š What's on in Madrid: February 13
Forget about Barbenhaimer... it's Carnivalentine'sā¢ļø weekend!
Madrid | Issue #132
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Happy Carnivalentineāsā¢ļø Weekend!
Celebrating Valentineās Day and Carnival, all on the same day? Our wallets are not ready!
Yes, the skies threaten rain, but the cityās response involves turning the volume up on absolutely everything. This weekend is especially surreal because Madrid is simultaneously in full romantic mode and full costume-party chaos.
You can throw on a mask and dive into Carnaval madness around Matadero, fall down a rabbit hole of manga, cosplay and PokƩmon, or spend your Saturday surrounded by the most serious coffee people in Europe at CoffeeFest.
Happy weekend!
1. š Carnival takes over Madrid
Madrid does Carnaval the way Madrid does everything: with chaos and charm, and just enough tradition to remind you this city has been throwing parties for centuries.
Through Ash Wednesday, the city turns into a playground of costumes, masks, music, parades, and tons of identity-swapping. The celebrations are now mostly concentrated around Matadero Madrid, which becomes the cityās unofficial headquarters for glitter, satire, and circus energy.
The big kickoff is tomorrow, when Matadero hosts a full day of activities before the cityās main Carnaval parade rolls out at 1 p.m., moving from Puente de Toledo down to Plaza de Matadero.
There will be floats, crazy outfits, loud music, and that very Madrid feeling of āthis is ridiculous but funā. Later that afternoon, the party keeps going with a full celebration at Matadero (itās basically your excuse to spend Valentineās Day dressed as a Bauhaus harlequin instead of paying for overpriced dinner menus in MalasaƱa, youāre welcome).
Sunday leans harder into old-school Madrid tradition. At Madrid RĆo, youāll see the manteo del pelele alongside giants and big-headed characters stomping around like itās the 18th century but with less smallpox.
And then, of course, Carnaval ends the only way it can: with the burying of the sardine on Wednesday.
Weāre aware that āhave you buried the sardine yet?ā is something your pervert uncle would ask at a family dinner in normal circumstances. But here in Madrid, it literally means to bury a sardine.
Madrid closes the Carnaval party by staging a mock funeral for a humble fish, burying it with full ceremonial drama, marching through the streets, and officially putting the costumes back in the closet until next year (seriously, this is a thing, Goya painted it). Donāt overthink it.
š„ļø What: Madrid Carnival 2026
š Where: Multiple locations around Madrid (check official program)
š When: Through Feb. 18
š Tickets: Most events are free but check website just in case
2. š¹ Valentineās Day in Madrid
Huh. It looks like weāre still celebrating Valentineās Day despite living in this horrific, dystopian timeline. Anyway, you can celebrate romance in Madrid 365 days a year, so itās not like weāre coming up with life-changing ideas here. But if youāre looking to save your marriage surprise your partner, here are a few original ideas that do not involve bringing a child to this world chocolates and roses.
š¬ Step into the candy-colored universe of Sweet Space. Madridās most sugar-coated museum is basically a Valentineās fever dream: themed rooms, surreal installations, and enough marshmallow energy to make even the most cynical couple take a selfie.
š¶ Go full Venice with a romantic boat ride. Rent a rowboat at El Retiroās Estanque Grande (or Casa de Campoās lake) and pretend youāre in a movie montage (think
The Talented Mr. RipleyBridget Jones Diary), drifting past monuments and winter sunlight.šš» Feel something real at Teatro Flamenco. If you want drama in a good way, book a night of flamenco at Teatro Flamenco Madrid. The show is literally called Emociones, and it delivers.
š¤ Sing your heart out at a karaoke bar. Nothing bonds a couple like screaming over the microphone like Sonny & Cher before they hated each other. Try BAM Karaoke Box for
expensiveprivate rooms or Cheers in Huertas for typical Madrid mayhem.š Touch the sky at the Riu Plaza EspaƱa rooftop. Not for the faint of heart (or the vertigo-prone), but the views are jaw-dropping ā and the perfect place for a romantic āUgh, this place is so crowdedā moment.
š Take a slow walk through El Capricho Park. One of Madridās most elegant, romantic gardens, designed for 18th-century flirting and still perfect for modern-day wandering. Is it far? Yes. But honestly El Retiro is so cliche.
š Go big with a Michelin-star dinner. If you want the full luxury treatment, Madridās starred restaurants are ready: DiverXO, Coque, DSTAgEā¦ and some even come with hotel stays for the ultimate upgrade. š If you canāt find a table, thereās always this place.
šļø
Walk like an EgyptianWatch the sunset at the Temple of Debod. Itās clichĆ© for a reason: Madrid sunsets here are unreal, and the atmosphere does the romantic work for you.š§ŗ Pack a picnic (yes, even in winter). Casa de Campo or Quinta de los Molinos are perfect for a simple blanket-and-snacks moment, especially as almond blossom season approaches.
š¦ Get swept up in a musical. Madrid is a musical city, and few dates feel more cinematic than an evening at The Lion King at Teatro Lope de Vega or Wicked. Or if youāre more into Wednesday Addams, you can always check the forensic museum. We donāt judge here.
šŗļø Try something different: a romantic treasure hunt. This Valentineās weekend, couples can join a themed treasure hunt through Madridās old town starting at Puerta del Sol. Itās kind of like The DaVinci Code, except here you have to pay and the Vatican is not trying to murder you.
š¬ A very Hollywood rom-com evening with Hollylove. If youāre into live music and film soundtracks, then donāt miss the Film Symphony Orchestra live performing the themes from unforgettable classics like Titanic, Love Actually, Cinema Paradiso, Moulin Rouge, La La Land, Gone with the Wind and many other movies that either end with a tragic death or a breakup. Love hurts, and the sooner we all learn that lesson, the better.
3. šÆšµ Japan Weekend Madrid is back!
Madrid is about to go full otaku mode. This weekend, IFEMA (Pavilions 3 and 4) will once again be taken over by Japan Weekend Madrid, the cityās biggest celebration of manga, anime, videogames, and all things Japanese digital culture.
This is basically the perfect excuse to spend an entire weekend away from Carnivalentineā¢ļø and surrounded by cosplay contests, concerts, workshops, artist stands, merch, board games, and gaming zones ā including a dedicated PokĆ©mon area with official championships for trainers ready to battle it out.
The event also brings in a mix of well-known illustrators, professional cosplayers, YouTubers, and performers, turning IFEMA into a massive pop culture playground.
Prepare for the Japan Weekend Cosplay Show the idol dance festivals, K-pop and J-pop cover competitions, cosplay runways, and even karaoke for anyone brave enough to channel their inner anime protagonist.
š„ļø What: Japan Weekend Madrid 2026
š Where: IFEMA Madrid (Pavilions 3 & 4), Avenida del PartenĆ³n 5, Madrid
š When: Feb. 14ā15
š Tickets start at ā¬27
4.šŖ¢ El Nudo Gordiano: a tense two-woman thriller at Teatro EspaƱol
If youāre in the mood for theatre that doesnāt just entertain but quietly wrecks you, Teatro EspaƱol has one of the most intriguing plays of the season. Directed by Israel Elejalde, this adaptation of Johnna Adamsā Gidionās Knot is a sharp, unsettling drama about childhood, responsibility, and impossible decisions adults are forced to make.
The story unfolds as a verbal duel between a devastated mother and a teacher under intense pressure, both circling around the case of a young boy, Gidion, and the question no one can answer: what do you do when a child doesnāt fit the mold?
Set inside the sterile world of a school staff room, the play becomes a kind of psychological thriller built on silences, moral uncertainty, and the uncomfortable grey zones society prefers to ignore.
Beneath the surface, itās also a broader reflection on how childhood has become an ideological battlefield since the 19th century, where debates about freedom, discipline, education, and difference collide.
There are no easy solutions here. And thatās exactly the point.
š„ļø What: El Nudo Gordiano (Gidionās Knot)
š Where: Teatro EspaƱol, Calle del Principe 25, Madrid
š When: Through March 22 (TueāSun)
š Tickets start at ā¬18
5.āļø CoffeeFest: Madridās biggest weekend for coffee nerds
If your idea of a perfect plan involves espresso, latte art, and casually debating beans like itās a sport, CoffeeFest Madrid is basically your Super Bowl.
Taking over IFEMA this February, CoffeeFest is positioning itself as the largest coffee event in Europe; a three-day celebration of premium coffee culture that brings together everyone from hardcore baristas to curious caffeine addicts.
Expect a full program of national and international talks, hands-on workshops, tasting zones, and even coffee routes across the city.
With 240 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors, itās less āgrab a quick cappuccinoā and more āwelcome to the future of coffee.ā
If youāre a specialty coffee purist or just want to drink something life-changing, this is the place to be.
š„ļø What: CoffeFest 2026
š Where: IFEMA Madrid (Pavilion 14), Avenida del PartenĆ³n 5, Madrid
š When: Feb. 14-16
š Tickets start at ā¬20
šŗ What to watch if youāre staying in this weekendā¦
š„ļø What: Salvador | Miniseries | 2026
šWhere to watch: Netflix
āWhatās it about: A desperate father infiltrates a neo-Nazi group to save his daughter. As he delves deeper, he struggles to understand her transformation and the forces that led her astray, all while confronting values that clash with his own beliefs.
š¤© Why you should watch: Because itās a gripping thriller that tackles one of the most unsettling realities of todayās Spain and Europe: the rise of a new, younger far-right. Led by (the great) Luis Tosar, and his fantastic eyebrows, the series created by Patriaās Aitor Gabilondo delivers tension, action, and a slick visual style, using the thriller format to explore radicalization, scapegoating, and how ordinary lives can get swept into extremist politics.
š¬ English Subtitles: Yes
šš» Something to try this weekendā¦
š MesĆ³n RincĆ³n de la Cava: a classic tavern hideaway steps from Plaza Mayor
Whatās it about: MesĆ³n RincĆ³n de la Cava is a centuries-old tavern tucked just off Plaza Mayor in La Latina, serving classic Spanish and Mediterranean fare (ibĆ©ricos, pulpo a la gallega, and callos a la madrileƱa).
Why you should go: Itās a great stop if you want a traditional Madrid meal with character: tapas, seasonal dishes, and attentive service are highlights mentioned often by visitors, and the location on Cava de San Miguel makes it perfect for walking around central Madrid before or after eating.
Bottom line: Solid, authentic Spanish cooking in a charming, historic setting.
Address: Calle Cava de San Miguel, 17, Madrid
šø Ciriaco Brown: Madridās secret licorerĆa where the legend is totally made up
Whatās it about: Ciriaco Brown is Madridās ācastizo speakeasyā; a hidden licorerĆa near El Rastro that feels like a tribute to a legendary nightlife iconā¦ except the legend is completely invented.
Why you should go: Because Madrid doesnāt have many places where the night can stretch out quietly, stylishly, and without the usual club chaos. This is for grown-up late nights: classic cocktails only, top-shelf spirits, and the kind of intimate atmosphere where you might stumble into an impromptu DJ set or a surprise performance on a random Tuesday.
Bottom line: Ciriaco Brown is a strange (and delicious) little nocturnal hideout where the story about and adventurer named Ciriaco Brown is fake, but the mood is very real.
Address: Calle de los Abades, 13 (near Plaza del Cascorro), Madrid
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š¤· Just sayingā¦
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