebrates a decade and a half of history, but also reaffirms Barcelona as an inescapable epicenter for sound research and digital vanguard. By betting on absolute premieres of audiovisual shows and exclusive collaborations, MIRA Festival secures its position as a catalyst for the aesthetic currents that will define the immediate future of electronic music.

Sources Consulted