Madrid is ready to open its most emblematic buildings for free and look at the streets from the architecture. From September 25 to 28, Open House Madrid, the international architecture and design festival that will allow visitors to see more than 100 buildings that are normally closed to the public, will be held.
In its 11th edition, Open House Madrid brings together designers, architects and volunteers to bring the world of construction to the public through visits, guided tours and lectures throughout the city. Some activities require prior registration, but many others are open to the public until full capacity is reached.
Participants will be able to enter the studios of great artists and architects, stroll through Madrid from perspectives such as cinema, light and industrialization, and access places that are not usually open to the public. The Grand Lodge of Spain, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Casa Palazuelo and Casa de la Villa are just some of them.
Entering art studios without reservation
One of the great experiences offered by Open House Madrid is to enter into the creative process of the artists. The program includes more than 30 visits to architecture studios, such as Naranja Azul Estudio, Estudio Álvarez-Sala or ZOOCO Estudio.
The studio of Isidro Blasco, a Spanish artist who mixes photography, architecture and sculpture to create his so-called “photographic sculptures“, stands out. On this occasion, the public will have free access to see his large-format constructions made of wood and photography. In them he combines interior spaces and aerial views of metropolises such as Madrid and New York.
Another interesting proposal is that of Photoalquimia Studio, Nada Nuevo Studio and Espac101, which are three creative studios united in the same industrial building in Carabanchel . In all of them have worked the participants of the artistic residencies program “Carabanchel 2031”, so it offers one for the city.
Routes without paying or registering
Registration for Open House Madrid 2025 opened on September 17, but being left without a ticket is not an impediment to be able to enjoy the buildings and routes of this edition.
There will be several routes of free access until full capacity is reached, focused on the connection between different areas of Madrid and cinema. These are the so-called “Openfilm” routes , which will go through the Guindalera neighborhood , Lavapiés or UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Paseo del Prado and the Buen Retiro (Openfilm Landscape of Light route).
Other guided tours that do not require registration include the cloistered courtyards of the San Isidro Cemetery, industrial architecture in Delicias and the Quinta de Vistalegre. It is important to check the schedules and meeting points to arrive on time for these tours and not be left out due to full capacity.
Buildings with free admission
On the website of Open House Madrid is collected the full program, which details which buildings require reservation and which do not, as well as the opening hours. Here is a selection of the buildings with free admission until full capacity is reached:
- Grand Lodge of Spain
- Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
- Palazuelo House
- Pérez-Llorca Castelar Building
- Casa de la Villa
- Canalejas Center
- María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation
- Cibeles Palace CentroCentro
- Arab House
- INAP Library
- Brazil House
- CaixaForum Madrid
