Benicassim 2016 lineup
The Benicassim 2016 lineup marked one of the festival’s most diverse years, leaning heavily into electronic music, hip-hop and indie rock. With Muse, Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer and The Chemical Brothers headlining, FIB 2016 delivered a strong blend of global superstars, rising artists and beloved Spanish bands across four long, hot nights by the Mediterranean.
The atmosphere at FIB 2016 was described by reviewers as a “non-stop party”, with crowds flocking back to the arena each night as temperatures cooled. Electronic music played a major role throughout the weekend, while indie fans enjoyed standout sets from The Vaccines, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Hinds and The Maccabees. Spanish acts such as Soledad Vélez, La M.O.D.A. and Delorean added strong national flavour, while a younger crowd embraced the EDM-heavy late-night schedule.
FIB 2016 at a glance
- Dates: 14–17 July 2016
- Headliners: Muse, Kendrick Lamar, The Chemical Brothers (live), Major Lazer
- Genres: Rock, Hip-hop, Electronic, Indie, Spanish Alternative
- Notable acts: Disclosure, The 1975, The Vaccines, Jamie xx, Massive Attack, The Maccabees
Benicassim 2016 lineup by day
Thursday 14 July 2016
Featured artists
- Muse – explosive, high-production headline
- Soledad Vélez
- Hinds
- L.A.
- Ramirez Exposure
- La Habitación Roja
- The Soft Moon
Muse made a dramatic return to Spain with a spectacular, arena-sized production. Fans praised the huge visuals, tight setlist and trademark energy, with many calling them the biggest band to headline FIB since the late 2000s.
Friday 15 July 2016
Main performances
- Kendrick Lamar
- Disclosure
- The Vaccines
- The Coral
- Catfish & The Bottlemen
- Hannah Wants
- Kill The Hipsters
- La M.O.D.A.
- Soledad Vélez
Kendrick Lamar delivered one of the most talked-about headline sets of the year, mixing tracks from To Pimp A Butterfly with earlier hits. Reviews described the crowd energy as “electric”. Disclosure followed with a late-night dance finale that turned the main stage into a mass rave.
Saturday 16 July 2016
Key artists
- Major Lazer
- The Maccabees
- Jamie xx
- Rat Boy
- Perlita
- Delorean
- La Mujer Barbuda
Major Lazer brought one of the biggest parties of the weekend, complete with pyrotechnics, dancers and the famous inflatable zorb moment. Jamie xx added a cooler, more atmospheric electronic set earlier in the night, while The Maccabees performed one of their final festival tours before splitting the following year.
Sunday 17 July 2016
Main stage highlights
- The Chemical Brothers (live)
- Massive Attack
- The 1975
- Walk Off The Earth
- DJ Barely Legal
- Bleachers
The Chemical Brothers delivered an astonishing audiovisual finale, with reviews calling their show “a masterclass in electronic performance”. Earlier that night, Massive Attack brought heavy visuals with politically charged themes, while The 1975 had one of the biggest crowds of their early career.
What Benicassim 2016 felt like
Festival-goers often describe 2016 as a turning point: the year FIB embraced a more electronic and hip-hop heavy identity. While the rock and indie backbone remained, EDM and large-scale dance productions dominated the late-night schedule, attracting a younger audience and shifting the festival’s energy.
Daytime temperatures hit over 30°C, pushing most people to the beach before returning to the arena around sunset. Nights stretched long into the early morning, with DJ sets running until sunrise. Reviews from NME, Gigwise and MusicFestivalWizard all praised the diversity of genres and the strength of the headliners.
In many ways, Benicassim 2016 represents the festival’s evolution — a blend of classic alternative acts, modern electronic producers and new-generation hip-hop stars.
Further reading & archives
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