Since its origins, Cruïlla has positioned itself as an event that goes beyond music: a space for thought, society, and commitment. And this will is reflected in its solidarity actions this year. Together with the platform Worldcoo they have created a micro-donation campaign called "Cruïlla per Gaza", which raises money to send humanitarian aid to people suffering from the war in Gaza. The festival audience, when buying their ticket, can round up the purchase price to allocate the money to this campaign; so far, they have almost €1,500 saved cent by cent.
But that's not all: within the festival, this year we will also find Espai Transforma't, a space articulated under the claim "Jo no ballo amb l'odi" ("I don't dance with hate"), which proposes a very innovative experiment: the sessions of the guest DJs will suddenly stop to transmit messages against hate and in favor of respect for human rights. Speeches against racism, against gender violence, against homophobia, etc., are what we will hear every time the music stops and voices are raised.
The psychology of micro-donation
Tania Quintero, CEO of Worldcoo, explains that the great secret of massive fundraising lies in the perfect intersection between technology and the buyer's emotional moment: "When you are buying a ticket for your favorite festival, a precise empathy is created. You are in a moment of satisfaction, you have very high optimism and your sensitive fuel goes up a bit," Quintero details. In this microsecond of happiness, if technology asks the right question in a simple way, the match is immediate. It's not about asking for large fortunes, but about adding euro after euro.
Since its inception, Worldcoo has raised more than 24 million euros based on micro-donations that, on average, barely exceed 18 cents per user. In the case of Cruïlla, where a rounding up or a contribution of 2 euros is proposed at the time of purchase, the public has massively turned out from the first minute, exceeding 1,500 euros in just the first days of the campaign.
Cruïlla for Gaza: humanitarian aid where large NGOs do not reach
The funds raised through this digital channel have a very clear and urgent destination: provision of drinking water, distribution of essential food, and basic support for families suffering an extreme humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. But how is it guaranteed that this money will not be lost along the way? Distrust towards large NGOs is one of the main deterrents for donors, and this is where traceability becomes crucial.
Worldcoo operates under a European-level audited selection process. In the case of this campaign, they have relied on a social entity that has been working on the ground in Palestine for over 20 years. "It's an association that works a lot in places where large NGOs sometimes don't reach, reaching much more remote areas," explains Pau Roca, the deputy director of Festival Cruïlla.
To ensure transparency, the Worldcoo platform initially sends 50% of the funds, requests proof of payment, receipts, and project certificates, and only then releases the remaining half. Additionally, donors can track the fundraising and request their tax certificate in real time through specific portals like cruilla.worldcoo.com. The entity in Gaza, as it receives the resources, generates summary videos of each shipment to show exactly how many families have received the aid.
The automatic closure of the wristband
Beyond the moment of ticket purchase, the festival has designed a second very ingenious donation moment linked to the dynamics of the venue itself. Unlike other large events where returning the remaining money from the cashless wristband requires the attendee to expressly request it through a website during specific days, Cruïlla makes the refund completely automatically.
And it is in this post-festival process where a key solidarity measure has been applied: all attendees who are left with a remaining balance of less than two euros on their wristband will see this small amount directly allocated to the Gaza campaign. The organization will deploy a prior communication campaign so that everyone is aware. In case someone prefers to receive every last cent, they will only have to load five euros before leaving the venue for the system to automatically return the full amount. An easy formula that converts the "leftovers" that are normally forgotten into money destined for real humanitarian aid.
I don't dance with hate
But the commitment of the 2026 edition also physically extends to the venue through the Espai Transforma't, a space born from direct collaboration with the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD) and featuring the musical programming of Jazztrònica.
The proposal is a journey that invites reflection on inequalities, human rights, and global justice. Its operation, as recognized by the organization, represents an unprecedented technical challenge in the festival's history: throughout the different DJ sessions, the music abruptly stops to give way to a collective action. For a few moments of silence, the audience is confronted with messages of coexistence and solidarity. Under the slogan "I don't dance with hate," this space demonstrates that "silence is our loudspeaker." Additionally, exclusive videos will be projected on the screens where the artists themselves from the lineup show their support for the initiative.
The programming of this stage will be divided into three days dedicated to the rhythms and realities of different territories of the Global South. The inaugural day on Thursday, July 9, will focus on Latin American sounds, especially from Colombia and Central America (priority areas for Catalan cooperation). The music will be provided by La Ká (7:00 p.m.), Mama's Gun (9:00 p.m.) and will conclude with the beats of Angela Blackburn (11:00 p.m.).
On Friday, July 10, the space will travel towards the cultural richness of sub-Saharan Africa, with sounds inspired by Mozambique, Congo, or Senegal. The rhythm will be set by Golfo de Guinea (7:00 p.m.), DJ Owey (9:00 p.m.), and Djane Karma (11:00 p.m.). The final assault will arrive on Saturday, July 11, dedicated to the identity and cultural dialogue of the Mediterranean basin, with a focus on Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, and Palestine. Those in charge of making the dance floor beat will be Pierre Antoine (7:00 p.m.), Hajar (9:00 p.m.), and Soumeya (11:00 p.m.).
"Festivals are increasingly less a simple musical event and more a far-reaching communicative platform."
Festivals as communicative platforms
"Festivals are increasingly less a simple musical event and more a far-reaching communicative platform," reflects Pau Roca when evaluating the social responsibility of the organization. Having thousands of people physically gathered in the same space and connected through music generates a loudspeaker of incalculable value that must be used meaningfully.
Neutrality no longer sells because today's audience demands coherence. "I don't know if a festival can afford to be neutral, but I think less and less. The consumer is very demanding with the entertainment they consume and cares about many things beyond the artist lineup," concludes Roca.
Sustainability, healthy business values, and a quick reaction to international emergencies are the invisible headliners of the 2026 edition of the Cruïlla Festival.