Madrid festivals calendar: San Isidro, Pride, summer verbenas and more

A month-by-month guide to Madrid's main festivals and events, from Carnival and San Isidro to Orgullo, Veranos de la Villa and the August verbenas.

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Why plan around festivals

Festivals give a trip extra colour, but they also push up accommodation prices and fill streets. Use this calendar to choose whether to join the party or avoid it. Exact dates change every year, so confirm on official city listings.

Winter and spring

Carnival in February ends with the Burial of the Sardine, a mock funeral procession. Holy Week (Semana Santa) in March or April brings religious processions through the old town, smaller than in Seville but atmospheric. On 2 May the region celebrates the Dos de Mayo uprising of 1808, especially around Malasaña.

San Isidro (mid-May)

The festival of Madrid's patron saint, with its main day on 15 May, is the most traditional celebration of the year. People dress as chulapos and chulapas, dance the chotis and gather in the Pradera de San Isidro for picnics. Expect free concerts and rosquillas, ring-shaped pastries.

Pride (late June to early July)

Madrid Orgullo is one of the largest Pride celebrations in Europe, centred on Chueca, with stages across the centre and a huge parade on the Saturday. Book accommodation well ahead.

Summer

Veranos de la Villa is the city's summer cultural programme, with concerts, theatre and dance at outdoor venues. In August, the neighbourhood festivals of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma fill Lavapiés and La Latina with street decorations, music and traditional verbena parties.

Autumn

Autumn brings the Festival de Otoño of performing arts, the Fiesta de la Trashumancia, when shepherds lead sheep through the city centre in a historic tradition, and a busy season of exhibitions and trade fairs at IFEMA.

Sporting events

Madrid hosts the Madrid Marathon in spring, the Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Mágica, usually in late April and May, and, of course, football throughout the season at the Bernabéu and the Metropolitano. Big matches affect hotel prices and transport.

Arts and culture

ARCOmadrid, one of Europe's leading contemporary art fairs, is held at IFEMA in February or March. PHotoESPAÑA brings photography exhibitions to venues across the city in summer. The Noche de los Libros, a night of book-related events around World Book Day in April, is popular with locals.

Christmas and New Year

December brings Christmas lights and markets, New Year's Eve grape-eating at Puerta del Sol and the Three Kings parade on 5 January. See our separate Madrid at Christmas guide for more detail.

How festivals affect your trip

During big events, public transport may be rerouted and certain streets closed. Hotels near the festival areas fill early and prices rise. If you want to experience a festival, book well in advance and choose accommodation within walking distance. If you would rather avoid crowds, check the calendar before choosing your dates.

Where to stay during festivals

For San Isidro, La Latina and the area around Plaza Mayor are central to the celebrations. For Pride, Chueca is at the heart of the party, but it can be very loud. For the August verbenas, La Latina and Lavapiés offer atmosphere but noise. Choose a quieter neighbourhood one or two metro stops away if you need sleep.

Month-by-month overview

January: Three Kings. February: Carnival and ARCO. April: Book Night. May: San Isidro and Madrid Open. June: Pride preparations. July: Pride and Veranos de la Villa. August: verbenas. September: return to normal routine. October and November: autumn cultural seasons, including jazz festivals. December: Christmas.

FAQ

Official sources

• Official Madrid tourism (esMADRID)
• Metro de Madrid