PROPERTY SEARCH

Date Published: 03/07/2026

Rock Imperium kicks off today: everything you need to know before you go

From shuttle buses and cashless wristbands to what you can and can't bring through the gate, here's your practical guide to the festival

It's here. After months of anticipation, Rock Imperium Festival opens its gates today in Cartagena for its fifth edition, running Friday July 3 to Sunday July 5 at Cuesta del Batel on the city's waterfront. The festival has been selling out fast, and over 50,000 rock fans from across Spain and beyond are now expected to descend on the port city over the three days.

Iron Maiden, Within Temptation and Sabaton headline, joined by Mastodon, Anthrax, Testament, Trivium, Queensrÿche and 22 more bands completing a lineup of 30 acts. As Iron Maiden themselves once sang, "we get so near," and this weekend, fans finally get there.

Getting there and parking

The Cartagena Ayuntamiento has put a shuttle bus in place from the festival to the Rambla Shopping Centre, where free parking is available for attendees. The bus costs €1 per trip and runs across all three days, with timetables available on the Ayuntamiento website. Shuttle services have also been arranged for people travelling from further afield, including La Manga, San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Los Alcázares and Murcia city centre.

Paying at the festival

Forget fumbling for cash at the bar. Rock Imperium operates a cashless payment system, so on arrival you'll receive a wristband that can be topped up using either a credit card or cash. Food, drinks and merchandise are all covered. Lockers are also available on site if you want to store bags or belongings, and can be reserved in advance for the duration of the festival.

Bringing the family

The festival is designed to be family friendly, with a dedicated play area for children aged 4 to 12, located near the main access point. Anyone wanting to use it needs to fill out a form on the festival website in advance.

What to bring and what to leave at home

You're allowed to bring in a bottle of water up to 50cl without a cap, a sandwich or similar snack, a small backpack up to 24 litres, a compact camera and travel-size sunscreen, as long as it's not an aerosol. Glass containers, cans, large backpacks, selfie sticks, professional cameras, aerosols and beach chairs are all on the prohibited list, so it's worth checking the full list on the official website before you head in to avoid anything being confiscated at the gate.

Last-minute tickets

If you haven't got yours yet, they may still be available through the festival website or from the box office from Thursday July 2. Given how fast they've been selling, don't hang about.

Linea Directa Bottom Article M-Z CAR INSURANCE

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)