Between storms that are passing and new storms that are coming, Madrid is getting ready for five days of masks, parades, and farewells to the sardine. From February 14 to 18, Carnival 2026 will transform the city into a continuous stage for parades, music, and popular rituals, with Matadero Madrid and the Manzanares area playing a leading role.
The big kick-off is on Saturday, February 14. After the official opening speech in Plaza Matadero, the grand Carnival parade will travel along Madrid Río from the Toledo Bridge to the Matadero complex, featuring street theater companies, circus performers, musicians, giants, fantastic creatures, and lots of glitter. Achilles, a mobile sculpture over five meters tall, will lead the march, accompanied by brass and percussion bands, until it reaches Plaza Matadero, where a DJ and an entertainer will welcome the procession.
Throughout the day, Matadero will be the epicenter of the family party: creative workshops, face painting, treasure hunts, puppet shows, parades of giants and big-heads, dance classes, tropical rhythm orchestra, street samba, and DJ sessions designed so that both children and adults can find something to enjoy. La Juan Gallery is once again curating the program, with free activities between 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Editorial credit: Madrid City Council
Sunday 15: manteo del pelele, murgas and chirigotas
On Sunday, February 15, traditional customs take center stage. The day kicks off with the manteo del pelele in Plaza Matadero, organized by the Arrabel Cultural Association, which revives this popular Madrid custom with music and audience participation. At midday, it will be the turn of the comparsas, murgas, and chirigotas, who will take to the stage to recount current events with songs, wit, and outrageous costumes. It is the ideal day for those seeking the most classic flavor of Carnival without leaving the same venue that has hosted the grand parade.
Beyond Matadero and Madrid Río, the municipal program includes parades and Carnival parties in districts, cultural centers, and local venues, with costume contests, dances, and activities designed for children and young people. The City Council’s official website publishes the complete program in PDF format, with detailed schedules and venues throughout Madrid.
Wednesday 18: the Burial of the Sardine brings the festivities to a close
Madrid’s Carnival comes to an end on Ash Wednesday, February 18, with the traditional Burial of the Sardine, one of the most unique and photogenic rituals of these festivities. In the morning, between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the Alegre Cofradía (Merry Brotherhood) parades through Madrid de los Austrias to the Plaza Mayor, with a parade, a marching band, and a satirical proclamation.
In the afternoon, the grand funeral procession arrives: from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the brotherhood, accompanied by giants and big-heads, leaves from the chapel of San Antonio de la Florida and walks along the banks of the Manzanares River to the Fuente del Pajarito fountain in the Casa de Campo. There, the symbolic burial of the sardine is celebrated, amid smoke, fire, and music, bringing Madrid’s 2026 Carnival to a close and officially ushering in Lent.