A massive new player is entering the European festival circuit as Rhythm + Waves prepares for its debut edition on the golden sands of the Algarve, Portugal. Billed as Europe’s biggest global rap and electronic music beach festival, the event will take over Praia da Rocha in Portimão from Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th June 2026. The organisers have revealed a star-studded first wave of artists, featuring headliners Gunna, Ken Carson, Chase & Status, and D-Block Europe, alongside special guest A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, promising a “future facing destination event” for music fans.
Designed to unite the biggest names in global rap and electronic culture, the festival’s debut lineup reflects a significant cross-pollination of modern sounds. Gunna, fresh from a run of chart-topping releases, leads the charge as one of the most influential voices in contemporary rap, while Opium movement leader Ken Carson brings his futuristic Atlanta sound to the beach setting. Electronic music giants Chase & Status join the top tier of the bill, with the drum and bass icons set to deliver the high-energy performances that have defined their two-decade legacy. They are joined by UK rap heavyweights D-Block Europe, who have reshaped British rap with their record-breaking arena tours and mixtapes.
Tickets for this monumental debut will be available starting next week. Priority access to tickets begins with the Pre-sale on Wednesday 3rd December at 10am GMT, followed by the General Sale on Thursday 4th December at 10am GMT. Fans can sign up for access via the official festival website to secure their spot at what organisers describe as a “premium festival escape with no compromise,” combining world-class production with expansive ocean views.
The festival’s layout will feature three distinct major stages, each curated to champion specific sounds. The Wake Stage will host rap frontrunners including Destroy Lonely, Lancey Foux, and international stars like Spain’s Morad and France’s Gazo. Meanwhile, the Centre East Stage will be the home of bass and drum & bass, featuring heavyweights such as Hybrid Minds, Andy C, DJ EZ, and Skream performing a 140 set. The Centre West Stage will offer a cutting-edge house and techno programme curated by Portugal’s biggest dance festival, NEOPOP, with artists for this stage still to be announced.
Rhythm + Waves is placing a strong emphasis on international diversity, showcasing the global surge of rap and urban culture. The lineup includes Brazilian trailblazers CHEFIN and MC Cabelinho, bringing funk and hip hop energy, alongside French sensation La Mano 1.9 and Portugal’s own Wet Bed Gang. With 30 more artists still to be revealed, the festival is shaping up to be a major cultural convergence, uniting “global heavyweights with emerging pioneers” for an unmissable summer adventure in 2026.
Rhythm + Waves 2026 Lineup
- Wake Stage: Ken Carson, Gunna, D-Block Europe, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Destroy Lonely, Gazo, Morad, MC Cabelinho, Chefin, Lancey Foux, La Mano 1.9, MC Rodrigo do CN, Wet Bed Gang
- Centre East Stage: Chase & Status, Hybrid Minds, Andy C, Flava D b2b Arthi, DJ EZ, Camo & Krooked b2b Bou, Skream (140 Set), SHERELLE
- Centre West Stage: House & Techno hosted by Neopop (Artists TBA)
