For the 10th edition, which takes place on the 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd of June, Rock in Rio Lisboa exchanged Parque da Bela Vista for Parque Tejo, which in August last year hosted World Youth Day, and the festival director, Roberta Medina, spoke to Lusa today about the advantages of the new space.

“Several differences in level, a very gentle undulation, which ensures that each stage has its own clearing. Some are more inclined and others are less”, said Roberta Medina, highlighting how this aspect is good for “short people” like her.

With this change, the 'City of Rock' gained “an additional 30 thousand square meters of public area”, even though the entire Tagus Park was not being used.

More space allowed for “more bathrooms and more food and drink areas”.

“Wherever you are in the park, you can quickly reach bathrooms or food and drink areas”, highlighted Roberta Medina.

Those who do not want to buy water will have “more than a hundred drinking fountains” in the venue, “for the comfort of the public and to avoid plastic bottles”.

Although the venue has more space, the festival capacity remains at a maximum of 80 thousand people per day, in an edition in which “the biggest challenge with the public, is access”.

“You can’t get there by car, there’s no way to get there by car. You don’t hold a crowd event with an individual car”, stated Roberta Medina.

In the previous precinct, “the public, unfortunately, got used to leaving their cars on their neighbours' doors, which is not good in terms of impact on the city”.

Roberta Medina reinforces the warning: “There is no way to do it here”. Therefore, the festival organisation put together “a mega mobility plan with many partners”.

On the days of Rock in Rio Lisbon, a 'shuttle' will run between Estação do Oriente and the 'city of rock'.

According to Roberta Medina, there will be an exclusive route for the shuttle between Estação do Oriente and the entrance to the venue, where the Rock in Rio station will be set up.

Tickets for the 'shuttle' cost one euro, if purchased in advance via the festival app, and entitle you to a reusable cup.

“Whoever books [shuttle trips] only on the day pays two euros and doesn't get the cup”, warned Roberta Medina.

Tickets can be purchased on-site, but to avoid queues, the organisers recommend using the app.

Furthermore, anyone who chooses to travel by train can get off at Sacavém station and walk the rest of the way to the venue, “it takes five minutes”.

The issue of transport “is the big challenge in this edition, because I think people will fall in love with the park, which is very unique, embraced by the river, it is very beautiful”, said Roberta Medina.

In the 'city of rock' there will be 18 entertainment spaces, six of which are stages.

The main stage, Palco Mundo, will feature artists and bands such as Scorpions, Extreme, Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, Macklemore, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Xutos & Pontapés, Extreme, Fernando Daniel, Carolina Deslandes, Ne Yo and Ivete Sangalo.

Each day, before the headliner's performance, Palco Mundo will host a 'videomapping' show.

Artists such as Ornatos Violeta, Europe, Jake Bugg, Carolina de Deus, James, Anselmo Ralph, Luísa Sonza, Capitão Fausto, Pluto, Fonzie, Blind Zero, and The Legendary Tigerman are invited to the other stages.

Roberta Medina believes that this year Rock in Rio Lisboa managed to “have very different days”, something that “responds well to the festival’s audience”, which is very transversal in terms of styles and generations.

The 10th edition of Rock in Rio Lisboa will not miss the Ferris wheel, the slide, or Rock Street, but there will also be new features such as the Cupido House.

“To remember our visit to Las Vegas [Rock in Rio had an edition in that North American city in 2015] we have a chapel”, revealed Roberta Medina.

Although this type of marriage is not valid in Portugal, “whoever wants to take the plunge and create a symbolic moment” will have an Elvis Presley and an Amy Winehouse available to celebrate their marriage.

Furthermore, “there will also be cupids walking around the venue to identify couples who might want to tie the knot at the Cupido House”.

Cupido House is one of the attractions on Route 85, created to “tell in a very playful way” the story of 20 years of Rock in Rio Lisboa and 40 years of Rock in Rio Brasil, which are celebrated in January 2025 but are being celebrated this year.

Route 85 also includes the School of Rock stage, which will host “concerts by 32 bands of music students from various countries”.

“It’s a stage that celebrates the past, looking to the future, because there could be artists who could one day go up to the World Stage”, said Roberta Medina.

During concert breaks, “remarkable” images and moments from the 20 years of Rock in Rio Lisboa and the 40 years of Rock in Rio Brasil will be shown on that stage.

The Tagus Park pala, created to welcome the Pope during World Youth Day, will host another new festival space, the “All Experience”.

“All the under 30s [from the Rock in Rio Lisboa team] created an exhibition focused on themes for a better world”, explained Roberta Medina. The result will be visible on the festival days.

And as the dates of Rock in Rio Lisboa coincide with those of the European Football Championship, on June 22nd it will be broadcast live. On the various stages, the Portugal-Türkiye game, is scheduled for 17:00.