One of the beautiful virtues of April is its light. The fourth month of the year arrives with the aftertaste of the switch to daylight saving time. In Madrid, an extra hour of daylight translates into endless afternoons to enjoy the good weather.
This month will kick off with a contagious burst of culinary, artistic, musical, and literary experiences—and, of course, unforgettable nights. Here are the April plans for staying in Madrid.
Travel back 4,500 years and explore the Great Pyramid of Giza without leaving Madrid. This immersive virtual reality experience recreates ancient Egypt and the funeral of Pharaoh Cheops, in collaboration with Harvard’s Egyptology team. For history lovers, curious minds, and even the little ones. However, participants must be at least 10 years old and taller than 1.30m.
Wild, untamed, and spontaneous: a festival celebrating urban nature
The 7th edition of Salvajes, silvestres y espontáneas focuses on urban flora—the nature that grows in the city and often goes unnoticed by city dwellers. The festival aims to reveal the benefits and potential of these plants as part of the “gardens of the future” through disciplines such as citizen science, experimental film, photography, and street theater.
The program kicks off with the event “Camas de olor” and will continue with outings and workshops, where you’ll learn about ethnobotany and herbalism, as well as how to identify edible wild plants and make antitypia. In addition, there will be various screenings of short films and a family activity in the Retiro Park.
The soccer calendar is picking up pace again with an eye on the 2026 World Cup. One plan that can help you get in the mood is LEGENDS: The Home of Football, a museum dedicated to the history of soccer that brings together more than 600 original artifacts.
Located just a stone’s throw from Puerta del Sol, the tour combines historical artifacts with immersive experiences that let you relive iconic moments (such as the “goal of the century”). It’s not just about looking at display cases; it’s about understanding why soccer is the way it is today and everything that surrounds it.
A family spring with the programming at La Casa Encendida
En Familia is a program designed for the enjoyment of young and old alike, featuring this year the visual identity of Italian illustrator Noemi Vola. Magical creatures and walking roots accompany a calendar full of music, workshops, and film, highlights of which include the rhythm of the Tupumpúm festival with family perreo workshops and Pía Pía Piano sessions for babies.
The film lineup includes titles such as Maya, Give Me a Title and Tummy Tom and the Lost Teddy Bear. Added to this are mediation and nature workshops, such as I Read the World with Virginia de la Rosa, and outings to Retiro Park to explore the wild flora.
The exhibition “By Sword and Cloak: Fashion in the Age of Cervantes“
With cloak and sword. Fashion in the Age of Cervantes offers a journey through the clothing of the Golden Age, connecting Miguel de Cervantes’ literary universe with the material reality of his time and helping us understand how the characters who inhabited his works and the citizens who filled the streets of Baroque Spain dressed. The exhibition brings together textile pieces on loan from the Museo del Traje, which are among the few examples that survive to this day.
Every spring, the Royal Botanical Garden showcases the blooming of thousands of tulips (this year, 23,000 bulbs were planted) and other flowers from the same family , such as daffodils, hyacinths, and narcissus. The floral spectacle lasts only a few weeks, filling the first days of spring with color.
Dear reader, Lady Whistledown invites you to immerse yourself in the world of high society under the warm glow of candlelight. Throughout April, the College of Physicians becomes the perfect setting to enjoy the greatest hits from the Netflix series performed by a string quartet. Put on your finest Regency-style outfit and let yourself be swept away by the Bridgerton soundtrack with Candlelight.
Pinta Malasaña 2026, the urban art festival in the heart of the capital
The urban art festival returns to the streets of Malasaña this month, ready to decorate various spaces provided by local businesses, associations, and residents throughout the neighborhood. The participating artists were selected through an open contest organized by the newspaper Somos Malasaña and the Madrid Street Art Project association. Throughout the day, attendees will also be able to participate in the contest by choosing the audience award and taking part in workshops and side events.
Continuous reading of Don Quixote at the CBA for Book Day
“He who reads much and travels much sees much and knows much.” The Círculo de Bellas Artes once again embraces these words of Cervantes in what will be the 30th edition of its continuous reading of Don Quixote. For nearly 32 hours over three days, thousands of readers will gather at the CBA to relive the adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza together, and if you sign up, you can be one of them.
Over the course of its 30 editions, the event has featured big names from the worlds of culture, politics, and literature; this year, the guest will be the Mexican Gonzalo Celorio.
Sesión Vermú returns with 83 completely free concerts spread across 24 municipalities in the Community of Madrid, including Alcalá de Henares, Buitrago de Lozoya, Aranjuez, San Lorenzo del Escorial, Chinchón, and Manzanares El Real.
From April 11 to May 2, the best of today’s music scene will gather on these outdoor stages. We’re talking about acts like Hinds, La Paloma, Las Petunias, Repion, and Triángulo de Amor Bizarro, among many, many others. Read the article and discover the full list of artists participating in this year’s Sesión Vermú.
READ Madrid. Book and Ideas Festival at the Reina Sofía Museum
READ Madrid launches this month as a meeting place for new voices in the fields of literature and publishing, with the aim of expanding the traditional boundaries of the book by linking literature, visual arts, performance, and thought.
Seeking to build a cultural bridge with Latin America, the program revolves around various roundtables, exhibitions, and screenings, including “Restorative Narratives and Collective Grief” with Dahlia de la Cerda and Nuria Alabao, a performance by Álvaro Romero, and a screening of Lucrecia Martel’s film *Nuestra Tierra* ( 2025)
Biophest 2026: nature, arts, and thought
Following the success of its first edition, Biophest will once again feature renowned artists, musicians, naturalists, and scientists at a festival where a love of nature meets the arts and philosophy. This year’s guests include neuroscientist Nazareth Castellanos, researcher Michael Marder, musicians Joe Patitucci and Teo Lucadamo, and artist María Eugenia Diego.
The concept of the mosaic landscape will be the central theme of Biophest 2026, a term that refers to territories where different land uses coexist, forming a varied tapestry—a combination of human and natural elements.
Dance and light merge to bring classic tales to life on stage. If you’re looking for something different to do in April, Ballet of Lights is coming to the Círculo de Bellas Artes with Sleeping Beauty: six dancers in luminous costumes will perform the story while the audience relaxes and enjoys this magical combination of classical dance and technology.
An audiovisual installation about women of the Golden Age at the Teatro de la Comedia
The Teatro de la Comedia is inaugurating the audiovisual installation GENIAS, created and premiered by the Almagro International Classical Theater Festival in its 2025 edition. As a space for remembrance and tribute to the female voices that shaped the Golden Age, the installation highlights female authors such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Leonor de la Cueva, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and Rosalía de Castro, as well as female characters from Spanish Baroque literature, such as Laurencia from Fuenteovejuna, María de Molina from La prudencia en la mujer, and Semíramis from La hija del aire.
LIBROMAD, the four-day “Night of Books”
The Community of Madrid is launching LIBROMAD this year, a literary festival that evolves and expands on the concept of the traditional Night of the Books. This new format spans four days to promote book sales and revitalize the region’s network of 392 independent bookstores. With over 300 events designed for all audiences, the festival aims to establish Madrid as Spain’s leading destination for reading.
Casa Decor, a fair for decoration and interior design in the Barrio de las Letras
One of the most influential events in design and interior design celebrates its 61st edition, landing for the first time in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras. The chosen venue is a late 19th-century palace, a former noble residence and later a convent, which will open its 3,500 m² to showcase the offerings of more than 200 exhibitors and some fifty decorated spaces.
Amid the stained-glass windows of Casa Maumejean and monumental staircases, visitors can discover cutting-edge trends in architecture and interior design, featuring both emerging and established professionals in the field.
The Comedian’s Son, a tribute by José Sacristán to Fernán Gómez
This play is a tribute to Fernando Fernán Gómez, “the seamstress’s grandson, the comedian’s son,” adapted, directed, and starring José Sacristán. Based on Fernán Gómez’s memoir El tiempo amarillo, the play recounts his childhood and youth in the immediate postwar period, marked by the hard life of his mother, the actress Dolores Fernández, and his grandmother.
The comedian’s son returns this April to the Teatro Bellas Artes following its premiere at the Teatro Fernán Gómez in 2021, amid celebrations for the writer, actor, and director’s centennial.
The Jazz Room invites lovers of good music on a sensory journey to the birthplace of jazz in the 1920s. Through a carefully curated selection of classics, musicians and vocalists recreate the spirit of New Orleans by combining the structure of hot jazz with the magic of improvisation and paying homage to the creative freedom of this iconic genre.
Salón Gourmets, a fair for delicatessen products and food innovation
This high-end food and beverage fair celebrates its 39th edition, cementing its status as the epicenter of delicatessen products and agri-food innovation. This year, more than 55,000 select products will be on display, with Norway as the country of honor and Galicia as the guest region. Attendees will be able to enjoy legendary spaces such as the Wine Tunnel and the EVOO Tunnel, as well as new competitive events including the Grill Challenge, the Carbonara Challenge, and the search for the best quality burger.
Mutua Madrid Open
One of the year’s biggest tennis tournaments returns to Caja Mágica: the world’s best tennis players ( as well as the sport’s rising stars) face off to claim the coveted trophy.
The schedule kicks off with the qualifying rounds and the first rounds of the main draw on April 20, culminating in a weekend featuring the women’s and men’s finals on May 2 and 3. Fans will be able to enjoy day and night sessions, spread across the legendary Manolo Santana Court, the Arantxa Sánchez Stadium, and the outdoor courts, where a total of 340 matches will be played.
The Fold, a visual exploration by Hoda Afshar
La Casa Encendida presents a visual exploration by Iranian artist Hoda Afshar, who delves into the archives of psychiatrist Gaëtan Gatian de Clérambault to examine the colonial legacy in photography.
Through an installation combining video, slides, and digital manipulation, Afshar subverts thousands of images of veiled women taken in Morocco in the early 20th century. The exhibition culminates in an audiovisual piece that sparks a dialogue on how the visibility of the female body remains a political and social battleground.
James K at the Soundset Series at Contemporánea Condeduque
Contemporánea Condeduque hosts the Madrid premiere of Friend ( 2025) by multidisciplinary artist, producer, vocalist, and performer James K. Following the release of Scorpio (2023) and Blinkmoth (July Mix) ( 2024), the American artist has established herself in the contemporary experimental scene thanks to the uniqueness of her style, which blends electronic music, pop, and a distinctive vocal sensibility.
Looking to upgrade your car? The biggest pre-owned and multi-brand vehicle event returns for the second consecutive year, brought to you by Momentum. A unique opportunity to find the car you’re looking for under exceptional conditions, with discounts of up to 40% off the original price, all in a specialized setting. For three days, the market’s leading brands will gather at the Pre-Owned Vehicle Fair and promise unbeatable prices.Sign up and book your appointment!
Beyond the sold-out shows by Los Delinqüentes and Rosalía, Madrid’s musical spring unfolds with energy, eclecticism, and big names. April is the month where Laura Pausini, Tame Impala, and Bad Gyal share the stage. But there’s also room for the most extreme grindcore, Queralt Lahoz’s reimagined flamenco , and Nacho Vegas’s singer-songwriter style. Here are some live shows you can’t miss:
- April 1: Caroline (Sala El Sol)
- April 3: Steph Strings (Sala Nazca Live)
- April 6: Laura Pausini (Movistar Arena)
- April 7: Tame Impala (Movistar Arena)
- April 8: Marquitos fka ODDLIQUOR (La Riviera)
- April 11, 12, and 14: Bad Gyal (Movistar Arena)
- April 16: Full of Hell (Sala Copérnico)
- April 19: HENS (La Riviera)
- April 19: Abraham Cupeiro (Teatros del Canal)
- April 22: Jan Blomqvist (Sala MON)
- April 29: Queralt Lahoz (Sala BUT)