Rock Imperium Festival draws 50,000 fans to Cartagena, boosting local economy

The 2026 edition of the Rock Imperium Festival in Cartagena, Spain, attracted more than 50,000 attendees from over 40 countries, making it the largest edition to date. Headliners such as Iron Maiden, who performed to an audience of about 20,000, alongside Within Temptation, Sabaton, Anthrax, Trivium, Mastodon and others, turned Parque El Batel into a major rock‑and‑metal gathering.

The festival generated an estimated economic impact of over €15 million for the municipality, helped by auxiliary events like the Rock Imperium Tapas Route that involved around twenty local establishments. Organisers announced that the next edition will take place on 2‑4 July 2027, with early‑season lineup announcements that include Helloween, Children of Bodom, Mayhem, Venom and Swedish vocalist Erik Grönwall.