š§ļø What's on in Madrid: April 10
It's gonna rain this weekend so forget about sunbathing.
Madrid | Issue #140
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Itās Friday again!
Holy Week is over, Madrid is back, and the weather isā¦ doing its usual thing. Weāre starting the weekend warm enough to justify a rooftop plan, only to cool down just in time to remind you that spring here is basically a trust exercise.
At least thereās tons of stuff to do: Stylish voyeurism, ancient empires, vintage impulse buys, or something more existential. The only real question is how many of them you can realistically fit in before Monday shows up again.
Happy weekend!
1.āļø Casa Decor is your excuse to (legally, of course) snoop around a Madrid palace
Alright, heathens. Holy Week is over. Time to go back to our usual Friday-to-Sunday habits ā which, in this case, involve a bit of stylish voyeurism.
If youāve ever walked past one of those grand Madrid buildings and thought what does it actually look like inside?, this is your moment. Casa Decor is back, and this year itās taken over a full-on 19th-century palace in the Barrio de las Letrasāarguably one of the most Madrid locations it could have picked.
For six weeks, designers, architects, brands, and artists basically move in and transform the entire building into a series of wildly different spaces. You can find maximalist living rooms next to futuristic kitchens, next to bathrooms that look like a Stanley Kubrick movie or a five-star spa you canāt afford.
Imagine a design playground where you can wander room to room, judging everything in front of your friends so they think youāre an interiors expert.
The building itself is part of the appeal. Located on Calle San AgustĆn, it was originally a noble residence from the late 1800s, later turned into a convent, and still packed with original details ā marble floors, stained glass, and dramatic staircases Ć la Death Becomes Her, a really old but really good movie.
In a couple of years, itāll become a luxury hotel (ugh, we know), so this is basically your chance to see it before it turns into somewhere youāll enter once, look at the ā¬20 cocktails, and then say, āletās just get a beer in Plaza Chuecaā.
But yeah, itās a big place. Weāre talking dozens of spaces, hundreds of participants, and tens of thousands of Casa Decor visitors every year. Even if youāre not particularly into design, itās one of those rare events thatās worth a visit
š„ļø What: Casa Decor 2026
š Where: Calle San AgustĆn 11, Madrid
š When: Through May 24
š Tickets: Check website
2. š¦ Before empires fell, they looked like this: Ashurbanipal at CaixaForum
If your idea of a cultural plan involves something slightly older than a Madrid palace, youāre in luck! The I am Ashurbanipal exhibition has landed at CaixaForum, and itās basically a deep dive into one of the most powerful figures of the ancient world (someone, who, letās face it, you have no idea who he was).
Who? Ashurbanipal was the last great king of Assyria, ruling around 2,700 years ago, and not exactly known for being chill. He built one of the most formidable empires of his time through military force, but he was also unusually intellectual for a ruler (he assembled what is considered one of the first great libraries in history). So yes, muscle and brain.
Now, while āI am Ashurbanipalā sounds like something heād say after you accidentally resurrected him and heās about to suck the soul out of your body, this exhibit is so much more than that, as it brings together over 150 objects from the British Museum, including reliefs, sculptures, and intricate luxury items that show both the grandeur (and brutality) of his reign.
Oh, and thereās also a more modern angle running through it. The exhibition quietly raises questions about cultural heritage, conflict, and what it means to preserve history in unstable regions. In other words, itās not just about an ancient empire. Enjoy! (Just donāt read from The Book of the Dead while visiting).
š„ļø What: I am Ashurbanipal exhibition
š Where: CaixaForum Madrid, Paseo del Prado 36, Madrid
š When: Through October 4
š Tickets start at ā¬6
3.šŗ ANTIK is where your āIām just browsingā budget goes to die
If youāve ever said āIām just going to browseā and then walked out with something you absolutely didnāt need but now canāt live without (like, say, the Book of the Dead), this is your natural habitat.
ANTIK Almoneda Spring Edition 2026 is back, and itās basically a playground for anyone with a weakness for objects with a past.
Thereās furniture, art, jewelry, clothes, and all kinds of beautifully unnecessary things (everything at least 50 years old), which automatically makes it either ātimelessā or āvintageā depending on how much you paid for it.
The fair brings together dozens of antique dealers, galleries, and collectors, which means you can go from admiring a mid-century chair to seriously considering whether you need a (probably haunted) 19th-century mirror in about five minutes.
And no, this is not just for hardcore collectors. Every year, more people show up just to wander, get inspired, and maybe pick up something small that makes their apartment feel marginally more sophisticated. Or at least more interesting.
Last yearās numbers were strong, and this edition looks set to be the same, so expect crowds, temptation, and at least one internal debate about whether something is a great find or a terrible financial decision.
š„ļø What: ANTIK Almoneda Spring Edition 2026
š Where: IFEMA, Avenida del PartenĆ³n 5, Madrid
š When: April 11 ā 19
š Tickets start at ā¬11 (online). ā¬13 at the door.
4.š¹ Goblin Party: A night market full of mischief, music, and controlled chaos
Feel like you need an exorcism after so many torrijas and Easter eggs last week? Then hereās something that fixes that quickly: Goblin Party performance lands in Madrid for three nights, bringing a mix of dance, theatre, and live Korean music that feels somewhere between a drug fever dream and a very curated cultural experience.
The premise is simple but weird (in a good way). Youāre dropped into a mystical goblin market that only appears at night, where everyday objects turn into something more valuable: memories, emotions, dreams, all up for exchange.
On stage, that translates into a mix of movement, storytelling, and live sound, with traditional Korean instruments giving the whole thing a rhythm that feels unfamiliar but oddly hypnotic. (The company behind it, Goblin Party, is known for its playful, collaborative style).
Thereās no single artistic director here; everyone performs, everyone creates, and you can feel that energy throughout. The result is something immersive and very different from your standard theatre night. (Ed. Note: there are strobe lights, so maybe donāt go in expecting a calm, meditative evening).
š„ļø What: Goblin Party
š Where: Teatros del Canal (Sala Negra), Calle de Cea BermĆŗdez 1, Madrid
š When: April 10ā12
š Tickets start at ā¬20
5. š The Silence: Not exactly a light night at the theatre
If youāre in the mood for something easy and uplifting, this is not that. The Silence by Falk Richter is intense, personal, and very much designed to sit with you long after you leave the room. Oh, and the play is in German (with Spanish subtitles). So if you donāt feel comfortable with Spanish yet, we suggest you skip this one.
The piece is an autofiction by German playwright Falk Richter, who turns the spotlight on his own family history. At its core is a conversation that never happened (with a father who died before reconciliation) and a difficult, ongoing dialogue with his mother.
What unfolds is a layered exploration of buried trauma, post-war memory, family secrets, and the long shadow of silence, including the repression of Richterās identity growing up.
But this isnāt just a straight autobiographical confession. The play constantly blurs the line between truth and fiction, questioning memory itself and opening the door to alternative versions of the past (and maybe even different ways of living in the future).
Itās heavy, yes, but also sharp, reflective, and quietly hopeful in the questions it dares to ask.
š„ļø What: The Silence by Falk Richter
š Where: Teatro Valle-InclĆ”n (Sala Grande), Plaza de Ana Diosdado, s/n, Madrid
š When: April 10ā12
š Tickets start at ā¬18
šŗ What to watch if youāre staying in this weekendā¦
š„ļø What: The Predator of Seville (El Depredador de Sevilla) | 3-part documentary | 2026
šWhere to watch: Netflix
āWhatās it about: One woman's quest for justice against a tour guide in Spain sparks a surge of similar claims from many U.S. students over the years.
š¤© Why you should watch: Because this true crime doc is a gripping story that goes beyond the crime itself, exposing how years of silence, guilt, and systemic failures allowed a predator to operate in plain sight.
š¬ English Subtitles: Yes
šš» Places to try this weekendā¦
š· No photos, no beer, no nonsense: welcome to La Venencia
Whatās it about: A nearly century-old tavern in the heart of Madrid that feels frozen in time, serving exclusively sherry wines straight from the barrel.
Why you should go: La Venencia is the anti-modern bar: no beer, no photos, no tips. Orders are chalked onto the wooden bar, the decor hasnāt changed in decades, and the whole place hums with old-school Madrid energy. You come for the fino or manzanilla, stay for the atmosphereāand maybe some mojama or cecina on the side.
Bottom line: Itās not for everyone, but if you want something authentically Madrid (and a little stubborn about it), this is as real as it gets.
Address: Calle de Echegaray, 7, Madrid
š½ļø Nubel: Brunch, cocktails, and contemporary artāpick your excuse
Whatās it about: A design-forward restaurant inside the Museo Reina SofĆa, where food, art, music, and architecture all blur into one experience.
Why you should go: Nubel is a full sensory setup. Vibrant interiors, a constantly shifting vibe (brunch, cocktails, live music), and a terrace overlooking Roy Lichtensteinās Brushstroke.
Bottom line: Come for brunch, stay for the atmosphere, and leave feeling like youāve done something slightly more cultured than usual.
Address: Museo Reina SofĆa, Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, Madrid
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