Although we usually seek relief at swimming pools or even at urban fountains dubbed “beaches,” the truth is that for several years now, anyone wanting to escape Madrid’s stifling heat during the summer months has had another option to choose from: the Círculo de Bellas Artes’ climate refuge (42 Alcalá Street), which already has dates set for 2026.
In this new edition, the CBA Ballroom—which will host an installation designed by Recetas Urbanas—will once again be transformed into that large, playful, green, and cool plaza we’ve come to expect from it over the past few years, running from July 10 to September 6, 2026.
In addition, this year the central theme of the climate refuge will be play:“Playing to come together. To imagine possible futures. To build community. Because perhaps through play we can imagine worlds that don’t yet exist,”reads a post on their Instagram profile about the event.
As such, one of this year’s offerings includes board games for all ages, as well as a reading corner, a water fountain, a plant nursery, and spaces to rest, work, or simply hang out.
In addition, as is customary, there will be a program featuring workshops, gatherings, music, talks, and other experiences to be announced soon.
An initiative with similar events in other parts of the city
The initiative, which was first held in 2024 in response to the increasingly extreme heat waves the city is experiencing as a result of climate change, quickly spread to other parts of the city.
Similarly, other spaces such as the Canal de Isabel II Foundation and municipal markets in various neighborhoods of the capital have been converted or repurposed in recent years into places where people can seek refuge from the heat.
This year, the Infinito Delicias climate refuge (5 Doña Juana Street) is also joining the list; among its services, it offers a plant daycare.
