The days of celebration of the most playful festival of the year vary as those of Easter, depending on the lunar calendar. Madrid Carnival 2023 will take place from February 17 to 23.
From Friday to Ash Wednesday in the streets of the capital will follow the traditions: the parade, the Manteo del pelele, the murgas and chirigotas and the Burial of the Sardine that puts us fully in the mood of Easter.
The protagonist of this year’s poster is the god Neptune. Like the fountain that decorates the Cánovas del Castillo square, but in a drawing created by the illustrator and caricaturist Maria Picassó i Piquer (Manresa, 1983), the float is led by two sea horses accompanied by a family of local fish. The artist explains the references as follows: “for this year’s Carnival poster, I wanted to capture the contrast between the historical solemnity of the city and the celebration itself: ephemeral, festive, boisterous and fantastic”.
1. The carnival parade
Madrid’s carnival parade on February 18 will have three themes: mythological Madrid, Madrid of the Austrias and Madrid of the Movida. Dressed with the symbols according to these three moments, tightrope walkers, giant ladies, swordsmen, stilt walkers, skaters, jugglers, folkloric associations, among others, will cross the Madrid Rio from the Arganzuela Bridge to the Esplanade of the Greenhouse.
🗓️ February 18 from 12 to 14h.
📍 Madrid Río Park.
2. WAH Madrid
How is WAH, a musical and gastronomic show that for every celebration throws the house out the window and dives into the party to the beat of great hits in the history of music. This place in Madrid (because it is a place where things do not stop happening, more than an event) launches into the profane celebration with a big masquerade party. Those who come in costume will enjoy a cocktail on the house.
🗓️ February 16 and 17
📍 Avenida del Partenón, 5 (Barajas district)
3. Concerts at Matadero
In Matadero, concerts will take place from 2:30 pm -half an hour after the parade ends- DJs David Puron and Aadrian Lefreak will take the stage, and at 4:30 pm Jimena Amarillo will perform. Then the group Vary Brava will be one of the most expected, after their performance at the Benidormm Fest. The day will end with the DJ and visual artist Laura Put.
🗓️ February 18.
📍 Matadero.
4. Masked dance
The masked ball at the Círculo de Bellas Artes has been bringing glamour to Madrid’s carnival since 1891, when the first one was held. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this February 18 the tradition is recovered under the slogan “Who are you?”, in which the game of identity will be the central theme of the night.
Samantha Hudson, a multidisciplinary artist, will be the town crier of this festival that revolves around the queer imaginary . As usual, the Círculo de Bellas Artes will close the entire building from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to host this event, which has a ticket price of 40 € (34 € if purchased in advance).
🗓️ February 18.
📍 Círculo de Bellas Artes (Calle de Alcalá, 42).
5. Manteo del pelele
The Manteo del Pelele -which is literally throwing a doll into the air- will be held on Carnival Sunday in Matadero to the rhythm of traditional dulzainas and bagpipes , which are usually performed by the Asociación Cultural Arrabel. The public takes part both in the manteo and in simple dances, which will end with a big wheel dance.
🗓️ February 19.
📍 Matadero Square.
6. Encounter of Murgas and Chirigotas
Then follows the review of social, political and sports news, from the humor with their cuplés, pasodobles and popurrís of which the groups Chirigota de Madrid, Chirigota Femenina de Madrid or Comparsa de Antonio Torres are in charge. This year will be the XV Meeting of Carnival groups that usually takes place also in Matadero.
🗓️ February 19.
📍 Matadero Square.
7. Traditional Burial of the Sardine
On February 22, Ash Wednesday, the colorful festivities give way to mourning with the Burial of the Sardine. The usual route of the Alegre Cofradía departs from San Antonio de la Florida, along with the parade of Gigantes y Cabezudos. After crossing the streets of Comandante Fortea, Santa Comba and Doctor Casals, to enter the Casa de Campo, the sardine will be buried next to the Fuente de los Pajaritos. One of the most picturesque traditions of the capital.
This peculiar tradition has been celebrated since the 18th century. It is a way of making fun of the famine that the people went through at that time. The scene was portrayed by Goya in his work The Burial of the Sardine (1808-1812), which is part of the collection of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando.
🗓️ February 22.
8. Exhibition: Sardine. From Goya to Urban Art
Sardine. From Goya to Urban Art is an exhibition that unites the tradition of the Alegre cofradía del entierro de la sardina of Madrid, to the creation of murals close to urban art that will be developed exprofeso in the exhibition space by artists such as El Rey de la ruina, Pyramid, Por favor and Tropidelia. The works on display will have as a common thread the imagery captured by Francisco de Goya in his works. With a special focus on The Burial of the Sardine in which he immortalized this traditional tradition and that the more than 20 participating artists will be responsible for reinterpreting in a contemporary key and with dyes similar to street art, to which will also be added the 3D experience.
🗓️ From February 9 to March 30.
📍 Quinta del Sordo (Rosario Street, 15-17).
9. Vegan Carnival: edible masks workshop.
The vegan perspective also has a place in Madrid’s carnival. The Royal Botanical Garden has prepared an activity that unites both realities with its great specialty: plants. It will be on Sunday 19 in two shifts (10.00 and 11.00 h with two hours of duration). Under the name Con la comida, ¡sí se juega!, the activity is aimed at children between 5 and 12 years old with the objective of teaching the importance of a balanced, healthy and sustainable diet.
🗓️ February 19
📍 Plaza de Murillo, 2 (Jerónimos)