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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Elizabeth Gregory

Mad Cool 2023: Lizzo, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Liam Gallagher to headline the Madrid festival

Lizzo performing in California in 2022

(Picture: Getty Images)

Mad Cool, Madrid’s major July music festival, has announced some of its 2023 lineup, and artists including Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Liam Gallagher are set to take the stage at the Spanish capital.

Here’s everything else there is to know about the music festival, from more on the artists that will play next summer, to how to get your hands on tickets.

When is Mad Cool taking place?

Robbie Williams performing in Germany in 2022 (Getty Images)

Now in its eighth year, Mad Cool is running from July 6 to 8, 2023.

Even though it’s billed as a Madrid festival, it has been held at Valdebebas (a complex just north of the capital that is close to Barajas Airport) since 2018. The spot is easy to get to by using Madrid’s Metro. Attendees taking this route should use line eight, get off at stop Feria de Madrid, and then it’s just a 15-minute walk.

Who are the artists headlining Mad Cool?

Lil Nas X performing in New York in 2022 (Getty Images for Vogue)

There are some huge names heading to the festival this year. On Thursday July 6, Robbie Williams, Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Machine Gun Kelly are headling.

On Friday July 7, Queens of the Stoneage, The Black Keys and Sam Smith are at the top of the bill, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Liam Gallagher and The Prodigy will be the big closers on Saturday July 8.

And there are two major artists still yet to be announced: on the official lineup poster there are still question marks in two of the top spots on the Friday and Saturday.

Who else will be playing at Mad Cool?

The Red Hot Chili Peppers performing in Austin, Texas in 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)

In total, 54 artists have currently been confirmed to play at Mad Cool 2023 and this number is likely to rise - in 2022, more than 140 artists performed.

Playing across multiple stages, some of the artists on the roster include Sigur Rós, The 1975, Franz Ferdinand, Rina Sawayama, Paolo Nutini, Jacob Collier and Jamie XX.

Years & Years, Angel Oslen, Bombay Bicycle Club, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna and Nova Twins will also be playing at the upcoming festival.

What else is there to know?

Matthew Healy of The 1975 performing in Florida in 2022 (Getty Images for Audacy)

Mad Cool doesn’t do camping - instead, attendees are expected to book their own accommodation in the city. There are usually official hotels that are listed on Mad Cool’s website and while these options aren’t on the site yet, it’s likely that they’ll be added very soon - after all, ticket sales are imminent.

Food trucks at the festival will cater to a wide range of dietary requirements (including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free options). Last year there were over 50 food trucks, so attendees in 2023 can expect a similar range of grub options.

Are tickets available yet?

The Prodigy performing in South Korea in 2015 (Getty Images)

No, not at the moment. Santander customers will have special access to weekend tickets from December 12 at 11 am to December 15 at 10:59 am, and then to day tickets from December 26 at 11 am to December 29 at 10:59 am.

Meanwhile, general sale weekend tickets will go on sale on December 15 at 11 am, and general sale day tickets will begin on December 29 at 11 am.

Prices of tickets will be:

Santander customer presale:

Normal subscription - €175 + distribution costs.

VIP subscription - €425 + distribution expenses.

Normal day ticket - €69 + distribution costs.

VIP day ticket - €110 + distribution costs.

General sale:

Normal subscription - €189 + distribution costs.

VIP subscription - €480 + distribution costs.

Normal day ticket - €79 + distribution costs.

VIP day ticket - €185 + distribution costs.

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