Bilbao BBK Live announces free concerts throughout city as more line-up additions are made

Bilbao BBK Live has confirmed dates for free concerts throughout the city as more line-up additions are made.

This year will feature headline performances from Pulp, Kylie Minogue, and Raye, as well as performances from Sparks, Fat Dog, and Wunderhorse. A full line-up for the festival can be found on the Bilbao BBK Live website, which features over one hundred artists. The festival has since confirmed Kneecap, as well as Sr. Chinarro, Ultraligera, and Grande Amore will feature at this year’s festival. A statement from the festival confirmed the Kneecap trio, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, would perform. The statement reads: “In times of conflict and censorship, music remains an essential loudspeaker and Bilbao BBK Live will always be a space for voices that provoke, question, and refuse to stay silent.

“Kneecap’s appearance in Kobetamendi on July 11 is an act of cultural resistance, a celebration of freedom of expression and of those, like them, who aren’t afraid to speak out against injustice. The Belfast trio, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, are known for their political provocation and proud identity, blending Gaelic rap with punk attitude to challenge the establishment.”

The announcement of Kneecap featuring on the line-up comes as Bilbao BBK Live confirms three days of free-access concerts in the city. Their statement on free concerts reads: “Since 2011, Bereziak has extended the spirit of Bilbao BBK Live into the streets of the city with three days of free-access concerts.

“A collaboration between Fundación Industrias Creativas and the festival, this programme serves as a cultural catalyst, fostering inclusion, encouraging participation, and enriching the community through music and creativity, going beyond the limits of the festival.”

It comes as Communication Director Eva Castillo told Cult Following this year’s festival was “carefully curated” and featured a series of first-time Bilbao BBK Live performances for many artists.

She said: “Every festival has its own character. In our case, Bilbao BBK Live is not just about music: it’s about food, nature, local culture, and a city with a strong identity. The proximity between the venue and Bilbao’s city centre allows festivalgoers to immerse themselves in the city — a 24-hour experience, especially as part of the musical programme also takes place in town during the day.

“The scale of the festival is also very balanced: large enough to attract major acts, but with an intimate and carefully curated atmosphere. All of this, while remaining firmly rooted in the local context. That combination of setting, musical quality, and authenticity is rare — and we believe it’s our strongest asset.

“Bilbao BBK Live has been a key ingredient in the city’s international projection as a cultural destination. Each summer, thousands of people travel to Bilbao for the festival, but also for its gastronomy, nearby beaches, and cultural offerings such as the Guggenheim and the Fine Arts Museum.