Warm Up

The Region of Murcia has long since stopped being a “promising newcomer” on Spain’s cultural map. At this point, it isone of the country’s beating creative hearts—and WARM UP Estrella de Levante is a big reason why. After an edition that broke attendance records, pumped millions into the local economy, and reaffirmed Murcia as a powerhouse for live music, the festival is gearing up for another seismic return to La Fica on May 1st and 2nd, 2026.

Today, WARM UP kicks things into motion with its first lineup announcement—along with the news that passes are officially back on sale. And this first wave is anything but timid. Think global icons, national heavyweights, and the kind of fresh, boundary-pushing talent that keeps the scene evolving. On deck: Fatboy Slim, Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos Ares, León Benavente, Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, Veintiuno, Las Petunias, Riria, Viva Belgrado, Fukcnormal and Ruptura.

Fatboy Slim leads the charge, a giant whose name alone electrifies any festival bill. The big-beat pioneer continues to be a force of nature in 2025, a DJ whose shows feel less like sets and more like spiritual awakenings powered by funky breakbeats, house, acid textures, and pure rave ecstasy. His ability to blur the line between rock swagger and electronic chaos has made him a multigenerational phenomenon—and a guaranteed highlight for #WARMUP2026.

Sharing the upper ranks is Guitarricadelafuente, one of the most magnetic voices of his generation. He arrives in a moment of artistic transformation following Spanish Leather, an album that dives deep into Iberian and Latin American folk roots while reimagining tradition through a modern, emotional lens. It’s the sound of an artist levelling up—and Murcia gets him right in the glow of that evolution.

The lineup continues with Carlos Ares, a multitalented musician whose introspective new release, La Boca del Lobo, cements him as one of the most distinctive young voices in the national scene. With more than a decade of craft behind him, Ares stands out for his versatility and idiosyncratic creative identity.

Also joining the bill: indie-rock titans León Benavente, a band that has been delivering razor-sharp social commentary and explosive live energy since 2012. Their unwavering intensity and genre-blending approach have made them an essential reference point in Spain’s alternative landscape.

From the opposite end of the spectrum—but with an equally loyal cult following—come Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, whose raw, distorted folk and visceral aesthetic have turned them into one of the most talked-about revelations of the moment. Their sound, rooted deeply in rural authenticity, feels both ancient and radically new.

Rounding out the pop and indie universe are Veintiuno, arriving in full creative bloom, and Las Petunias, a Madrid trio injecting riot-grrrl spirit and jangly electricity into the city’s new indie vanguard.

The festival’s electronic pulse expands with Riria, the young artist blending bedroom pop and intimate electronica with an aesthetic that’s already caught international attention—her 2024 Boiler Room Tokyo session racked up over a million views and catapulted her onto everyone’s “next big thing” list.

Meanwhile, Córdoba’s Viva Belgrado bring emotional post-hardcore at its purest intensity. With Cancionero de los Cielos, a record that introduces keys, melody, and even a ranchera into their previously progressive formula, the band promises one of the most cathartic performances of the entire festival.

On the more experimental end, WARM UP rolls out the rising techno-glitch alchemy of Fukcnormal and the raw, noise-driven punk energy of Ruptura—two names representing the festival’s continuing commitment to underground culture and sonic risk-taking.

With this first announcement, WARM UP Estrella de Levante signals another edition packed with surprises, new spaces, and bold artistic proposals. As always, the festival’s impact will ripple far beyond the stages—boosting local hospitality, tourism, and Murcia’s ever-expanding creative ecosystem.

Festival passes for May 1st and 2nd are now available from €65.99 (limited quantity) at warmupfestival.es.