Visorfest

56 minutes ago

3 min read

The stars now have their timetable, the countdown is officially underway and, on 25 and 26 September, La Marina Norte de València will become the centre of the alternative music universe as VISOR FEST 2026 returns for its most ambitious edition yet. Eight major international names will bring two days of post-punk, indie, Britpop, shoegaze and rock history to the city, with everything taking place on a single stage and, crucially, with no clashes between the bands.

That last detail is worth celebrating. While many festivals have you sprinting between stages and sacrificing half a set to catch the beginning of another, VISOR keeps things beautifully simple: every concert is played in full, giving fans the chance to properly settle into each performance rather than constantly checking their watches.

Friday gets things moving at 18:30 with Australian legends Hoodoo Gurus, whose garage, power-pop and rock'n'roll catalogue includes classics such as ‘What’s My Scene’ and ‘Come Anytime’. New Model Army follow at 20:30, bringing more than four decades of alternative rock history and a particularly strong connection with Valencian audiences, before The Damned take the stage at 22:30 to celebrate their remarkable 50-year journey through British punk and rock.

Then, at 00:30, Ocean Colour Scene will close the first night with a special celebration of Moseley Shoals, the album that turns 30 this year and gave the band some of their biggest songs, including ‘The Riverboat Song’ and ‘The Day We Caught The Train’. Between the performances, DJ sets from Luis Bonias and Eneida Fever! will keep the party moving.

Saturday brings another heavyweight combination, beginning with Swedish indie-pop favourites The Wannadies at 18:30. Gene return to Spanish stages at 20:30 for a particularly special appearance, followed at 22:30 by shoegaze pioneers Ride, whose glorious combination of guitars, melody and psychedelia should sound rather spectacular beside the Mediterranean.

Then comes the big finale, with Manic Street Preachers taking over at 00:30 for a career-spanning set that reaches from Generation Terrorists through more than three decades of monumental Welsh rock. Mario Oldies and Alesa DJ provide the musical glue between the live performances, ensuring the atmosphere continues long after one band has left the stage.

The festival experience, however, starts before anyone reaches La Marina Norte. Throughout September, Universo Visor, once again working alongside Cervezas Alhambra, has been spreading the VISOR spirit across Valencia with listening parties, talks, book presentations, concerts and special sessions built around the simple idea of slowing down and properly listening to music.

There are still two pre-festival dates to come. Friday 18 September sees Closca Bar host another Cata Acústica Momentos Alhambra, combining three beers, three specially created food pairings and three songs, with Roberto Grayd providing the soundtrack. Then, on Saturday 19 September, Loco Club hosts VISORFEST club: Un Viaje Musical A Través Del Tiempo, presented in collaboration with Discos Amsterdam, where Valencian bands Apolo, Ghost Transmission, Iris a Secas, Los Belushi and Palmera will travel through the music of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s before a DJ set from Juan Vitoria.

All of which means the VISOR countdown is now firmly into its final stretch. In a festival season increasingly obsessed with bigger stages, more bands and impossible timetables, VISOR is sticking to something much more appealing: great artists, a carefully curated programme and enough space to actually enjoy the music.

With Hoodoo Gurus, New Model Army, The Damned, Ocean Colour Scene, The Wannadies, Gene, Ride and Manic Street Preachers all heading for La Marina Norte, Valencia has two seriously heavyweight nights ahead. The stars have their times. Now we just need to wait for them to appear.

For tickets and more information: Visorfest