Amazing Things to Do in Madrid in May: Street Art, Free Concerts, Exhibitions, and More

Parades of giants and big-heads, the reading of the opening proclamation, the pilgrimage to the Pradera de San Isidro, the “rosquillas tontas” and “rosquillas listas,” carnations, chulapas and chulapos, free outdoor concerts throughout the city…San Isidro is back, and so is Madrid’s most iconic celebration honoring the patron saint of farmers.

Following the opening speech by journalist Sonsoles Ónega on May 8 from the Casa de la Villa, Madrid will be filled with music. The highlight will be nearly thirty free concerts spread acrossthe Pradera, Las Vistillas, the Plaza Mayor, and Matadero, with a stellar lineup for all tastes that includes Los Chunguitos, Fangoria, Miguel Ríos, La Bien Querida, and Carlangas.

Madrid Food Fest makes its debut in the capital with the sole aim of bringing haute cuisine to everyone. For two days, chefs from Michelin-starred and Repsol Sun-awarded restaurants will gather at the Railway Museum to demonstrate that their most iconic dishes can also be delicious street food.

The event is rounded out by a market featuring artisan producers, offering everything from artisanal cheeses to kombucha and Madrid’s finest wines, as well as livecooking demonstrations, music, live podcasts, and interactive workshops.

The IMB Festival celebrates its fourth edition on May 21 at La Sala del Movistar Arena with a lineup focused on emerging talent from the Madrid scene. Organized by students from IMB School, the lineup blends indie, urban, alternative pop, and electronic music with artists such as El momento incómodo, Elena Mesa, dka, wndr, Desmelenao, and 21:12.

Madrid becomes the epicenter of the Force with the arrival of one of the world’s largest private collections dedicated to the famous galactic saga. Through life-size recreations of iconic scenes, original costumes, and detailed dioramas, visitors can explore the history of all generations of the franchise, from the classic Stormtroopers and Darth Vader to characters like Yoda and Boba Fett.

Entes is an exhibition that traces more than half a century of Aurèlia Muñoz’s career, a key figure in the renewal of contemporary textile art. The work of this Barcelona-based artist transcends any craft-based category and becomes a profound exploration of fiber, space, and ecology.

This virtual reality expedition, developed in collaboration with Harvard University, transports us 4,500 years back in time to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The tour lets you discover the Giza Plateau at sunrise, sail down the Nile, and access different areas of the necropolis, culminating in the funeral rites and embalming of Pharaoh Khufu. It’s an educational and entertaining experience designed for curious minds, history buffs, and families with children over 10 years old.

The Lavapiés CALLE Artistic Interventions Festival transforms the neighborhood’s facades year after year to support small businesses. In this edition, nearly 50 artists will transform just as many commercial spaces, showcasing the diversity and vitality of one of Madrid’s most beloved neighborhoods.

From May 7 to 17, the public will be able to watch the artists’ creative process live as they bring their works to life on the exteriors of the shops. Once this phase is complete, residents and visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite pieces until May 24.

The world of Outlander leaves the screen and comes to life at the Círculo de Bellas Artes by the light of thousands of candles. This tribute features the iconic soundtrack composed by Bear McCreary performed by a string quartet. Immersing themselves fully in the spirit of the Highlands, the audience will be able to become part of Claire and Jamie’s story as they journey musically through the series’ distinctive essence.

Reminiscencias is an intimate journey through the artistic career of Alicante-born Conrado Moya, one of the most prominent marimba soloists on the international scene. The concert, taking place on May 23, offers a balance between the precision of Bach’s music and the originality of the contemporary repertoire (including a piece never before performed in Madrid), without forgetting jazz. A slightly different plan for true music lovers!

The Puente de la Angostura trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the Sierra de Guadarrama, especially in the spring. The trail starts at the La Isla Recreation Area and is suitable for families and dogs. After passing through spots that look like something out of a fairy tale, such as the Presa del Pradillo, you’ll reach the Angostura Bridge, covered in moss and perfect for a photo session surrounded by nature.

La Cabrera presents a film series throughout the month of May, featuring internationally acclaimed films accompanied by introductions and discussions. The program opens with a screening of Ciudad sin sueño, a social drama set in the Cañada Real, which will feature the presence of its director, Guillermo Galoe. This will be followed by titles such as the Romanian production Kontinental 25, Los Domingos , and Valor sentimental, Joachim Trier’s award-winning film that won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Tickets are just €2 each—what a great deal!

The Neanderthal Valley Archaeological Park offers educational tours to discover the lives of the hominids who inhabited the Upper Lozoya Valley between 150,000 and 40,000 years ago. Tours take place Tuesday through Sunday, led by researchers from the site’s own team, and last approximately two hours, covering a distance of four kilometers. Recommended for ages 8 and up, and best of all, it’s only €2 per adult!

The beauty, eroticism, and elegance of 18th- and 19th-century Japan… in Madrid. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando is hosting an exhibition of Japanese art featuring more than 70 works from the golden age of Japanese printmaking. Titled Beauties of the Floating World, the exhibition explores the bijin-ga genre, or “images of beautiful women, ” highlighting artists such as Kitagawa Utamaro, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Utagawa Kunisada.

When the blood starts pumping, so does the competition: BuzzAttack is a quiz show that brings TV game shows to a real-life set, complete with podiums, all kinds of questions, mini-games, and challenges that combine memory, intuition, and reflexes—all under the spotlight and with a giant central wheel that sets the pace of the game.

Sessions last about 60–75 minutes, are played in small groups (approx. 4–12 people), require advance booking by time slot, and take place indoors with air conditioning. The dynamics and themes change with the season, keeping each game unique and making it a great activity to repeat with a group. Book your game here.

This temporary exhibition brings together all the jerseys created for LALIGA’s first Retro Matchday, a collection that revives and reinterprets historic kits from various clubs—from tributes to the 1970s to designs that bring back original colors and symbols—and can be viewed up close inside the Legends: The Home of Football museum; It is a special exhibition that will only be available until May 5, although the museum maintains its permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of soccer.

If you’re not a fan of San Isidro but can’t resist the urge to dance, the Rivas festivities are coming in strong this year with concerts on May 14 and 16. Zahara, ParqueSvr, Barry B, and Samuraï are just a few of the artists set to perform at the Miguel Ríos Auditorium in Rivas. Tickets cost 20 euros, and 40 pairs of tickets will be raffled off among residents so they can attend for free.

If you thought science was boring, it’s because you haven’t set foot in Chaos Lab. This immersive experience is the perfect blend of a playground (yes, there’s even a ball pit) and a place to spark kids’ imaginations thanks to its various educational spaces: from several labs where they can get their first taste of science to an interactive show where the kids themselves are an active part of the performance.

Ewa Juszkiewicz’s international career establishes her as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary art, with a presence in museums such as the Centre Pompidou and the Albertina in Vienna. The Thyssen Museum temporarily joins this prestigious list to present a solo exhibition of the Polish artist’s work.

Through some twenty paintings, Juszkiewicz challenges the conventions of 18th- and 19th-century female portraiture, employing a technique that emulates that of the great masters but introduces a subversive twist: concealing the faces of her subjects behind elaborate arrangements of fabric, hairstyles, fruit, or foliage.

The Banca March Gardens reopen to the public in May with the first Madrid exhibition by British sculptor Thomas Houseago. Seven monumental sculptures, crafted from materials such as plaster, bronze, and aluminum, make up this exhibition, which showcases Houseago’s interest in bridging the past and pop culture, with references to Ziggy Stardust and Darth Vader.

Cineteca’s flagship festival returns once again as a meeting point for creators, audiences, and professionals in the documentary genre. Documenta Madrid will take place from May 26 to 31 and will offer a journey through the work of filmmakers from around the world, “highlighting the creative freedom of new cinematic languages and expressions within the documentary genre.”

The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is an immersive experience that blurs the line between the page and the stage. Here, the master of the macabre’s most famous tales come to life across four acts that blend theater and cocktails. The show opens with The Tell-Tale Heart paired with a Pale Blue Eye, followed by The Black Cat, The Raven and The Red Death Mask, along with their respective drinks. And if you’d rather skip the alcohol, you can order your own custommocktail!

This exhibition pays tribute to the private collector as an essential agent in the preservation of artistic and cultural heritage. The exhibition brings together 100 works from 50 contemporary art collections, selected based on an intimate and revealing criterion: each collector has contributed one piece of special personal value and another that was recently acquired. Through this dialogue, the exhibition maps out the sensibilities driving today’s art market and patronage, highlighting the commitment of those who ensure the future of artistic creation in the private sphere.

Swiss clown and stage director Daniele Finzi Pasca is the creator of Ícaro, an intimate monologue about the desire for freedom and hope. The play, originally conceived for a single spectator, was written in prison, where the author spent a short period as a conscientious objector to compulsory military service in Switzerland.

But, heads up! If you go, you have to be ready to participate. In each performance, a randomly selected audience member will actively participate on stage: will it be you?

The arrival of artists and the importation of works made Italy a key player in the artistic development of the Iberian Peninsula in the late Middle Ages, with the Trecento inevitably leaving its mark on our Gothic style.

The Prado Museum aims to bring this artistic period to the general public with over a hundred works spanning various disciplines, such as painting, sculpture, goldsmithing, and embroidery, many of which are little known or have never been exhibited before. Alongside Italian masters such as Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Gherardo Starnina, we will find representatives of local art, such as Ferrer and Arnau Bassa or Pedro de Córdoba.

Throughout the month of May, the Museum of Happiness is expanding its programming with a schedule designed to connect with different ways of experiencing well-being. The daily micro-workshops included with admission—laughter therapy, hug therapy, and sensory stimulation, in two sessions at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM—will continue, along with special Mother’s Day activities designed to share the visit on an emotional level.

The workshop “Happiness Is Within Our Reach,” led by psychologist Pablo Claver on Monday and Friday afternoons, also continues, alongside the photography exhibition on emotions and the interactive installations that expand the usual tour.

The Madrid History Museum is hosting Asphalt Nature: Hyperrealistic Madrid, an exhibition featuring nearly 70 paintings, sculptures, and drawings by José Miguel Palacio that depict life in the capital. Admission is completely free!

This interactive interactive theater turns the audience into the jury of a tense courtroom drama. Based on the case of a fatal speedboat accident, the story follows the son of an influential politician who, after a summer night out with friends, ends up facing murder charges. The audience will serve as the jury to analyze conflicting testimonies, examine evidence, and reach a verdict. Guilty or innocent?

Beyond the sold-out shows by Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, Eric Clapton, and Fito y los Fitipaldis, Madrid’s calendar unfolds with all the energy of the warm weather and a desire to celebrate. May is the month that brings together Bad Bunny’s first concerts in the capital, the long-awaited return of La Oreja de Van Gogh with Amaia Montero, and the historic reunion of El Último de la Fila. But there’s also room for the post-punk darkness of Molchat Doma, the Afrofuturism of Joshua Idehen, and Cecilio G’s return to the stage. Here are some live shows you can’t miss:

• May 3: Yves (Sala Wagon)
• May 6: Tara Lily (Sala Villanos)
• May 9: Cecilio G (Sala MON)
• May 14: Cordovas (Sala Copérnico)
• May 15 and 16: Rawayana (Movistar Arena)
• May 16: Fuet! (Copérnico Hall)
• May 21: Nerve Agent (Sala BUT)
• May 22 and 23: La Pegatina (La Riviera)
• May 23: El Último de la Fila (Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium)
• May 27: Molchat Doma (La Riviera)
• May 28, 29, and 31: La Oreja de Van Gogh (Movistar Arena)
• May 30 and 31: Bad Bunny (Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium)