FKA Twigs and David Byrne Headline Bilbao BBK Live 2026 Opening Night, Turning Eusexua Into Full-Body Theater
Spain's Bilbao BBK Live, the annual festival held in the Basque Country, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026. On opening day — July 10, 2026 — FKA Twigs and David Byrne played back-to-back sets, with Calvin Harris closing out the night as headliner. The festival returns to its Mount Cobetas hillside site, which has previously hosted top-billed acts including The xx, Depeche Mode, and Gorillaz. This report is based on on-site coverage by NME journalist Lisa Wright.
FKA Twigs: Eusexua as Physical Theater
FKA Twigs (real name Tahliah Barnett) opened her nearly hour-long set on a large white bed, joined by a troupe of dancers dyed the same cherry-red hue. The performance centered on her 2025 album Eusexua, which NME awarded five stars, describing it as a record that "celebrates late-night abandon and unrestrained desire."
During the show, dancers contorted their bodies over chairs to the mechanical stutter of "Drums Of Death." FKA Twigs later changed into a chainmail headpiece and metal corset, pressing her boot heel into a dancer's back during "HARD." On the title track "Eusexua," she stood alone under a spotlight at center stage as dancers used mirrored panels to redirect light toward her — a staged embodiment of late-night soul-meeting-soul intimacy.
David Byrne: Political Messaging Wrapped in Party Energy
Taking over the San Miguel stage after FKA Twigs, David Byrne brought a completely different energy — according to NME, his set was arguably the most joyful, warmest hour of the entire weekend. Both performances shared a key trait: each brought a full ensemble of performers and reimagined live music presentation in a distinctly original way. Byrne likewise used tightly choreographed movement to turn political messaging into collective, uplifting celebration.
Earlier in the day, Spanish rock band Alcalá Norte staged a surprise pop-up set beneath the festival's large signage, while rising acts Hemlocke Springs and Radio Free Alice also performed. A bout of summer rain added to the nomadic atmosphere of opening night.