Neopop: Techno by the Atlantic, with nothing watered down

Neopop isn’t just Portugal’s biggest electronic music festival — it’s one of Europe’s last true techno pilgrimages. Every August, thousands make the trip north to the beautiful town of Viana do Castelo between Porto and the Spanish border, where a 16th-century fort meets a jaw-dropping soundsystem, and the BPM rarely drops below 140.

For full transparency, the team here at Portuguese Squeeze didn't make it to Neopop last year, but the 2023 edition was an unbelievable sight to behold. One minute you're walking down narrow uneven cobbled alleyways en-route to the fest, and the next you're in an open-air warehouse with the ocean behind you listening to Jeff Mills drop his maddest and baddest tunes.

Now heading into its 18th edition, Neopop 2025 is staying true to its roots: two stages, a focused lineup, a 24hr license, and no compromise on sound.

Unlike many festivals that balloon into multi-genre mashups, Neopop keeps the scope tight — but the selection deep. There are no warm-up acts. Everyone on the bill knows exactly what to do when you hand them a three-hour slot at Portugals's most famosu techno festival.

What’s New in 2025

The core format remains unchanged, and that’s part of the charm — but there are some key upgrades this year:

  • Expanded Red Bull Stage with modular lighting and new sound mapping
  • A second wave of Portuguese artists added across all days
  • Refined scheduling: longer sets, fewer clashes, more space to breathe
  • Partnerships with local collectives (including Hayes and Paraíso) on satellite programming

2025 Lineup (So far)

Neopop doesn’t drop massive posters — it rolls out names slowly, and every one of them lands. Here's who’s confirmed so far:

  • Charlotte de Witte
  • Ben Klock
  • Nina Kraviz
  • Goldie (techno set) - erm come on?!
  • Aurora Halal
  • Dax J
  • Joseph Capriati b2b Freddy K
  • Lewis Fautzi b2b The Advent
  • Colin Benders
  • Salbany (live)
  • Temudo, VIL, Lake Haze, and more

As always, it’s a mix of top-shelf techno names and Portuguese underground staples — no genre tourists, no chart-chasers.

Why It Works

Neopop isn’t reinventing the wheel. It’s perfecting it. You don’t come here for gimmicks — you come for sound, space, and precision curation. One main stage. One side stage. Everyone's dialed in.

It brings together techno heads from all over, and in 2023 even Solomon shelled it down (he was great, sorry not sorry)

And then there’s the location: Atlantic breeze, old town charm, and that unmistakable fortress skyline behind the decks. The setting feels both raw and cinematic — especially during the final sunrise set on the closing night.

Planning Tips

  • Where to stay: book early — Viana sells out fast. Look for spots in the old town or along the river.
  • Getting there: Porto is your best bet for flights, then a 1-hour train.
  • Off-site: Hit the afters in Porto or one of the Hayes/Paraíso spin-offs in Lisbon post-festival.

Final Word

Neopop keeps things focused — and that’s exactly why it still works. Come for the sound, stay for the energy, and bring earplugs. Those 24 hour tings are a madness.

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