One of the two new festivals is AI and Music Festival, which will be organised by Sónar alongside the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC), béteve and the European Commission as part of the S+T+ARTS initiative.

The AI and Music Festival, which takes place in Barcelona on 27 and 28 October, will focus on the "application of and challenges surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence in musical creation", according to a press release. In the build up to the October event, Sónar and the UPC will form a Thinking Lab to promote a discussion around art, science, technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Sónar's second 2021 festival is SónarCCCB (Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture), which takes place on 29 and 30 October and will include live performances, debates and demonstrations as part of the Sónar+D conference.

While both festivals will be in-person events, Sónar is also expanding its online content under the title #ThisIsSonar, which will be produced in collaboration with local and international partners.

Sónar's new events "will feature over 60 activities" according to Sónar's statement on Twitter, and will be "presented in hybrid format, mainly live and in-situ, but with an important digital and online component."

As well as announcing the new events and expanded online content, Sónar organisers have postponed Sónar Barcelona 2021 until June 2022. The statement reads, "The case numbers, mobility restrictions, and the lack of applicable legislation for the organisation of large events has made the celebration of the festival in the conditions required unviable. First details of the line-up will be announced soon."

Sónar returns with two new festivals in Barcelona in Autumn 2021, and will be active year round, digitally and physically around the world. The new dates for our June edition are 15.16.17.18 June 2022, and its shaping up to be historic! More news very soon #ThisIsSonar pic.twitter.com/3bSMC2BY36

— Sónar Festival (@SonarFestival) March 25, 2021