Holiday cheer has entered the city

 

✅ Free / Cheap Options

1. Encendido de las luces de Navidad en Cibeles
   📅 Saturday, 22 November 2025, 19:30 LaSexta+2Diario del Ayuntamiento de Madrid+2
   📍 Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid Diario del Ayuntamiento de Madrid+1
   💶 Price: Free (public event)
   ✨ Madrid officially kicks off its Christmas season with a spectacular light-show. There will be a live performance by Pablo López, a 3D videomapping projection on the Palacio de Cibeles, and fireworks. Cadena Dial+1
   💡 Tip: Arrive early to get a good spot — it's a very popular event.

2. Naviluz – Christmas Lights Bus Tour
   📅 From 23 November (runs daily per schedule) Time Out Global+1
   📍 Starting points vary; classic Madrid Christmas route (Gran Vía, Cibeles, Alcalá…) Time Out Global
   💶 Price: Tickets sold; check Naviluz website for current fares. La Guía Go+1
   ✨ A magical 50-minute bus journey through Madrid’s most iconic illuminated streets. Great for soaking in the holiday mood without freezing your feet off.
   💡 Tip: Book in advance — seats for evening rides fill up fast.

3. Festival de Otoño 2025 – Artes Escénicas
   📅 Runs until 30 November 2025 Madrid+1
   📍 Various venues: Teatros del Canal, Conde Duque, Teatro de La Abadía, etc. IFEMA Madrid
   💶 Price: Varies by show, but there are often more affordable tickets for student / reduced categories. web.comunidad.madrid+1
   ✨ This long-running festival features international theatre, dance, music, and performance art. It’s an excellent window into Madrid’s more experimental and cutting-edge cultural scene. Comunidad de Madrid
   💡 Tip: Look for less mainstream performances — they may be cheaper and more unique.

4. Medialab Matadero
   📅 Anytime (open cultural lab) Wikipedia
   📍 Matadero Madrid, Arganzuela Wikipedia
   💶 Price: Many talks, workshops, and installations are free or donation-based
   ✨ A participatory space for art, innovation, and digital culture. Even if you just drop in, it’s a cool spot to check out what local creatives are working on.

5. Espacio Solo – Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
   📅 Open most days (check their web) Wikipedia
   📍 Calle de Alcalá / Retiro area, Madrid Wikipedia
   💶 Price: Usually modest (check current ticket prices)
   ✨ A private but very accessible contemporary art collection. It’s a calmer alternative to the big museums and great for discovering modern artists.

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💶 Paid / Special Options

1. “My Fierce Ignorant Step” – Danza Contemporánea (Festival de Otoño)
   📅 21–22 November 2025 at Teatros del Canal (Sala Roja) Teatro Madrid+1
   💶 Price: Ticketed (check Teatro Canal for pricing)
   ✨ A powerful contemporary dance piece about youth, resistance, and human connection. A visually engaging show with deep emotional resonance.

2. “HÄXAN” – Teatro Performativo (Festival de Otoño)
   📅 22–23 November 2025 at Teatro Pradillo teatroscanal.com+1
   💶 Price: Ticketed
   ✨ A theatrical performance combining witchcraft, history, and myth. Perfect for a darker, more mystical evening out.

3. “Historia de Amor” – Teatrocinema
   📅 19–20 November 2025 (so it overlaps into your weekend) at Teatro Pradillo. teatroscanal.com
   💶 Price: Ticketed
   ✨ A poetic, cinematic-style theatre piece — like a romantic film brought to life on stage. Intimate, thoughtful, and artistically rich.

4. Teatro / Danza – Otra propuesta del Festival de Otoño
   📅 Check shows between 23–26 November (the festival runs through these dates) web.comunidad.madrid
   📍 Venues: Condeduque, Teatros del Canal, etc.
   💶 Price: Varies show to show
   ✨ There are multiple theatre and dance performances during this stretch — pick one that fits your mood (political theatre, poetry + movement, experimental work).

If you aren't away this weekend - here are some things Madrid has going on

 

✅ Free / Cheap Options

1. Free Exhibitions, Concerts & Workshops – “Cultural Week”
   📅 Dates: Ongoing through 14 Nov 2025 (and many days this week) RUSSPAIN.COM
   📍 Various cultural centers around Madrid
   💶 Price: Free
   ✨ A rolling programme of free art exhibits, live music, interactive workshops — good for casual afternoons with little cost and flexible timing.
   💡 Tip: Check individual venue websites for times & registration (some may require reserving).

2. Immersive Exhibition – Nike: Design in Motion
   📅 From 12 Nov 2025 to 25 Jan 2026 Tio tours madrid
   📍 TeamLabs / Madrid, Plaza de San Martín 1
   💶 Price: Ticketed (moderate cost)
   ✨ A stylish, immersive show tracing Nike’s design evolution—great if you’re into design, sport style, tech + culture.
   💡 Tip: Go early in the day if you want a quieter experience and better photos.

3. Jazz / Live Music Nights (cheap) – Various Venues
   📅 Thursday & Friday nights (13-14 Nov) Songkick
   📍 Venues like Sala Nazca, Café Berlín, La Riviera etc.
   💶 Price: Ticketed but often modest for earlier sets / local acts
   ✨ A fun way to experience Madrid’s nightlife with live music without the huge cost of big-arena shows.
   💡 Tip: Arrive early for best seats / cheaper entry.

4. Autumn Walk & Café Chill Route – Low Cost
   📅 Saturday or Sunday afternoon
   📍 Choose a scenic autumn route: Parque del Retiro → Barrio de Salamanca cafés → away from tourist rush Madrid Secreto
   💶 Price: Free for walking; café budget optional
   ✨ A relaxed alternative: soak in November’s autumnal light, leaves, atmosphere. Less event-heavy, more local-experience.
   💡 Tip: Take a camera, maybe stop in a lesser-known barrio like Arganzuela for something different.

5. Free Talks / Networking / Cultural Meet-Ups
   📅 Thurs-Fri
   📍 Venues such as around Nuevos Ministerios / Eventbrite listings Eventbrite
   💶 Price: Free or donation-based
   ✨ Great chance to meet local students, expats, network or join a themed talk/workshop for cheap.
   💡 Tip: Bring a notebook / business card if you like networking; arrive early to secure a spot.

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💶 Paid / Special Options

1. Concert – OneRepublic & Ella Henderson
   📅 Friday 14 Nov 2025 Songkick
   📍 Palacio Vistalegre, Madrid
   💶 Price: Standard concert ticket (check site for current pricing)
   ✨ Big-name pop show — ideal for a “night out” feel with a larger crowd and high-energy performance.

2. Flamenco Show + Tapas & Wine Tour
   📅 Available Thursday 13 Nov & Friday 14 Nov onward My Guide Madrid
   📍 Calle Mayor (central Madrid)
   💶 Price: Paid tour (includes show + food/drink)
   ✨ A cultural evening combining live flamenco with local cuisine — immersive, enjoyable for study-abroad students wanting something Spanish and memorable.

3. Musical / Theatre Performance – “Autumn Festival” Programme
   📅 Throughout Nov (pick this weekend) Idealista
   📍 Theatres in Madrid (check current listings)
   💶 Price: Ticketed (varies by show)
   ✨ Choose from dance, contemporary theatre or performance art — a bit more upscale but culturally rich.

4. Premium Live Music Venue – e.g., Halestorm / Bloodywood or Till Lindemann
   📅 Saturday 15 Nov 2025 Songkick
   📍 Venue: La Riviera, Madrid
   💶 Price: Ticketed (likely higher than smaller shows)
   ✨ For fans of rock/metal or wanting an intense live-music vibe; alternate style than mainstream pop.

Halloweekend!

 

✅ Free / Cheap Options

1. Candlelight – Special Halloween Concerts
   📅 Date: Various nights during next week
   📍 Locations: Iconic venues across Madrid (Círculo de Bellas Artes, Basílica de San Miguel, etc.)
   💶 Price: From ~ €15+ (cheaper seats)
   ✨ These concerts present music in candlelit ambiance, often with a Halloween or moody twist. A magical, atmospheric option that’s not as pricey as a big concert.
   💡 Tip: Book early — good spots sell out.

2. Paseos guiados “Miguitas” en Arganzuela (Free Guided Walks)
   📅 Ongoing (check day/time next week)
   📍 Starting point in Arganzuela
   💶 Price: Free
   ✨ A neighborhood walk series exploring the hidden corners, history, and local stories of Arganzuela. Great for getting off the beaten track and discovering quieter parts of Madrid.
   💡 Tip: Arrive early to reserve your spot; tours may be small.

3. Abierto x Obras – Exposición de Cristina Mejías: “Lengua en coro”
   📅 From Thursday onward (Matadero)
   📍 Matadero Madrid
   💶 Price: Many of the related activities are free / open to public (exhibition access often free) Madrid
   ✨ A contemporary art / intervention展 combining collective voices, text, performance. Good for art lovers wanting something experimental and local.

4. Exposición “Expresionismo. Un arte de cine”
   📅 Runs through much of October
   📍 Sala Mateo Inurria, Fundación Canal
   💶 Price: Free (exhibition) — check for special showings
   ✨ Exhibition exploring expressionism and its influence in film and visual arts. A quiet, thoughtful option mid-week.
   💡 Tip: Combine it with a walk along Canal or nearby cafés.

5. “5 Planes Gratis en Madrid” – Cultural Picks
   📅 Specific free events in that series (theater, workshops, performances)
   📍 Various cultural centers (Moratalaz, Arganzuela, Casa de América, etc.)
   💶 Price: Free
   ✨ This is a rotating list of top free things each week — plays, interactive installations, literary events. It gives you curated, zero-cost options. dondego.es+1dondego.es+1

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💶 Paid / Special Options

1. Yungblud Concert
   📅 Date: 11 October 2025 at 21:00
   📍 Venue: Palacio Vistalegre Arena
   💶 Price: Ticketed concert
   ✨ Yungblud’s high-energy show is perfect for fans of alternative / rock / pop. Expect a lively crowd and bold stage presence. dondego.es

2. Candlelight Concerts (non-free, premium seating)
   📅 Various nights
   📍 Same venues as the free ones, but better seats / exclusive editions cost more
   💶 Price: ~ €20–€30+
   ✨ Seats closer to stage, more immersive experience. If you really want the full effect, this is a good upgrade from the cheaper candlelight options. Madrid Secreto+1Fever+1

3. Teatro Calderón — Show / Musical
   📅 Dates through the next week (check schedule)
   📍 Teatro Calderón, central Madrid
   💶 Price: Ticketed (varies by show)
   ✨ A classic theatrical or musical performance in a historic theatre. Great for a “big night out”. dondego.es

4. “Rojuu en La Riviera”
   📅 Upcoming event in Madrid
   📍 Sala La Riviera
   💶 Price: Ticketed concert
   ✨ For fans of soul / R&B, this concert offers a nice contrast to big pop shows — more intimate venue, good vibes. Fever

Other fun events this week(end)

 

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🖼 Feriarte 2025 – Feria de Antigüedades y Galerías de Arte
📅 Dates: 18 – 26 October 2025
📍 Location: IFEMA Madrid, Pabellón 3, Av. del Partenón, 5, Barajas ifema.es+3ifema.es+3expofp.com+3
💶 Price: Entry tickets (usually modest); there is a jornada de puertas abiertas (open day) on 21 October (free entry) we-artonline.com+3Cinco Días+3ifema.es+3
✨ Spain’s major art & antiques fair: expect collections spanning decorative arts, archeology, contemporary art, jewelry, furniture, rare books, etc. colnaghi.com+3ifema.es+3ifema.es+3
🎤 Also includes “Foro Feriarte” debates / panels around “1492 y más allá” (cultural/artistic exchange) with free access to those attending the fair. ifema.es+1ifema.es+1

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🌆 Tapapiés 2025 (Gastronomy + Free Music in Lavapiés)

📅 Dates: 16 – 26 October 2025
📍 Location: Lavapiés neighborhood, various bars, plazas, public spaces LOS40
💶 Price: Tapas + drink combo ~ €3.50; tapas alone ~ €2.50 LOS40
✨ Street-food + world cuisine route, combined with free concerts in plazas (Ana Diosado, Arturo Barea, Cascorro, etc.) covering genres like rock, blues, jazz, folk LOS40
🎵 Perfect for wandering, sampling, and catching live music without big cost.

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🎭 “5 planes gratis en Madrid” (Free Cultural Picks of Oct 17–24)
📅 Dates: 17 – 24 October 2025
📍 Locations: Various (Moratalaz, Chamartín, Arganzuela, Casa de América) El País
💶 Price: Free
✨ Some options include:
• “Suavecita”, an Argentine play (17–18 Oct) in Moratalaz & Chamartín centers El País
• “Se respira en el jardín como en un bosque”, an interactive theatre installation (17–18 Oct, Arganzuela) El País
• A workshop “Geografías invisibles” (19 Oct) engaging audience participation El País
• A film screening “Penal Cordillera” + colloquio (23 Oct) at Casa de América El País

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🎟 Some Free Events from DondeGo / “Eventos Gratis Madrid”
📅 This week / month
📍 Various neighborhoods & cultural centers in Madrid dondego.es
💶 Price: Free
✨ A few examples:
• Madrid Urban Fest 2025 (24 Oct – 8 Nov) — concerts, urban art, workshops at Centro Cultural Pilar Miró dondego.es
• Festival Internacional de Teatro de Títeres de Madrid (20–26 Oct) — puppet shows and exhibitions across multiple venues dondego.es
• Halloween Fiesta en Paracuellos de Jarama — a full-day Halloween experience in the town (31 Oct) dondego.es
• Excursión al Palacete de Basilio Avial — guided tour, free, 25 Oct (11:00–13:00) dondego.es
• Exposición “Expresionismo. Un arte de cine” — art + film crossover exhibition, runs until 4 Jan 2026, at Sala Mateo Inurria (Fundación Canal) dondego.es
• Exposición “Tantos mundos en este” — in Museo Nacional de Antropología, from 11 Oct to 25 Jan 2026 dondego.es
• Ciclo de paseos guiados gratuitos por Arganzuela “Miguitas” — walking tours around Arganzuela district (free) until November dondego.es
• Casa de México – Día de Muertos — altar, cultural activities from 4 Oct to 9 Nov dondego.es
• “El sueño de la razón. Del Siglo de las Luces a la IA” — exhibition of engravings, classical + contemporary, at Espacio Fundación Telefónica (10 Oct – 5 Apr 2026) dondego.es

The start of spooky season

 

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🎃 Parque Warner – Halloween Scary Nights / Seasonal Horror Events

📅 Dates: Now through ~ 3 November 2025 (weekends + special nights) www.parquesreunidos.com+1www.parquesreunidos.com+1
📍 Location: Parque Warner, San Martín de la Vega (just outside Madrid)
💶 Price: Regular park ticket + “Horror nights” supplement (varies) www.parquesreunidos.com+1www.parquesreunidos.com+1
✨ Experience haunted mazes, scare zones, themed shows, and immersive horror nights after dark. Good mix of thrills & seasonal atmosphere.

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🏰 Parque de Atracciones – Halloween Shows & Haunted Houses
📅 Dates: Weekends and selected days during October 2025 Madrid Ticket+1www.parquesreunidos.com+1
📍 Location: Parque de Atracciones Madrid
💶 Price: Entrance fee to the park + extra for “pasajes del terror” (haunted houses) Madrid Ticket+1www.parquesreunidos.com+1
✨ During the daytime, there are costume parades, family-friendly themed shows, and decorations; by night, the horror attractions come alive.

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🚶‍♀️ Ghost / Legends Night Walking Tours
📅 Weeknights / this weekend (check availability)
📍 Meeting Point: Plaza de la Providencia (or similar central Madrid location) GetYourGuide
💶 Price: Modest fee (tour price)
✨ Explore Madrid’s darker past — tales of ghosts, legends, superstitions, the Inquisition, hidden alleys, and more. A great way to combine city exploration + spooky vibes.

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🕯 Candlelight: Special Halloween / Atmospheric Concerts

📅 Throughout October (including this week/weekend) Madrid Secreto+1My Guide Madrid+1
📍 Locations: Iconic venues around Madrid (Círculo de Bellas Artes, churches, historic spaces) Madrid Secreto+1My Guide Madrid+1
💶 Price: Starting ~ €15+ Madrid Secreto
✨ Expect musical performances by candlelight, often themed for Halloween (soundtracks, classical, moody pieces). Great for a more mellow, atmospheric evening.

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🧙 Noche de Muertos y Brujas – Círculo de Bellas Artes Halloween Party
📅 Date: Friday, 31 October 2025, ~22:30 to ~5:00 a.m. Madrid Secreto
📍 Location: Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid Madrid Secreto
💶 Price: (Event ticket, typically premium)
✨ A blend of Día de Muertos & Halloween: DJs, dancing, themed decor, and a mysterious, festive night in one of Madrid’s cultural landmarks.

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👻 San Isidro Cemetery Tour (Halloween / spooky edition)

📅 Dates: Around Halloween / late October 2025 Madrid Secreto

📍 Location: Cementerio Sacramental de San Isidro (historic cemetery in Madrid) Madrid Secreto
💶 Price: Tour fee
✨ Walk among the tombs, learn about historic mausoleums, stories of famous burials, and legends tied to the city’s dead. A quieter but evocative Halloween-adjacent activity.

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