Azkena Rock Festival: history, dates and atmosphere

Azkena Rock festival Vitoria is rock history in Spain

Anyone thinking of visiting this festival must know, in broad strokes, its history. An event that continues to attract the country's most loyal rock music fans every year.

It has been 25 years since the musical event production company Last Tour International brought a few bands together in what was then known as the Azkena room (now Jimmy Jazz), for three days.

Even back then, the festival organizers showed their booking capacity and their good eye with bands like Backyard Babies, Sex Museum, Diamond Dogs or The Bellrays.

However, the event would not take long to gain momentum and recruit true rock legends such as Pearl Jam, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, Ozzy Osbourne, etc. In fact, one of the merits of the Azkena has been knowing how to combine great names with semi-unknown but always high-quality bands.

Best concerts of Azkena Rock Festival 2026

Although the times mentioned in the previous paragraph are long gone -nowadays it is rare to see superstars on the lineup-, the Azkena Rock Festival Vitoria is still capable of booking big names and avant-garde groups within the genre.

In this edition, beyond the headliners, we can highlight several groups that will surely make the audience vibrate at the Mendizabala venue. These are some of them:

The Hives (Thursday 23.35h, God stage)

Like so many other bands, the Swedes are repeating their participation in the event. Authors of anthems like 'Have to say I told you so', they will come to present the songs from their latest work 'The Hives Forever Forever The Hives'. Pure energy from this top exponent of Scandinavian rock.

Alice Cooper (Friday 12.20h, God stage)

Detroit has not only given Motown to the music world. Alice Cooper is also a son of the Michigan city. A true legend of heavy and hard rock who will display his immense repertoire on the Mendizabala stage. He is also repeating at the festival.

Alcalá Norte (Saturday 01.55h, Respect stage)

Until very recently, this type of band; Spanish, alternative rock, close to indie; had no place at the Azkena Rock Festival Vitoria. Last year Arde Bogotá successfully broke that unspoken rule. This year, Alcalá Norte will be the group in charge of flying this flag. The Madrilenians will show the audience that approaches the event that their repertoire goes beyond 'La vida cañón'.

Evaristo (Friday 01.55h, Respect stage)

There is, on the other hand, a profile of national artist who has participated regularly in the festival. Usually closer to rock, the organizers have opened the spectrum in recent times to make room for punk legends like Evaristo.

The leader of La Polla Récords or Gatillazo is from Álava but had never been part of the Azkena lineup. This 2026 he will have the opportunity to offer his fellow countrymen classics like 'Carne pa la picadora', 'Ellos dicen mierda' or 'Salve'.

Los Enemigos (Friday 19.30h, God stage)

Following the cancellation of Counting Crows, the Azkena Rock Festival Vitoria has reacted outstandingly by including one of the most relevant groups in the modern history of Spanish rock in this edition's lineup. Los Enemigos will land in the Alavese capital to provide a more than attractive contribution to the festival from the very seeds of the style within the national perimeter.

Imelda May (Thursday 21.10h, God stage)

This is also not the first time that the magnificent Irish artist has taken to the stage of the Alavese festival. Rockabilly or rock style close to blues to offer one of the proposals most loved by the Vitoria audience.

Sleaford Mods (Saturday 20.25h, Respect stage)

Many were surprised to see the name of this British duo billed at a festival that prides itself on turning to the classics. However, as mentioned above, this trend has been changing in recent years. Post-punk with practically spoken-word lyrics for this energetic gig.

What to do in Vitoria during the festival

Many of the azkeneros take advantage of this long weekend to enjoy the city's virtues during the limited free time that the event allows. What can you do during the festival?

A walk along the green ring is a magnificent option to discover the jewel in the crown of the Green Capital. You can do it by bike or on foot. It is a wonderful activity for children or families with pets.

A visit to the old town (with the Santa María Cathedral as the most visited site) is another of the most popular activities. This part of Vitoria combines several architectural styles and a lot of history.

Finally, a pintxo route through the downtown area will allow visitors to discover the highly renowned Basque gastronomy.

Where to sleep during the festival

On the other hand, accommodation is one of the primary concerns for the flood of rockers ahead of this weekend. Where can one stay for the festival? Many choose great areas close to the Azkena Rock Festival Vitoria, such as many of the properties in our portfolio. Here we recommend some good options:

• Apartahoteles Libere: located at number 45 Avenida de Gasteiz, its guests can reach the festival in about fifteen minutes.

• Hotel Ciudad de Vitoria: if proximity is the determining factor, nothing beats this four-star hotel less than ten minutes from the event. Portal de Castilla, 8.

• La Casa de los Arquillos: this option proposes getting to know the city center from its historic quarter. An accommodation with real charm on the slopes of the old part. Paseo de Los Arquillos, 1.

• Hotel Canciller Ayala: this is an intermediate option. Next to the center and in front of Florida Park, but also about twenty minutes from the festival. Ramón y Cajal, 5.

Frequently asked questions about the Azkena Rock Festival Vitoria: atmosphere, activities, prices, accommodation

There are many questions that any music fan asks before attending the Alavese rock event. We try to answer some of them:

What are the most outstanding bands? The Hives, Evaristo, Alcalá Norte, Imelda May, Los Enemigos…

What can you do during the festival? Beyond the parallel activities related to the event -which we will talk about later-, a visit to the green ring, the old town or a pintxo route can round out this weekend.

Where can one stay? From rural houses in the surroundings to hotels, aparthotels and apartments. A few lines above we discussed some options. Hurry up, as accommodations usually fill up on these dates.

Are there parallel activities? Yes. Numerous concerts are organized in the city around this event, highlighting the Osteguna rock, the previous Thursday in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca.

What are the prices for the Azkena Rock Festival? Although prices may vary, a full festival pass costs 150 euros, Thursday's ticket costs 60, and Friday and Saturday tickets cost 75 each. Attendees between 15 and 30 years old will be able to see the entire event for 100 euros.

What are the festival schedules? On Thursday the event will kick off at 18:15. Both Friday and Saturday, the festival will start at 17:30. The concerts usually extend until around three in the morning, although the biggest partygoers can keep going with different DJs for about three more hours.

Is the venue accessible? Yes. Contrary to what happens at other festivals, you can access the festival by taking a walk from almost any point in the city.

How can I get to the festival? Either on foot, by public transport or by taxi. In Vitoria there are no transport companies like Uber, Cabify and similar.

What gastronomic offering is there at the festival? There are numerous food trucks that vary every year. Burgers, kebabs, pizza and other variants of street food are the main choices.

How many stages does the festival host? It is a medium-sized festival. There are three open-air stages and the Trashville, which is covered and hosts more groundbreaking proposals.