Best sonar kits 2025 in Barcelona

Did you attend SONAR 2025 in Barcelona? Are you thinking about reaching the 2026 edition? Check out the top 6 collections from Sónar 2025 and be sure to tell me about your favorite acts from this year too!

As always, I need to preface this list by saying that there are many great works this year, some of which have become new favorites, others that didn’t quite hit the mark for me, and it’s all a matter of personal taste. A bunch of killer acts didn’t fit into my schedule throughout Sónar’s three music days, some of the ones I was looking forward to fell through a bit and I ended up exploring some new and previously unknown acts. That’s just the nature of large-scale festivals and packed lineups, and part of what I love about Sónar is that even if you deviate from your plan you’re sure to find something interesting!

If you’re looking for the official Sónar 2025 guide to Barcelona’s legendary festival, you can find it here.

Keep reading below for the top 6 sets from Sónar 2025 (in no particular order)!

Best sonar kits 2025 in Barcelona

Nathi Peluso

Photo credit: Carlotta Serrarolles

The Argentine-born, Spanish-raised singer ditched GRASA last year, and the energy she brought to the stage lived up to the album’s hype. In recent years, I’ve tended to move away from the main stage and hang around the “smaller” acts (actually not small stages, but easier to navigate and in my opinion better sound quality), but Nathi Peluso has been a must-visit venue for me. The mix of reggaeton, hip-hop and traditional styles was the perfect recipe to kick off the final night of the festival.

Dixon

The famous German selector is one of my favorite DJs due to his constant stream of unreleased IDs and flawless blending of different styles of electronic music. On Saturday, we left the sensual magic of Eric Prydz early in order to catch the full collection of the cult curator. And it did not disappoint! One of my favorite moments of a wonderful weekend.

DEE DIGGS b2b ULTRA NATÉ

Just before 5am, the rain came down and cooled the dance floor, and only two songs continued to inform the heavy set filled with popular anthems to end the weekend on everything from experimentation to industry to breaks. Eventually, the floor was filled as Brooklyn-based house expert Dee Diggs delivered classic after classic alongside the genre’s heroine, Ultra Nate. The peak moment was definitely singing “Free” with a huge crowd at Sunrise at Sonar!

Pa saliu

Image source: Neria Cole

My group and I planned to catch just two songs from British singer Pau Saliu, who brought his unique blend of African beats and hip-hop to the Sónar Lab x Printworks stage. His energy and presence, in front of a killer live band, kept us there until the end of his set! When I mention catching unplanned or unknown actions, that’s exactly what I love about Sónar. In almost every release, I find myself drawn to a stage outside of my original schedule and end up loving it.

Hiroko Yamamura

Chicago legend Hiroko Yamamura was the absolute gem of Sonar 2025. Hailing from the Windy City, he embodies what great techno music of the late ’90s and early 2000s was all about. Track after track brought lively buildups, sustained and interesting mixes, and perfectly timed drops. Don’t miss it if you have the chance!

Skrillex b2b palawan

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see Palawan, one of my favorite producers in recent years, perform at Sónar By Day on Thursday. Due to this scheduling conflict, I broke up with my friends on Saturday when they went to see Armin van Buuren b2b Indira Paganotta and went solo to Blawan and Skrillex’s bass-heavy b2b. It was one of the best decisions I made all weekend, as I was treated to a surprising (for those more familiar with Skrillex’s American EDM hits of years past) mix of dirty breaks, real old dubstep, and heavy down beats to keep my feet moving.

Best sonar kits 2025 in Barcelona

Did I miss any of your favorite acts from this year’s Sonar Festival in Barcelona? Feel free to drop a line on social media or in the comments and let me know what you think!