One of Europe’s most anticipated music events, Mad Cool Festival, is gearing up to return to Madrid this July, promising another year of genre-spanning performances, world-class production, and a festival experience that continues to raise the bar. But beyond the stacked lineup and massive stages, it’s the women across the bill who are set to make the event unforgettable.

Reneé Rapp

Reneé Rapp is one of the most exciting female artists to watch right now, and her set at Mad Cool promises to be a festival highlight. Fresh off her “Bite Me tour,” Rapp has proven herself as a performer who combines powerful vocals with intense emotional honesty, creating moments that feel both personal and electrifying.

Her music, which blends pop, rock, and contemporary balladry, captures the highs and lows of love, identity, and ambition, and she delivers every song with a rare sense of urgency and authenticity. On stage, Rapp often engages with the audience in a variety of ways, from moving through the crowd to connecting directly with fans during key moments, making everyone feel like they are part of the story she is telling. She commands attention while keeping the intimacy that makes her performances feel personal, even in a large festival setting.

What makes her a must-see at Mad Cool is this combination of vocal talent, raw emotion, and stage presence. Each song becomes an experience. Whether she is belting out anthemic choruses or delivering quieter, introspective moments, Rapp pulls the audience in and keeps them captivated from start to finish. For festival-goers looking for a set that is emotionally charged, high energy, and impossible to forget, Reneé Rapp is one of the names you cannot miss.

CMAT

There is no one quite like CMAT on the Mad Cool lineup. Fresh off the U.K. leg of her tour and about to kick off the U.S. dates, CMAT has built a reputation as one of the most unpredictable, joyful, and genuinely fun artists on the scene right now.

Part of what makes CMAT so captivating is her complete refusal to be boxed in. She is wildly creative, unapologetically quirky, and completely herself on stage. Her live shows are celebrations of freedom and self-expression; the audience is invited to dance, sing, and lose themselves in the moment. Her energy is contagious, and every performance feels like a party you cannot help but join.

She recently released a playful music video with Jamie Oliver for her song “Jamie Oliver Petrol Station,” highlighting her unique mix of humor and creativity. Her track “Take a Sexy Picture of Me” became a viral sensation on TikTok, showing her ability to create fun, infectious music that connects with fans in unexpected ways.

Beyond the humor and the chaos, CMAT is deeply inspiring. She encourages people to embrace who they are, to express themselves without apology, and to find joy in the unexpected. Seeing her live is a reminder of why music can be fun, liberating, and deeply personal all at once.

Her set at Mad Cool is one you need to make time for. Come ready to dance, come ready to laugh, and come ready to experience one of the most refreshing and exciting female performers on the entire lineup.

Holly Humberstone

Holly Humberstone is one of the most compelling female artists on the Mad Cool lineup. Currently on her U.K. tour and about to head to the U.S., she is returning with her highly anticipated album Cruel World, set to be released on April 10. Three tracks are already out, “Cruel World,” “To Love Somebody,” and “Die Happy,” offering a glimpse of the emotional alt-pop she is known for. Her music blends vulnerability and strength, exploring love, loss, and personal growth with honesty and depth.

What makes Holly stand out as a woman in music is her courage to be open and real in her songwriting and performance. She creates space for emotion and reflection while showing that vulnerability is a strength. Her live shows are intimate and cinematic, with live instruments, soaring vocals, and a presence that draws the audience into every song. She engages the crowd in a way that makes everyone feel included, and her performances have a raw honesty that is both moving and inspiring.

For female fans, Holly Humberstone is an example of how to embrace your voice and express your truth. Watching her live is not just hearing music; it is seeing a woman command a stage with confidence while sharing pieces of herself. She has supported artists such as Taylor Swift, Lewis Capaldi, and Olivia Rodrigo, so she knows how to hold a large audience while still making it feel personal. At Mad Cool, her set promises to be one of the most emotionally charged and empowering moments of the festival.

Florence + The Machine

Fronted by Florence Welch, one of the most powerful and visionary female artists of her generation, Florence + the Machine returns to the festival this year following the release of Everybody Scream, the band’s sixth studio album and one of their most personal and ambitious records to date. Released on October 31, 2025, Everybody Scream dives into themes of transformation, resilience, mysticism, and raw emotional intensity, blending chamber pop, art rock, and indie influences into a sound that feels both grand and deeply human.

At a festival like Mad Cool, seeing Florence + the Machine isn’t just another set; it’s an opportunity to witness Welch at the height of her creative powers. Welch has always been known for her ability to bridge the personal and the epic, turning complex emotions into music that resonates deeply with large crowds. Her voice soars with clarity and intensity, and her presence on stage feels like entering a world entirely her own.

Whether you’re drawn to the emotional breadth of her songwriting or the sweeping, atmospheric soundscapes she constructs, this is a performance that rewards attention and invites you to feel something profound alongside thousands of other fans. Missing Florence + the Machine at Mad Cool would mean missing one of the most layered, visionary artists working today.

The Last Dinner Party

The Last Dinner Party is one of the most exciting acts on the Mad Cool lineup, and easily one of the most distinctive. Made up of five members, including women and non-binary artists, they have built a reputation for creating a world that feels completely their own.

Their album From The Pyre fully leans into what makes them so special. Their sound blends indie rock with orchestral elements, dramatic storytelling, and bold, expressive lyricism. There is something almost historic about their music, as if it belongs to another time while still feeling completely modern. Every song feels intentional, layered, and theatrical in a way that sets them apart from everyone else on the bill.

A huge part of what makes them unmissable is their visual identity. The way they dress is striking and deliberate, often drawing from vintage and historical influences that make them stand out instantly. They do not just walk on stage; they arrive with presence. Their movements, their expressions, and the way they interact with each other all add to the feeling that you are watching something closer to theatre than a standard festival set.

That sense of performance carries through everything they do. There is drama in their delivery, confidence in their stage presence, and a clear commitment to creating something memorable. It is the kind of set where you cannot just casually watch; you get pulled in, whether you expect it or not.

For fans looking for something different, something bold, and something that feels carefully crafted from start to finish, this is the one. They represent a new kind of band, one that embraces identity, storytelling, and artistry in equal measure.

At Mad Cool, The Last Dinner Party is not just another name on the lineup. They are a moment. If you are even slightly curious, go and see them. You will leave understanding exactly why they are one of the most talked-about acts right now.

Final words

Mad Cool Festival 2026 is packed with huge names and unforgettable moments waiting to happen, but it is these women who bring something deeper to the lineup. Each artist offers a completely different experience, from Reneé Rapp’s raw honesty to CMAT’s fearless energy, Holly Humberstone’s emotional depth, Florence + the Machine’s theatrical intensity, and The Last Dinner Party’s striking sense of identity and performance.

What makes them stand out is not just their music, but the way they make people feel. They create spaces where fans can connect, express themselves, and be fully present in the moment. That is what turns a good set into something unforgettable.

Mad Cool has always been a place for discovery as much as it is for big headline moments. If you are planning your time at the festival, these are the artists you need to prioritise. These are the sets that will stay with you long after you leave the event.