Christmas has clear protagonists: the little ones, so having a good list of Christmas plans for children is key for these dates.
Madrid offers a lot of options. The central streets are filled with lights, the squares with their special markets and from the end of November until the first week of January, activities for children take place in cultural centers, theaters and shopping malls.
Brilli Brilli
From December 26 to January 4, the winter festival of La Casa Encendida will take place. A celebration to bid farewell to 2025 and welcome 2026 with plans full of music, color and fantasy for the whole family. There will be an installation (Venturia 3) created by the architects Conjuntos Empáticos, which contains an “extraterrestrial” house to play freely, relax and enjoy. Also the experience “Pelis con los ojos cerrados”, to spur the imagination of the little ones, as well as a film screening, a mini dance club, workshops such as the illustrator Daniel Tornero or a pajama party with Caries (Carlangas and Natalia Ferviú).
📍 Location: Ronda de Valencia, 2 (Embajadores)
💸 Tickets: 5€.
2. A real Christmas tree in Abetos Montes
From the end of November until a few days before Christmas Eve, students of Forestry Engineering at the UPM sell natural fir trees in Ciudad Universitaria, with roots and from sustainable crops. There you can choose from different sizes and species, have them delivered to your home and even contract for collection after the holidays so that the tree can be replanted or composted. It is a nice way to have a “real” fir tree in your living room and, at the same time, support a university project with more than half a century of history in Madrid.
Location: Calle de José Antonio Novais, 10 (Moncloa)
3. Christmas plans for the whole family in Teatros del Canal
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The Canal Theaters organize, as every Christmas, an intense program to enjoy with the whole family, among shows, interactive activities and puppets.
- From 3 years old: immersive installation of participatory dance (📆 December 19, 20, 21, 23, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30 and January 2, 3 and 4).
- From 4 years old: puppet theater by the company El Retablo ( 📆 December 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 27, 28 and 30).
- From 5 years old: a contemporary dance show by Compagnie Fika (📆 January 2, 3 and 4).
- From 7 years old: puppet theater with the company Tropos (📆 December 19, 20, 21 and 23).
Location: Calle de Cea Bermúdez, 1 (Islas Filipinas)
4. The Christmas Train
Bisbal, David Bisbal himself, was in charge of inaugurating this year’s Christmas Train, one of the most popular Christmas attractions for the little ones at home. Line 3 is dressed up for the occasion, with Christmas decorations and a visit from elves, the organization of free activities… and Christmas carols, lots of Christmas carols. Until January 6, between El Casar and Moncloa, getting on the metro will become a festive experience. On weekends, surprise, there will be a special visit from Santa Claus, his pages and elves, as well as the Three Wise Men.
Location: Line 3 between El Casar and Moncloa.
5. Ice rinks
One of the Christmas plans that has become fashionable in Madrid is skating on the ice rinks. In addition to wearing out the copious meals typical of these dates and make room for the following, ice skating is also a perfect activity to spend some time with the family.
The rink in Plaza de España will be open from November 25 to January 11; the one in Colón is getting ready to open its doors on November 29. One of the most magical, being indoors and under a large glass dome, is that of the Galería de Cristal (Palacio de Cibeles), more ephemeral (from December 13 to January 5); or that of Matadero, among the centenary brick buildings, which will be inaugurated on December 5. In Getafe, will also be available from December 5 the Brilla Zoo yarn track (with separate entrance). You can consult the entire list in this article.
Location: several locations.
6. My first festival
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On December 20, My First Festival will be held at IFEMA. What does this mean? A day where everything will be possible and where we can sing and dance with the little ones of the house among characters like Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, LOL Surprises, Pocoyo, Masha and the Bear, Simon… and Santa Claus! More than a musical show, there will be dances, lots of singing and above all, illusion.
Location: IFEMA
7. Cortylandia
For Madrid’s children, Christmas has two great moments: the parades and when Cortylandia starts -even if you’re older, it’s worth going to see their excited faces. This show has been running for almost half a century (47 years this winter) with the theme Cortylandia Express, a train “to the land of dreams”. The facade of El Corte Inglés on Maestro Victoria Street will be illuminated and will sound until December 5 and attendees will be able to see this children’s show from the Plaza del Celenque.
Location: Maestro Victoria Street, 4 (Center).
8. Different Christmas videomappings around the city
From the facade of the Real Casa de Correos to the courtyard of the Centro de Cultura Contemporánea Conde Duque, videomapping shows are gaining momentum this Christmas. The first is a giant advent calendar and, under the name “Fábrica de los deseos”, will be projected on the facade of the Real Casa de Correos at Puerta del Sol every day until January 6 (free shows starting at 6 pm and repeated for 30 minutes until 11 pm; until midnight on weekends and from December 19 to January 6).
The second, also free of charge, starts on December 17 and will only be open until December 23 (from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm). It will be located in the central courtyard of the Centro de Cultura Contemporánea Conde Duque. It is a light artistic work designed by José Vaaliña for the occasion under the name A Christmas of light. In addition, on the 23rd, the closing of the show, there will also be a concert by the Coro de Voces Graves de Madrid with the soprano Sonia de Munck.
Location: different locations
9. A couple of exhibitions with dinosaurs and animatronic creatures at Espacio Delicias
This Christmas, brachiosaurs, tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptors! The universe of Jurassic World continues in Madrid until the arrival of the Three Wise Men. An immersive space with life-size animatronic dinosaurs in which the little ones will walk through the scenes of the movies hallucinating with these great beings and… and, we warn you, a few surprises.
💵Tickets :free up to two years old; from 3 years old, from 12€.
In this same Espacio Delicias, dinosaurs also coexist with the cinematic beings of Pandora. The third film in the saga premieres this winter at the same time that the Moon that hosts blue beings and incredible ecosystems, lands in Madrid in immersive experience format.
💵Tickets :free up to age two; ages 3 and up, from €13.
10. Nativity Scenes
Nativity scenes are a good way to know what is celebrated on these dates and also discover that art can also be in miniature. There are two cribs that are traditionally the most visited: the Madrid City Hall and the Municipal Bethlehem of the Plaza de la Villa, which are usually from late November until January 5. Another classic is added, that of the Royal Palace, which from December 5 until January 5, will represent through 200 figures different typical Neapolitan scenes (the tavern, the library, the clotheslines) as well as nods to the Casa del Labrador de Aranjuez and the Royal Apothecary.
Location: various locations.
11. Circo Price Christmas
Circo Price is once again one of the great Christmas plans for children in Madrid with Sueña despierto, its new family show for the holidays. The show tells the story of a group of children who get lost in a forest during a school trip and end up finding an abandoned circus where the night is filled with magic, acrobatics and songs thanks to the forest animals and a cast of circus performers.
With balancing acts, aerial, juggling, shadow puppets, clowns and live white voices, the show turns the theater into a real “circus of dreams” and can be seen from November 21 to January 6, from Tuesday to Sunday, with an approximate duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes and recommended for all audiences.
Location: Ronda de Atocha, 35 (Embajadores)
12. A family Christmas movie at Cineteca
The cycle of the Cineteca de Matadero, ‘Navidad en familia’ (Christmas with the family), brings together this year’s edition of great animated films for all ages. The program includes films by Miyazaki, Don Bluth, Tim Burton and Wes Anderson.
- December 23: Ponyo on the cliff (Miyazaki)
- Dec. 26: The Prince of Egypt (Simon Wells, Steve Hickner, Brenda Chapman)
- Dec. 27: James and the Giant Peach ( Henry Selick)
- December 28: Hercules (John Musker, Ron Clements)
- December 30: Fievel and the New World (Don Bluth)
- January 2: Fantastic Mr. Fox ( Wes Anderson)
- January 3: In Search of the Enchanted Valley (Don Bluth)
- January 4: The Corpse Bride (Tim Burton)
Location: Plaza de Legazpi, 8 (Arganzuela)
13. Naviluz
Seeing the Christmas lights is nice, but seeing it from a bus is much better. This special bus service, which runs through some of the most central areas of the city, is a perfect plan for children to enjoy the Christmas decorations without getting tired. This year a new edition will be held until January 6 (included).
The schedule of this Christmas bus is from 6 pm to 9:50 pm, with intervals of 5 to 10 minutes between one bus and the next. It will remain inactive on December 24, 25 and January 5.
Location: departure from Calle Felipe, IV between the Goya door of the Prado Museum and the service door of the Ritz Hotel, in front of number 1 of the street.
14. Christmas choirs
The Centro district has prepared for this Christmas a perfect program to go with children: a route of choral concerts and outdoor recitals in squares and churches where carols of always and more current themes sound. Children’s choirs, flamenco zambombas and groups such as the Coro Casa de los Musicales, Meraki or Songspell will perform in squares such as Corrala, Comendadoras or Barceló, while parishes such as San Lorenzo, San Miguel or Jesús de Medinaceli will host more secluded concerts. You can consult the complete program here.
Location: different locations
15. Christmas markets
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One of the first Christmas stops is to visit some of the markets that will take over some streets and squares of Madrid. The one in Plaza Mayor is a must, especially if you are looking for figurines of the Nativity Scene (from November 27 to December 31), but in Plaza de España is another one, with ice rink included (it is already open and will remain until January 11). It is also a good time to discover with the little ones the value of handmade products at the Feria Mercado de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid (from December 1 to 30) or the flowers and Christmas decorations of Sally Hambleton.
Location: various locations.
16. Three Wise Men parades in different districts of Madrid.
The best way to end this season and one of the most exciting moments is with the Christmas parades. The main and largest is the one that runs along the Paseo de la Castellana, with more than 1,500 participants to Cibeles, on the afternoon of January 5. Although almost all neighborhoods and towns in the Community of Madrid have their own, but it is important to make sure of the dates because some are usually held the days before, such as Chamartin which is on the 3rd and Carabanchel on the 4th.
Location: several locations.
17. Candlelight Christmas Concerts
There is no Christmas without music, so what better plan than going to a Christmas concert for the little ones to test their knowledge of Christmas carols, and under the light of thousands of candles? From Christmas classics to Christmas soundtracks or watching The Nutcracker dance live, Candlelight Christmas concerts are a good alternative to the cold to do on selected dates in December and January.
Of course, children’s admission is allowed for ages 8 and up, so if they’re younger than that right now, make a note of this plan for future years!
Location: various locations.