Festivals & Events

Madrids festival calender is shaped by both religious secular festivities.

The regulation of public holidays may appear strange to non-Spaniards. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is often also celebrated as a public holiday.

1. January Año Nuevo
6. January Reyes
Maundy Thursday
 Jueves Santo
Good Friday
 Viernes Santo
1. May Día del Trabajo
2. May Día de la Comunidad: Festival of the autonomous region of Madrid, to commemorate the rebellion against Napoleonic troops in 1808
15. May San Isidro: Feast of the patron saint of the city
25. July Santiago
15. August Asunción de la Virgen
12. October Día de la Hispanidad, in commemoration of Columbus' arrival in America in 1492
1. November Todos los Santos
9. November Almudena: Day of the patron saint of the city
6. December Día de la Constitución: Constitution Day
8. December Inmaculada Concepción
25. December Navidad
5. January

Cabalgata de Reyes: At night, he children watch the three Magi's festive arrival in Madrid. When they come home later, the Reyes have already left their gifts which can be opened the next morning.
End of January-ende of February

Escena Contemporánea, international off-Theater Festival at various venues of the city.
www.escenacontemporanea.com
In mid-February
  • Arco, international art fair at the IFEMA Exhibition Centre, one of the most important in Europe.
    www.arco.ifema.es
  • Festival Flamenco de Caja Madrid in the Teatro Albéniz and in the cultural centre Casa Encendida.
    www.lacasaencendida.com
March/April Maundy Thursday/Good Friday: Semana-Santa-Processions in the old town to remember the passion of Christ.
2. May The holiday of the Comunidad de Madrid remembers the rebels, who resisted the troops of Napoleon on May 2nd 1808. It is mainly celebrated  on the Plaza Dos de Mayo in the heart of Malasañas.
8.-15. May The city of madrid celebrates their Saint San Isidro. Daily bullfights in the arena Las Ventas until early June.
Last weekend in May Festimad, the most important rock festival in the region of Madrid in Fuenlabrada, 18 km south of Madrid.
www.festimad.es
End of May/eraly June Feria del Libro in Retiro, a two-week autograph Marathon of the most significant Spanish-speaking writer.
Beginning of June-mid-July

Photo-España: The whole city is transformed into a large photo exhibition.
www.photoes.com
23./24. June Noche de San Juan: In the St. Johns' Night the young people in Madrid jump over fire, such as on the Plaza Dos de Mayo and on the square behind the Church of San Francisco el Grande.
End of June/early July Día del Orgullo Gay: The gay demonstration in Chueca has become the largest folk festival in Madrid.
www.cogam.org
End of June-September Veranos de la Villa: Theatre, Music and Dance throughout the city. The most beautiful venues: Jardines de Sabatini, La Muralla Árabe, Cuartel Conde Duque
6.-15. August Verbena de la Paloma/ San Cayetano/San Lorenzo: The most down-to-earth festivals in the hot Madrid summer around the Plaza Cascorro in the Rastro quarter and the Argumosa in Lavapiés.
Mid-October-mid-November Festival de Otoño: autumn culture festival on many stages.
December Christmas market in Plaza Mayor, especially nativity figures and joke articles are sold.
The New Year's Eve celebration at the Puerta del Sol is broadcasted on national television.