Mad Cool Festival 2026, Day 3: Halsey, Pixies, Cliffords and Interpol Take Over Madrid
Mad Cool Festival 2026's third day landed in Madrid, swinging hard away from the pop-leaning first two days into alternative rock territory. Halsey, Pixies, Irish newcomers Cliffords, Interpol, and headliners Twenty One Pilots took the stage in turn, delivering what's being called one of the festival's strongest lineups yet in its 10th anniversary year. The following highlights are drawn from NME's on-the-ground review.
From Halsey's chains to Pixies' 40 World Tour
Halsey (6:55pm, Region Of Madrid stage) opened by demanding the crowd jump and drop — and wasn't shy about calling out lukewarm energy: "I thought this was the coolest festival in Spain?" The setlist leaned rock, with a punchy "Nightmare," a crushing "I Am Not A Woman, I'm A God," and even a riff-heavy rework of her Chainsmokers collaboration "Closer." The peak came during "Dog Years," when she broke free of chains wrapped around her neck, followed by a fire-and-staircase-staging finale that kept the visuals maxed out throughout.
Pixies (8:20pm, Region Of Madrid stage) returned to Mad Cool after a four-year absence, bringing their ongoing 40 World Tour. Pixies merch was reportedly more visible in the crowd than any other act's that day. The set swung between quiet and explosive: "Monkey Gone To Heaven," "Here Comes Your Man," and a cover of Peter Ivers and David Lynch's "In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)" carried a loose, dreamy atmosphere, while "Nimrod's Son"'s punk edge and the sheer force of "Debaser" matched the intensity of the day's headliners.
Also that evening, at 9:45pm, Cork newcomers Cliffords delivered a surprise standout in the Mahou Cinco Estrellas tent. Despite going up against Pixies' set and a World Cup match between Spain and Belgium on the outdoor big screen, the tent was packed. Frontwoman Iona Lynch commanded the room throughout — "My Favourite Monster" added trumpet arrangements for an indie-noir feel reminiscent of The National, while the transition from "Sleeping With Ghosts" into "Bittersweet" showed ambition well beyond a tent-stage slot. New tracks "Horses And Divorces" and "Off My Back" (a punk-meets-desert-rock cut) were singled out by NME as the day's most notable highlights.
Mad Cool's 10th anniversary
This year marks Mad Cool Festival's 10th anniversary. Day 3's full lineup also included Kings Of Leon, Interpol, and headliners Twenty One Pilots, who closed out the night with high-flying stunts and big hooks. The festival's fourth and final day has also already taken place. This article is based on NME's coverage, originally written by Rhian Daly, Liberty Dunworth, and Andrew Trendell.