Carnaval Madrid 2026

Description

Carnival 2026

From February 14th to 18th, Carnival will once again fill Madrid with color and joy. The program includes parades, shows, workshops, and other family-friendly activities. The main event will take place on Saturday the 14th, with the grand parade along Madrid Río following the opening proclamation.

Madrid Carnival 2026: The Grand Parade Returns to Madrid Río

On Saturday, February 14, a grand parade of masks and costumes will travel along Madrid Río from the Toledo Bridge to Plaza Matadero. Street performances, giants and big-headed figures, gymkhanas, face painting, creative workshops, family shows, music, and activities throughout the day complete the program.
The traditional tossing of the straw effigy and the gathering of murgas and chirigotas will take place on Sunday, February 15.

On Wednesday the 18th, the traditional Burial of the Sardine will bring this pre-Lent festivities to a close. Madrid-based illustrator Carmen García Huerta designed this year's poster, inspired by Art Deco, and La Juan Gallery is curating the program.

Madrid Carnival 2026 Program: From the Grand Parade to the Burial of the Sardine

Madrid Gets Dressed for Carnival
There are only a few days left until Carnival officially kicks off in the capital. From February 14th to 18th, the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sport has designed a wide-ranging program that includes parades, shows, workshops, and many more activities for the whole family to enjoy the most carefree celebration of the year. The main event will take place on Saturday the 14th, with the grand parade along Madrid Río after the opening proclamation.

This year's poster references the masked balls of the 1920s. The internationally acclaimed illustrator Carmen García Huerta was commissioned to design this year's Carnival poster.

The poster design is based on an Art Deco aesthetic, inspired by 1920s masquerade balls. The artist's work combines historical references, nods to Madrid's culture, and a highly refined graphic style.
Matadero, the epicenter of Carnival with activities for all ages
The official opening speech will take place on the main stage in Plaza Matadero, at which point the 2026 Madrid Carnival will be declared open. Afterwards, the traditional grand parade will travel along Madrid Río, featuring live music, circus acts, puppets, street theater, giants, and fantastical creatures. The parade will begin at the Toledo Bridge with Achilles, a mobile sculpture over five meters tall, accompanied by a brass and percussion soundtrack; and will end in Plaza Matadero, where a DJ and an MC will welcome the procession and introduce the participating groups.

In the afternoon, in the same location, the La Cucaracha collective will perform a set of tropical carnival rhythms and mixes. The public will have the opportunity to dance and celebrate in style at a fun-filled show that will transform the plaza into an open, joyful, and festive dance floor. There will be an interactive dance class inspired by the world's most iconic carnivals; two performances by a large Cuban orchestra, featuring a repertoire of carnival music from Brazil, the Caribbean, and Latin America; a live street samba performance with a professional cast and costumes designed specifically for the occasion; and a closing DJ set curated especially for younger audiences.

In addition, on the day of the parade, Plaza Matadero will be transformed into a vibrant, non-stop plaza with a whirlwind of simultaneous activities from morning until sunset. There will be creative expression workshops for children, face painting, treasure hunts and family shows, music, the traditional giants and big-headed figures, and various free activities designed for all tastes and ages, taking place between 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The Straw Man's Tossing

On Sunday, February 15th, two Madrid traditions will be revived in the Plaza Matadero: the traditional straw man's tossing and the gathering of satirical musical groups, including murgas, comparsas, and chirigotas.

It's important to remember that in the straw man's tossing, a straw man representing a character who has deserved to be tossed in the air during the year is tossed in a blanket while the attendees sing mocking songs.

The Burial of the Sardine: The End of the Festivities

Carnival festivities conclude on Ash Wednesday with the Burial of the Sardine, a traditional event that Goya himself depicted in one of his paintings.

Thus, on the 18th, a lively funeral procession will parade along the banks of the Manzanares River to bury the unfortunate fish at the Fountain of the Little Bird, located in the Casa de Campo park. In the afternoon, the brotherhood will be accompanied by the Association of Giants and Big-Headed Figures on their final journey through the streets of Madrid, beginning in San Antonio de la Florida and ending at the Fountain of the Little Bird in the Plaza de las Morerías.

With the act of putting away the costumes, silencing the fanfares, and burying the fish with full honors, the festivities come to an end, and we prepare to welcome Lent.

The origin of this curious tradition could date back to the reign of Charles III. Popular tradition tells that a shipment of rotten fish arrived in the city, and that due to the stench it generated, the monarch ordered it to be buried on the banks of the Manzanares River.

What to do in Madrid during Carnival?

Here are all the activities for the 2026 Madrid Carnival with their corresponding dates:

Official Carnival Dates:
February 14-18, 2026

1. Carnival Opening Ceremony
Friday, February 14, 2026
Official opening of the Carnival at Matadero Madrid.

2. Grand Carnival Parade
Saturday, February 15, 2026
Festive parade with troupes, percussion groups, and floats along Madrid Río.

3. Troupes, Murga Groups, and Chirigotas
February 14-17, 2026
Performances at Matadero and cultural venues.

4. Children's Carnival
Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, 2026
Workshops, costumes, and family activities at cultural centers and plazas.

5. Concerts and Shows
February 14-17, 2026
Live music and DJs at Matadero Madrid.

6. Creative Workshops
February 14-18, 2026
Themed activities such as “Dress Up Bauhaus.”

7. Pet Carnival
Sunday, February 16, 2026
Parade and costume contest for dogs in Madrid Río.

8. Masquerade Ball
Saturday, February 15, 2026 (evening)
Themed party inspired by the 1920s.

9. Burial of the Sardine
Tuesday, February 18, 2026
Traditional parade from San Antonio de la Florida to the Manzanares River.