A lantern festival, the transhumance festival, and other amazing things to do in Madrid in October

That image of thousands of lanterns glowing on the water—so characteristic of the festivals in Chiang Mai—is being recreated this month in Madrid. Juan Carlos I Park is hosting Water Lantern Festival, an outdoor evening event centered around a simple idea: personalize your own LED lantern with a message or drawing and, as the sun sets, release it onto the water alongside those of the other attendees. It’s one of those visually striking events, designed to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and as a community experience.

What’s more, the festival effectively addresses the inevitable concern about its environmental impact. The lanterns are made from biodegradable materials, use LED lights instead of real fire, and the organizers clean everything up at the end of the night so that the park looks exactly the same at dawn as it did the previous morning.

This month, it’s also time to make some well-deserved room for the spooky season. If you want to kick off Halloween with a picturesque, classic American-movie-style outing, stop by La Huerta de Aranjuez to pick out your own pumpkin at their Pumpkin Patch, get lost in their corn maze, or take a tractor ride.

Now, if you’re looking to get truly spooked, head underground to explore Chamberí’s legendary “ghost station,” or—for the more gothic souls—take a tour of the historic San Isidro Cemetery, just a stone’s throw from where Goya created his famous Black Paintings. The grand finale is MADHORROR at IFEMA: a massive festival sponsored by Álex de la Iglesia where you might just run into Freddy Krueger himself or the girl from *The Exorcist*.

Madrid takes a 350-year journey into the past through paintings, manuscripts, costumes, and models of the old open-air theaters, where playwrights such as Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca shaped the evolution of theater and the performing arts. The highlight of the exhibition is its guided tours, held every Friday and Saturday this month, for which you absolutely must make a reservation in advance. The program expands throughout the fall with lectures, workshops, and theatrical performances.

As they do every fall, sheep and goats from the October Transhumance Festival will make their way through Madrid straight from Cervera de Pisuerga, highlighting the importance that transhumance had (and continues to have) in Spain.

Pending the final official itinerary, the usual route begins at Casa de Campo next to the Puente del Rey. The herd makes its way alongthe Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto and through Parque de Atenas before heading up toward the Almudena Cathedral. From there, the sheep head down Calle Mayor, cross the Puerta del Sol, and continue along Calle Alcalá until they reach the end of the route at Plaza de Cibeles.

Prison Break, Shutter Island, The Shawshank Redemption… —the fantasy of prison breaks comes to life at Prison Island, a new escape room concept that just opened at X-Madrid: 27 cells, and it’s just you and your physical, mental, and technical skills to overcome each challenge and escape from prison. The experience doesn’t follow a fixed, linear path; instead, you’re free to choose which challenges to tackle and in what order.

Casa de México is preparing to celebrate its most special holiday with a unique installation. TheMega Altar of the Dead will be open to visitors from October 2 through November 8.

This Mexican custom— —isa fundamental part of the Day of the Dead traditions, which involve setting up altars in homes to honor those who have passed away. Casa de México honors this tradition by decorating the building’s entrance and facade with ornaments, flowers, and decorative lighting. This year’s installation is dedicated to Mexican composer Agustín Lara.

Following its success in Chamberí, the immersive game show that turns you into the star of a TV program is expanding its reach and opening a new location. BuzzAttack aims to put you and your team to the test with rounds of general knowledge, music challenges, and mini-games where you won’t have time to overthink.

Before entering the set, you’ll choose the topics you like best so the virtual host can ask you tailored questions. Then, you’ll compete for victory amid laughter, nerves, and the occasional lifeline in an experience that adapts its tone depending on whether you’re there with friends, for a birthday party, or for a team-building event.

In addition, from October 1 to November 1, BuzzAttack is getting into the spirit of horror with itsHalloween special: Episode 31. It all starts with a supposed technical glitch that brings to light an old Halloween special that was never actually aired. From there, teams compete for the title of Halloween Master in nine games based on scary movies, legends, songs, and music videos that cut off right before the scare. The special is available both in Chamberí ( C. de Raimundo Lulio, 9) and at the X-Madrid Shopping Center (C. Oslo, 53, Alcorcón).

Smithsonian Among the Stars is a virtual reality expedition that transforms astronomical data and images from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, NASA, and ESA into a fully navigable three-dimensional tour. Guided by a virtual astronaut, you’ll travel aboard telescopes like the Hubble or the James Webb to venture into the far reaches of the Milky Way.

During the mission, you’ll stop at the Sun to hear its actual vibrations, explore the lava volcanoes of Janssen, the “diamond planet,” and witness the death of the red supergiant Betelgeuse. The journey culminates as you peer over the edge of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

Once again this year , the Fall Craft Fair transforms Paseo de Recoletos into an open-air showcase dedicated to handmade and designer creations. At the various booths, visitors will find a selection of artisanal pieces, ranging from ceramics and jewelry to leather goods and textile design. This cultural stroll offers a unique opportunity to get an up-close look at the work of local and national artisan workshops.

Tempesta is Captain Hook’s daughter. She doesn’t know what to do: should she follow in her father’s footsteps as a pirate, or join the Lost Boys? This is the story of The Island of Neverland, a production that opens on October 8 with theater, acrobatics, circusacts… and the magical world of Neverland. 

Salvador Dalí made Sigmund Freud’s writings the driving force behind his visual universe. This month, the Thyssen Museum invites us to delve into this universe through some 130 works—including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and videos—to discover how the Catalan painter translated his traumas, complexes, and desires onto the canvas.

The exhibition traces six stages of Dalí’s life, beginning with the tense family environment of his youth, continuing with his immersion in Parisian Surrealism, and culminating in his face-to-face meeting with the psychoanalyst in London in 1938. Alongside key works by Dalí, such as *The Invisible Man * and *The Madonna of Portlligat*, the exhibition also features works by contemporaries such as Federico García Lorca and Freud himself, as well as a massive stage curtain measuring nearly fifteen meters, painted by the artist, which will be displayed in the museum’s lobby throughout the exhibition.

The Candlelight concerts, a familiar fixture in the capital, illuminate various venues with an extensive lineup of live music. Thousands of candles create the perfect setting for string quartets and pianists to perform unique renditions of contemporary hits as well as timeless classics.

This month’s lineup delights us with masterpieces of classical music, such as Mozart’sRequiem or Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (with a live ballet performance!). If you love music but connect better with more recent hits, Candlelight also offers tributes to contemporary pop-rock and movie soundtracks, featuring tributes to Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Queen, ABBA, and Hans Zimmer, including a special Halloween classics show.

Each change of season brings a new family program at La Casa Encendida: concerts, screenings, creative workshops, storytelling sessions… Through December, the activities on offer include animated film screenings such as *The Tale of Princess Kaguya* and a special Halloween screening of *The Little Vampire*, a program rounded out by stage and musical performances such as *Pía Pía Piano* and *The Circle of Lullabies* by Christian Fernández Mirón, as well as guided tours of the exhibition *Continents as Seeds* , and more.

The stage of the Teatro Español ’s small theater once again welcomes *The Gordian Knot*, a play by American playwright Johnna Adams. The plot begins with a meeting between a mother and her son’s teacher in a small community shaken by a school tragedy.

Actresses Eva Rufo and María Morales star in this verbal battle that explores guilt, motherhood, and grief. Far from offering comfort, the dialogue gradually devolves into a moral duel filled with recriminations that questions where the family’s duty ends and the educational system’s begins when it comes to protecting minors.

To mark the 23rd International Architecture Week, the Community of Madrid invites us to take to the streets to explore the work of three key figures in this discipline: Le Corbusier, Antonio Lamela, and Javier Carvajal.

The guided tours will explore the influence of these architects in different neighborhoods of the capital, such as Ciudad Universitaria and its connection to Le Corbusier’s rationalism, with stops at Bellas Vistas and Casa de Brasil, or a walk through the streets of Argüelles and Chamberí to examine Lamela’s functionalism in buildings such as the Galaxia complex. These activities complement those organized by the COAM and the Arquitectura Foundation, which include meetings, lectures, and exhibitions.

Perrotón Madrid is debuting a new 4.5-kilometer route this year for running with your dog, aiming to raise awareness about animal abandonment and promote both adoption and responsible pet ownership. A portion of the proceeds annually funds the work of the Asociación Nacional Perrotón, which organizes sterilization campaigns and disease prevention initiatives —such as those for leishmaniasis—for animal shelters with limited resources.

Torrearte opens the doors to 28 workshops where artists and creators work live, allowing us to explore different traditional crafts firsthand, from woodcarving, artistic metalwork, and cabinetmaking to sculpture and woven wicker pieces.

In addition to design and craftsmanship, this space in Torremocha de Jarama dedicates a large area to local cuisine. Its stalls and on-site shop are filled with organic vegetables, local honey, artisanal pastries, soaps, and cheeses to round out the visit with the flavors of the Madrid region.

This workshop, which will run throughout the academic year until June, offers a leisurely and in-depth reading of Homer’s great epic poem, thoroughly exploring its historical context, its philosophical themes, and its immense significance in literary tradition.

Spotlights, buzzers, surround sound, and questions that bounce back to the opposing team when someone gets a question wrong. Spanning over 200 m² and featuring three rooms, Quiz Room recreates the set of a TV game show, with formats for all audiences: from the classic “Todo al Quiz” to the “Music Quiz,” including a version for children ages 8 and up. The most intriguing is the “Discover Madrid Quiz,” a tour of the capital’s history, art, sports, and popular culture that can be played in Spanish or English. Book here.

Carmen Linares, Israel Galván, and Rocío Molina are just a few of the names headlining this year’s Suma Flamenca lineup, which will dedicate its program to the role of women in flamenco under the theme “Flamencas.” In this way, the series highlights the historical role of female singers, dancers, and guitarists in the creation and transmission of flamenco. Rounding out the lineup are artists such as Argentina, Patricia Guerrero, Farruquito, and Chano Domínguez.

Lope de Vega’s play returns to the stage: a seemingly predictable love story, full of entanglements, comedy, and disguises, that gradually darkens until it becomes a sinister tale. Laila Ripoll ’s production plays with fate and makes the audience an accomplice to a tragic and foretold tale, offering a contemporary take on a Golden Age classic that keeps its unsettling power intact (and very much alive).

Mexican biologist and scientist Antonio Lazcano comes to Contemporánea Condeduque with Frankenstein’s Monster, an event that bridges evolutionary biology and culture. During the talk, the researcher draws on his years of work to explore the origin and early evolution of life in a format accessible to the general public. Lazcano has served on NASA’s Advisory Committee and is the author of popular science books such as The Origin of Life.

On October 4, Madrid will fill Gran Vía with folklore, color, and music in a popular parade celebrating the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures. This year, the United States takes the spotlight as the guest country to mark the 250th anniversary of its independence, an event that also includes the participation of the Pacific territory of Guam to broaden the cultural landscape.

The parade serves as the centerpiece of an urban festival featuring more than 200 events throughout the city. The soundtrack features artists such as Sebastián Yatra, Marta Sánchez, Arturo Sandoval, and Cimafunk, along with special performances by the World Street Brass Band of New Orleans and activities focused on American football culture in partnership with the NFL. This year, the Hispanic Heritage celebrations debut new food venues, such as Ágave and Maíz. Gran Festival Mexicano, organized in partnership with Casa de México.

“In almost every history of art, there is one major absentee: the public.” Based on this premise, the Juan March Foundation presents an exhibition “on the act of exhibiting and its vicissitudes” in our country, from the 1960s to the present day.

The Aesthetic Transition: Spain, 1960–2020 presents a retrospective on our reception of international contemporary art through the eyes of key players, such as public and private institutions, individual initiatives, galleries, and even countercultural spaces. Furthermore, the exhibition invites us to reflect on the Spanish historical and social context over the last half-century and its influence on the public’s reception of international art.

Only through mid-month, the Alcalá 31 Gallery is offering an architectural tour of its venue—the former Banco Mercantil e Industrial—to explore the Galician architect Antonio Palacios’s final project in the capital. This guided tour explores the final phase of his career, marked by a shift away from craftsmanship toward much more essential and refined forms. Advance registration is required.

What would happen if traditional ballet teamed up with technology? Ballet of Lights has the answer: pure magic. In this new format, the dancers perform a choreography wearing costumes that glow in the dark. The result? A stunning light show that accompanies every turn and every leap to the music of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. And there’s more: this is a perfect outing for the little ones, as the show offers a fresh take on the original story that lasts less than an hour.

The Prado Museum dedicates its new exhibition to the youngest son of Federico de Madrazo, the least well-known member of this celebrated family of artists. Focusing exclusively on his works on paper, the exhibition brings together watercolors, drawings, and personal sketchbooks that document his travels through Spain, Europe, and North Africa, featuring copies of old master paintings, Orientalist-inspired scenes, and genre prints, among other works.

A new school year, new goals—and learning pottery is one of the most enjoyable activities today. Nora Gabaldón’s workshops, which are completely free, will begin on October 5 and run throughout the school year. In the first class, you’ll learn the pinching technique, and from there, you’ll learn how to decorate with pigments, as well as everything about the agate technique and sgraffito, among other things.

Madrid Otra Mirada opens the doors of nearly 200 of the city’s historical and cultural sites for free, offering us a rare opportunity: to explore the interiors of palaces, monasteries, and collections that are usually closed to the public or have very restricted access.

The program includes guided and dramatized tours, concerts, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions, and participating venues include iconic sites of Madrid’s heritage such as the Royal Palace of El Pardo, the Collegiate Church of San Isidro, and the Monastery of La Encarnación.

Madrid has always had a soft spot for cards, and Twisted Tarot puts a fun twist on this pastime. This show combines the mysticism of group tarot readings with the spontaneity of live comedy inside a former movie theater in Chamberí.

The format is simple yet unpredictable: with no script or actors, a professional tarot reader lays out the cards for volunteers from the audience while a comedian—who is just as in the dark as the audience— improvises jokes based on each spread in real time. The experience is for adults only and features a single performance where you can discover what the arcana reveal about you amid bursts of laughter.

Mapuche artist Seba Calfuqueo presents her first solo exhibition in Europe, an exhibition that explores the history and significance of the Cautín River, located in Chile’s Araucanía region, and offers a vision of its waters not merely as an extractable resource, but as a complex, living ecosystem composed of sand, animals, plants, and protective spirits.

Throughout the exhibition, you’ll see ceramic pieces shaped like endemic species and decorated with synthetic materials, embroidered paintings that rewrite the region’s history through local flora, and video animations that bring to life stories of the Mapuche people. The exhibition is rounded out by a video performance by the artist herself, who uses her body to connect memory, sacred elements, and the history of this river landscape.

The Reina Sofía Museum is celebrating the centennial of Manolo Millares’s birth with an exhibition of Fallen Figure I in its “Pieza Única” gallery. The space, dedicated to temporarily highlighting a single work from the collection, now hosts one of the key creations of Spanish Informalism and the El Paso group, co-founded by the Canarian artist himself.

Created in 1970 using mixed media on burlap, the piece reflects Millares’s most visceral style. The painting uses fabric, folds, and seams to form a crumpled volume reminiscent of a bandaged wound against a deep red background. Through this aesthetic of tearing, the work encapsulates the artist’s rejection of the repression and violence of 20th-century totalitarian regimes.