From 17 to 19 March 2026, Asunciónico celebrated its sixth edition with three days full of music and passionate fans. People travelled not only from Luque, where the festival took place at Parque Olímpico, but from across the country and even abroad.
Mosh pits and energised crowds
The main attraction of the first day at Asunciónico 2026 was the nu metal band Deftones. The American band returned to Paraguay after 15 years. With classics such as “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Rosemary”, the band took the main stage gracefully. Fans responded energetically, with large mosh pits and leaving their voices worn out by the intensity of the performance.
Before them, Interpol prepared both the stage and the crowd. This was the fourth time the New York indie band performed in the country. With their characteristic dark sound and atmosphere, the band made fans sing and jump throughout the set. As one fan mentioned, “They are practically family at this point. I think that every time people come to see them, they get more into their show.” Despite having a new album on the way, Interpol played their classic hits, such as “Slow Hands” and “Evil”.
The debut acts of the day were Viagra Boys and Turnstile. Viagra Boys, a Swedish post-punk band, performed and quickly energised the crowd, encouraging jumping and mosh pits. Their singer, Sebastian Murphy, even stepped down from the stage to join fans directly. Turnstile, on the other hand, unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the first day. The American band, currently one of the most talked-about acts in the global music scene, delivered a vibrant performance. As a hardcore punk band, the band sparked massive mosh pits, with one fan saying, “I survived the Turnstile show at Asunciónico.”
To close the day, American DJ Skrillex took the stage, returning to Paraguay after 11 years. Skrillex is a DJ and producer who helped popularise dubstep worldwide. He performed classics like “Bangarang” and “Where Are Ü Now.” Fans danced, sang, and jumped, bringing the first day to a powerful close.
A sunlit celebration led by female artists
On Day 2 of the Asunciónico 2026, after cloudy and rainy days, the sun came out stronger than ever, setting the stage for a line-up led by female pop artists. Headliner Sabrina Carpenter took the stage for her own debut performance in Paraguay. With hits like “Manchild” and “Espresso”, she had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs.
Another headliner was New Zealand artist Lorde, who delivered a powerful show that had fans singing, screaming, and even crying. After 13 years in the industry, she performed hits “Green Light” and “Ribs” in Paraguay for the first time. During her set, she shared that she had visited Mercado 4, the Botanical Garden, and the Museum of National History. Both headliners made an effort to connect with the audience by using Guaraní phrases, which made their performances feel even more special.
Paraguayan acts 411y, and Aleshit opened the festival, each performing on her respective stage. They were followed by Argentine Six Sex, who delivered a bold and electrifying set, and Mexican band The Warning, who brought an energetic performance to the crowd.
As the sun began to set, Addison Rae took the stage with a lively show, joined by a group of dancers who elevated the performance. She performed songs such as “Aquamarine” and “Headphones On.” Doechii followed, getting the audience dancing and singing along to hits like “Anxiety” and “Denial Is A River.” The night closed with DJ Gordo, who ensured the festival ended on a high-energy, party-filled note.
Rock takes over the final day
On Day 3, rock fans were in for a treat. One of the most anticipated moments of the Asunciónico 2026 came with headliner The Killers, who returned to Paraguay for the third time. Notably, the country was one of their only stops in South America in 2026. The audience erupted as they performed iconic hits like “Mr. Brightside” and “Smile Like You Mean It”, turning the festival grounds into a massive sing-along.
The line-up continued with Argentine indie band El Mató a un Policía Motorizado, whose song “El Tesoro” drew an enthusiastic response, and Uruguayan group No Te Va Gustar, who had fans singing along to “A Las Nueve.” Day 3 had Paraguayan bands Nott Demian, A Días de Júpiter, and Los Ollies, who set the tone with strong local energy. They were followed by Chilean group Supernova, performing their well-known track “Maldito Amor”, and Argentine artist Yami Safdie, who captivated the crowd with “En Otra Vida.”
The night came to a close with YSY A, who brought a completely different energy to the stage, making the crowd jump and dance until the very end.
One of the best editions in years
Overall, Asuncionico 2026 proved to be a resounding success and one of the festival’s best editions. With no rain interrupting the experience this time, fans were able to fully enjoy every performance, making it an unforgettable three days of music, energy, and connection.
This article was written in collaboration with Juanfer Abud, another author from The Asunción Times.
