| JANUARY |
|
| 1st |
Año Nuevo (New Year) Shops are closed. |
| 5th |
Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day Eve). Spectacular and crowded parade —mainly for children with parents— representing the arrival of the Three Kings (from the Christian tradion) to the Bethlehem. |
| 6th |
Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day). This is the equivalent to Christmas in importance. Spanish children usually get their Xmas presents this day. Shops are closed. |
| FEBRUARY |
|
| First week aprox. |
ARCO. Contemporary art fair. Map
Experimental cinema week.
Alternative theatre, music and dance festival. |
| Changing dates |
Carnival |
| MARCH |
|
| |
Teatralia. Theatre Festival for children.
IMAGFIC. Madrid Film Festival. |
| APRIL |
|
| |
Antique and bargain books Fair. Paseo de Recoletos. L-6
Flamenco festival
Iberian music festival |
| MAY |
|
| 1st |
Fiesta del Trabajo (Worker's day). Everything closed. Traditionally worker's unions organise parties, demonstrations and get togethers. |
| 2nd |
Día de la Comunidad de Madrid (Madrid's Regional Day). Shops are closed.
Dos de Mayo (2nd of May festivities). Concerts, activities, etc. |
| 8th - 15th |
San Isidro. May 15th, Madrid's Patron Saint, one of the biggest events in the year with events including concerts, exhibitions, bullfighting and other kind of public performances. Fireworks at tha Jardines de las Vistillas. A-15
Feria del Libro (Madrid's Book fair) at the Retiro Park.
Madrid en Danza. Madrid Dance festival in May - June |
| JUNE |
|
| 13th |
San Antonio de la Florida. |
| 17th-24th |
San Juan (Saint John, Summer party). Bonfires at the Retiro park. |
| |
German Film Festival in Madrid |
| JULY |
Photoespaña form June to July. Photograpy festival. www |
| |
Veranos de la Villa: theatre, dance, activities... www |
| AUGUST |
|
| 6th - 15th |
Festival Verbena de la Paloma, a chance to discover the authentic popular traditions of Madrid including the regional costumes and dance the so-called Chotis. Worth going spend an evening at the Latina area in the old center. |
| SEPTEMBER |
|
| |
During September, concert-houses and theater season starts with some of their best shows.
|
| OCTOBER |
|
| 12th |
Nuestra Señora del Pilar. Day of Hispanity. Various events.
Autumn Theatre Festival
Women Cinema Festival
|
| NOVEMBER |
|
| 1st |
Todos los Santos (All Saints day, ).Traditional day to visit graveyards and bring flowers to those that passed away. |
| 9th |
Virgen de la Almudena. Patroness Saint of Madrid. |
| |
Madrid Jazz Festival |
| DECEMBER |
|
| 6th |
Constitution day. Shops and museums are clo/sed. |
| 8th |
Inmaculada Concepción. Shops are closed. |
| 24th |
Noche Buena (Christmas Eve). Shops are open, some only untill midday.24.00 "Misa de Gallo" Catholic service. |
| 25th |
Navidad. Chistmas day . Everything closed. |
| 31st |
San Silvestre 10 Km race, a famous Madrid sports event.
New Years Eve. On New Year's Eve shops are open for last minute shopping.New Years Eve in Madrid is known for a big crowd of citizens and foreigners flocking into Puerta del Sol to celebrate the year change. During the last 12 seconds of the year (each a wish for next year's 12 months), announced by the bells at the clock that sits at the top of Madrid's Regional Government main building, everybody attempts to eat twelve grapes. Spaniards throughout the country witness this from their homes through a TV special. After midnight all the city becomes a huge party. Expect big traffic jams at any time between 12 and 3.00 am. Finding an available taxi in the center can become impossible. |
