đȘđž What's on in Madrid: October 10
Spain's National Day, a cool military parade, Bomba Estéreo and more!
Madrid | Issue #117
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Happy National Day, yâall!
Madrid is gearing up for a packed long weekend â and this one has everything from military parades and national pride to avant-garde art and existential theatre.
With the Fiesta Nacional taking over Paseo del Prado and Recoletos this Saturday, the city will be at its most patriotic â planes painting the sky red and yellow, streets filled with uniforms, and crowds waving flags under the autumn sun.
But beyond the pomp and ceremony, Madridâs cultural pulse will be just as strong: from the Hispanidad celebrations spreading music and dance across the city, to Estampa, the contemporary art fair turning IFEMA into a gallery maze of bold ideas and big names.
Grab a friend, a few snacks, and get ready for non-stop partying!
Happy weekend. đ
1.đȘđž Celebrate National Day and hang out with the King and Queen
Those fighter jets that have been flying over your head these last few days? No, itâs not Russia finally deciding to invade. Itâs actually the Spanish Air Force rehearsing this Sundayâs massive military parade taking place in downtown Madrid to commemorate Oct. 12, a day symbolizing Spainâs historical and cultural reach.
The event showcases all branches of Spainâs security apparatus â the Armed Forces, Guardia Civil, National Police, and Maritime Rescue â with both ground units and aerial displays.
There is tons happening! The itinerary includes: arrival of the King and Queen; honors to military authorities; a parachute jump (someone sometimes gets tangled in a tree, which is hillarz); the solemn raising of the national flag accompanied by a tribute to the fallen; and the combined air and land parade featuring military formations, vehicles, and aircraft.
This year, the schedule begins at 11:00 a.m., and the ground parade is expected to last about 40 minutes. The Tribuna Real (Royal Tribune) will be situated in Plaza Neptuno, where the monarchs, government, and regional officials will preside over proceedings.
Arrive early if you want to secure a good vantage point (the best spots vanish quickly) and bring layers just in case. There wonât be easy access during the parade. If you canât make it, it will be broadcast live on RTVE beginning at 10:50 a.m
đ„ïž What: National Day Parade
đ Where: The procession follows the route from Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V â Paseo del Prado â Plaza de Cibeles â Paseo de Recoletos â Plaza de ColĂłn
đ When: Oct. 12, 11 a.m.
đ Tickets: Free admission
2. đ DĂa de la Hispanidad
Will you attend the parade? Great! But we have great news: thatâs just the cherry on top! This weekend, Madrid celebrates the end of the Hispanidad week with tons of festivities celebrating Spanish and Ibero-American culture.
The city will pulse with music, movement, and shared identity. From Friday through Sunday, the capital turns into a party as it explores the ties â historic, linguistic, artistic â that bind Spain to Latin America, while also giving space to voices reshaping those connections.
On Saturday, expect plazas like Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa to come alive with folkloric dancers, percussion ensembles, and poetry readings from Spanish-speaking countries.
You might catch a flamenco-Latin crossover band at a plaza corner or hear the rhythms of cumbia and son wafting down narrow city alleys. Sunday evening brings a more formal crescendo: a âNoche de Hispanidadâ outdoor concert featuring artists from both sides of the Atlantic, weaving Iberian and Latin American styles into one sonic tapestry.
Whatâs best, on Sunday, you can catch Bomba EstĂ©reo or Kevin Johansen live.
Madrid will be speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, GuaranĂ, and a dozen other dialects â donât miss them!
đ„ïž What: Dia de la Hispanidad Weekend
đ Where: Multiple venues across Madrid
đ When: Oct. 10-12. Check program for schedule
đ Tickets: Free admission
3.đš Madridâs biggest contemporary art fair returns: Estampa 2025
Not into crowds and celebrating hispanidad? Youâre in luck; there are other options.
If youâre an art lover, Madridâs IFEMA is the only place to be this weekend, as the Estampa Contemporary Art Fair celebrates its 33rd edition, transforming Pavilion 6 into a hub for collectors, curators, and anyone curious about the pulse of Spainâs art scene.
This yearâs fair brings together more than 80 national and international galleries, from long-established heavyweights like Max Estrella, Mayoral, and Espacio MĂnimo to younger, risk-taking names that are reshaping the market.
The result is a vibrant mix that captures both the institutional and the experimental sides of contemporary art. Alongside the general exhibition, Estampa features curated sections, roundtables, and forums that explore new collecting trends and the future of the art market.
New this year is âEnsayo Futuro,â a section curated by JesĂșs Alcaide dedicated to emerging galleries and project spaces â a breath of fresh air for those looking to discover the next big names in Madridâs art ecosystem.
In short, this weekend you get to enjoy established galleries, fresh talent, and a growing network of collectors. Estampa 2025 confirms Madridâs growing reputation as one of Europeâs most dynamic contemporary art capitals. Donât miss it.
đ„ïž What: Estampa Contemporary Art Fair 2025
đ Where: IFEMA. Avenida del PartenĂłn, 5, PabellĂłn 6, Madrid.
đ When: Through Oct. 12. Check website for opening hours.
đ Tickets start at âŹ11
4. đ„ Expresionismo: Expressionism Meets Cinema at FundaciĂłn Canaliza
A century after it changed the art world forever, Expressionism is returning to Madrid â this time, on screen.
The FundaciĂłn Canal presents âExpressionism and Cinemaâ, a groundbreaking exhibition at its Sala Mateo Inurria 2 space, exploring how the early 20th-century avant-garde movement transformed the language of film.
For the first time in Spain, visitors can experience a dialogue between painters, filmmakers, and visionaries who blurred the boundaries between canvas and celluloid.
Through 152 works and film fragments, the exhibition takes you from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to Metropolis, alongside the haunting urban scenes of Otto Dix and the emotionally raw portraits of KĂ€the Kollwitz. Together, they reveal how Expressionismâs twisted perspectives and heightened emotions helped create cinema as we know it â a medium capable of mirroring our most unsettling dreams.
While itâs a historical survey, this exhibition feels startlingly contemporary. Its influence runs deep in the works of Tim Burton, Guillermo del Toro, and David Lynch, directors who continue to channel the movementâs fascination with light, shadow, and the human psyche.
đ„ïž What: Expresionismo: Un arte de cine
đ Where: FundaciĂłn Canal. Sala Mateo InurrĂa. Calle de Mateo Inurria, 2, Madrid
đ When: Through Jan. 4. Check website for opening hours.
đ Tickets: Free admission
5.đ Mario Gas stars in âJoyful Pessimism (My Suicide)â at Teatro Español
The acclaimed director, playwright, and actor Mario Gas returns to the stage with Joyful Pessimism (My Suicide), an adaptation of Henri Roordaâs 1925 philosophical memoir.
The production, directed by Fernando Bernués, runs until Nov. 2 at Teatro Español, with performances from Tuesday to Sunday.
Mi suicidio is not a morbid meditation on death â itâs a reflection on the freedom to think about life until its final moment.
Adapted from Roordaâs lucid, ironic, and deeply human text, the play dissects love, desire, friendship, education, capitalism, and the meaning of existence with both humor and tenderness. Instead of despair, it offers clarity; instead of tragedy, a strange, luminous serenity.
Gas delivers Roordaâs words with the elegance and warmth that have defined his long career. The result is a performance that manages to be philosophical without pretension and emotional without sentimentality â a rare balance of depth and lightness that makes you leave the theater more alive than when you entered.
đ„ïž What: El Pesimismo Alegre
đ Where: Teatro Español, Calle del PrĂncipe 25, Madrid
đ When: Through Nov. 2. Check website for schedules.
đ Tickets: From âŹ18
đș What to watch if youâre staying in this weekendâŠ
đ„ïž What: Weiss & Morales | Miniseries | 2025
đWhere to watch: Netflix
âWhatâs it about: A German BKA agent and a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant reluctantly team up to investigate a crime in the Canary Islandsâ German community, navigating cultural differences.
đ€© Why you should watch: Because beyond the murder mystery, the show thrives on its chemistry. Silvestre and Fellinâs dynamic is electric and layered with flirtation. The production also makes full use of the islandsâ rugged beauty, turning every cliff, marina, and volcanic road into cinematic noir under the sun.
đŹ English Subtitles: No.
đ€€ Something to try this weekendâŠ
đȘ© Anonimo Club: The Secret Italian Dinner That Turns Into Madridâs Chicest Party
Whatâs it about: Anonimo Club is one of Madridâs most stylish hidden gems â a restaurant and underground club rolled into one. Tucked beneath the elegant Italian eatery Fellina, it transforms after dinner into an intimate space where fine dining gives way to cocktails, DJs, and deep house beats. Think speakeasy vibes with Italian flair, where the night unfolds seamlessly from table to dance floor.
Why you should go: Because itâs not just another club â itâs an experience. Start upstairs with a negroni and a plate of truffle pasta, then slip downstairs into the low-lit, brick-walled club as the music picks up. The mix of great food, curated sound, and a well-dressed crowd makes Anonimo Club one of Madridâs most sophisticated nightlife options.
Bottom line: Part dinner, part party, all style â Anonimo Club proves that nightlife can be both elegant and electric. Perfect for those who want a full night out without changing venues.
đ Calle Caracas, 21, Madrid
đż La AnalĂłgica: Where Vinyl Spins, Cocktails Flow, and Time Slows Down
What itâs about: La AnalĂłgica is a hi-fi cocktail bar in Madridâs Barrio de las Letras where every detail leans into analog: vinyl-only music, film photography, and a vintage indie-rock aesthetic. The place is a sensory escape â the music plays on turntables, photos are shot on film, and the cocktails are crafted to match that slow, tangible atmosphere.
Why you should go: If youâre tired of bars that feel soulless and polished, La AnalĂłgica gives you something real. Their 18-cocktail âMixtape Volume 1â menu is built around songs, blending flavor and sound in thematic pairings. The setting is cozy but serious about music â thereâs a vinyl collection and three turntables â and the staff clearly cares about each drink.
Bottom line: La AnalĂłgica is a refuge for music lovers who want their evening to feel curated. If you believe cocktails should carry stories and that a bar should have character, this is your next stop.
đ Address: Calle de las Huertas, 65, Madrid.
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