Mad Cool Talent 2026: Vibra Mahou opens call for entries
The organizers of Mad Cool festival and Vibra Mahou have announced the opening of applications for Mad Cool Talent 2026, one of Europe’s most notable competitions for emerging artists. The project will once again give musicians the chance to perform at the festival’s tenth-anniversary edition, which will take place in Madrid from 8 to 11 July 2026.
How to Apply
Applications are now open and will remain available until 7 December 2025 at 23:59.
To participate, musicians must upload a video performing a song on Instagram or TikTok, following the contest’s guidelines. The selection process will unfold in several stages:
- evaluation by an expert jury made up of music industry professionals;
- public voting, which traditionally has a meaningful influence on the final ranking;
- publication of the finalists’ list on 1 January 2026.
For many participants, this platform becomes a genuine entry point into the professional music scene. Past editions of Mad Cool Talent have helped artists like Veintiuno, Marlena, Leo Rizzi, Repion, Lusillón, among others, who are now well-established on the Spanish music scene.
Why the 2026 Edition Is Particularly Significant
The upcoming Mad Cool edition will celebrate its tenth anniversary. The organizers have already unveiled most of the lineup, and it is shaping up to be one of the festival’s most ambitious editions to date.
Over the four July days, more than 70 international artists will perform, including:
Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Pulp, Moby, Wolf Alice, and many more.
The winners of Mad Cool Talent will be integrated directly into this lineup, making the contest one of the most important career-boosting opportunities for emerging musicians in Europe.
A Historic Moment: Jennie of BLACKPINK as Headliner
One of the most notable highlights of the lineup is the participation of Jennie (BLACKPINK), who will perform on 9 July 2026.
She becomes:
- the only K-pop artist included in the festival’s lineup,
- the first K-pop soloist to headline one of Mad Cool’s festival days.
Her appearance continues her growing international trajectory, following her milestone in 2025 when she became the first K-pop solo artist to perform a dedicated set on one of Coachella’s major stages.
A Unique Opportunity for the Next Generation of Musicians
Mad Cool’s tenth-anniversary edition is already considered one of Europe’s most anticipated music events of the year. Winning Mad Cool Talent in 2026 means performing in front of tens of thousands of people, sharing the stage with world-renowned artists, and attracting the attention of an industry that closely follows the contest each year.
The organizers emphasize that their goal is not only to discover new talent but also to help emerging artists establish themselves professionally. For many musicians, participation in the project marks a decisive turning point in their careers.
