Madrid event calendar: discover the most important events in Spain's capital city

Exhibitions at Madrid’s museums

Madrid is a cultural city. It is the home to a number of internationally renowned museums. If you are an art lover you will be blown away by ARCO, the art fair that is held over the course of one week at IFEMA, by the end of February.

At the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation you will find the amazing exhibitions. If you’re looking for nearby accommodation, we recommend the NH Collection Madrid Colón and Avani Alonso Martínez Madrid hotels. You should also take a look at the exhibitions in the Bárbara de Braganza Exhibition Hall at the MAPFRE Foundation and La Tabacalera.

But you can also find many other fascinating exhibitions in Madrid. Visit the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Museum, with its unmissable exhibition “Alex Katz" and "Rembrandt and the portrait of Amsterdam 1590-1670”, or the Reina Sofía Museum, with its exhibitions “Concha Jerez” and “Mondrian and de Stijl”, among numerous other legendary pieces from the history of art.

Events of every kind

There are plenty events in Madrid to choose from. Have you heard about Fiestas de San Isidro? These popular festivities take place on May 15th every year are a must. To make the most of the experience, you could book a stay at our closest hotel, NH Madrid Ribera del Manzanares. If you love discovering the latest literary treasures, the Madrid Book Fair is for you. You will find it at the iconic Retiro Park by the end of May.

Madrid Gay Pride will be held in the first weekend of July, a key event in the Madrid Event Calendar. The Madrid Pride Party will take place the first Saturday of July, a joyful day of parades and music. On the other hand, if what you love is summer street parties, you shouldn’t miss the ‘verbenas’ in August at San Cayetano or San Lorenzo, or the one held in honour of the Virgen de la Paloma (Virgin of the Dove). Madrid is dazzling at Christmas. The spectacular lights, the atmosphere in the streets and the markets fill the entire city with Christmas spirit.

Shows, music and sports

Can you imagine seeing the Cirque du Soleil in Madrid? You have the opportunity to make this dream come true every autumn. You could also attend the International Festival of Magic that will take place at the Circo Price at the beginning of February. Do you love musicals? Then you should not miss Anastasia, La Llamada or The Lion King in Madrid. But they are not the only shows in Madrid.

You will also find several major sports events, such as the Casa de Campo triathlon, the EDP Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Maratón & 1/2 and San Silvestre marathon, the Madrid Open, or the Open de España golf championship.

Conventions and fairs

The Spanish capital hosts some very important conferences, such as ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology), ATM (Air Traffic Management Congress), FITUR (International Tourism Trade Fair) and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

With all this variety of cultural, sports and leisure plans you already know what to do in Madrid to make your stay unforgettable.