Festivals & Events in Madrid

The San Isidro Festival honours Madrid's patron saint every 15 May with a pilgrimage to the Pradera de Carabanchel, beside the hermitage and the Manzanares river. Free and open to all, it brings together more than 100 activities: street dances, chotis performances, rosquillas pastries and the great Feria Taurina de Las Ventas running alongside.

Madrid Pride (MADO) is Europe's largest LGBTQ+ event: its national march, free and open to all, runs along the Paseo del Prado to Colón and draws over two million people every first weekend of July. It was born in 1978 and has its heart in the Chueca neighbourhood.

Mad Cool is Madrid's flagship rock and indie festival: it launched in 2016 and now takes place every July at the Iberdrola Music venue (Villaverde). Four days, multiple stages and international headliners. It is a ticketed event — you need a pass (full festival or single day), and they sell out in waves.

Three back-to-back, free neighbourhood street parties in Madrid's castizo south-centre: San Cayetano (5–8 August, Rastro and Embajadores), San Lorenzo (9–12, Lavapiés) and La Paloma (14–17, La Latina), with the big day on the 15th. Chotis music, limoná, gallinejas and Manila shawls, all within less than a kilometre on foot.

From the Gran Vía lights (over 13 million LED bulbs) to the centuries-old Plaza Mayor market, the New Year's Eve grapes at Puerta del Sol, and the Three Kings Parade on January 5th — the largest in Spain. Christmas in Madrid is free and open to all: markets, nativity scenes, and lights with no ticket required.