This Halloween, the MADHORROR festival—dedicated to horror and dark fantasy—makes its debut at IFEMA MADRID, aiming to establish itself as the largest international festival of its kind. The MADHORROR initiative is sponsored by Álex de la Iglesia (director of *The Day of the Beast*) and includes meetings with actors, directors, journalists, comic book artists, producers, and leading creative teams from the worlds of horror and fantasy cinema, video games, and comics.
The names headlining the guest lineup for MADHORROR are Robert Englund, Freddy Krueger in *A Nightmare on Elm Street*; Linda Blair, the (former) little girl from *The Exorcist*; and Malcolm McDowell, the star of Kubrick’s *A Clockwork Orange *. The full list is much longer and includes, among others, Juan Antonio Bayona and Alejandro Amenábar.
In addition to looking back at the classics, the main highlight of the program is the MADHORROR International Film Festival, which will screen “some of the most outstanding films from the recent international circuit, ”according to the organizers, some of which were selected during their runs at Cannes, SXSW, or the Berlinale.
In total, ten films will be part of the MADHORROR film festival’s selection. Three titles were featured in the first teaser: *Never After Dark*, directed by Dave Boyle and winner of the Audience Award at the 2026 SXSW; *Colony* (part of the Official Selection at the latest Cannes Film Festival), the new film by *Train to Busan* director Yeon Sang-ho; and *Ghost in the Cell*, presented in the Forum section of the Berlinale and directed by Joko Anwar.
More than just a horror film festival
The MADHORROR program aims to explore the genre in its various facets and formats, starting with film but also covering television, comics, board games, video games, and collectibles.
In addition, and in line with the inevitable trend toward immersive entertainment, IFEMA will be transformed into“an immersive experience spanning more than 25,000 square meters with exhibits, haunted tunnels, and interactiveexperiences”… This is part of an extensive program of panel discussions, meet-and-greets, and cultural activities designed “for those who grew up with the classics of the genre and for anyone looking to enjoy a unique experience,” according to a statement released by the festival.
The full program is still being updated on the website, but the exhibitions that MADHORROR attendees will be able to visit have already been announced, such as “40 Years of Aliens” and a selection of pieces and objects designed by the DDT special effects studio (collaborators with directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Pedro Almodóvar, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, among others).
The festival will also dedicate a showcase to the “favorite horrors” of Chicho Ibáñez Serrador, creator of the series that kept TVE viewers awake for four seasons: *Historias para no dormir*. Among other themed areas, there will also be spaces dedicated to food and drink, workshops, contests, gaming, and live podcast recordings.
Location, tickets, and schedule for MADHORROR
The MADHORROR festival will be held in Pavilion 14.1, the South Auditorium, and outdoor areas at IFEMA. The nearest Metro stop is Feria de Madrid (Line 8). For those arriving by private vehicle, the IFEMA parking lot (with per-minute rates) is located near the venue.
The pavilion and outdoor areas included in the festival will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on October 30 and 31 and November 1 and 2. The film festival screenings, however, will run until 12:30 a.m.
Tickets to attend MADHORROR are now on sale on its website and come in three types, though passes are only available for two of them:
- The “Cursed Pass”: starting at 46 euros, it grants access to the venue for 5 hours, with a choice of morning or afternoon.
- The “Infernal Day” pass: starting at 115 euros, it grants access to the venue on one of the festival’s event days (between October 30 and November 2).
These passes do not include all the experiences available at the festival; the cost of autograph sessions, photos with guests, and access to the Tunnel of Terror—La Rosa Negra can be added separately to the ticket price, as can tickets for the film festival (which are discounted for those with a MADHORROR general pass). You can also purchase individual tickets (without paying the full festival admission fee) for screenings on a per-event basis.