Christmas in Madrid runs longer than in most of Europe. The lights go on in late November and stay on until 6 January, when Spanish children open their presents from the Three Kings. In between come the Plaza Mayor market, the El Gordo lottery, New Year’s Eve grapes at Puerta del Sol and the great Three Kings parade. This guide covers what had been announced by 8 November 2026. The city council publishes its full programme in late November, so some dates are still to be confirmed.

Christmas lights

Madrid’s lights run from Saturday 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, starting with an opening show on the Plaza de Cibeles. Provisional times are 6pm to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 6pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday, with later switch-offs on 7 December (1am), 24 December and 5 January (3am) and New Year’s Eve (6am). The city marks these times as still to be confirmed. The best streets are Gran Vía, Calle de Alcalá, Calle de Preciados and Calle Mayor, and the area around Sol and Cibeles.

A Naviluz bus tours the lights each year for a fee; 2026 dates had not been published. Private tuk-tuk and open-top bus tours of the lights also run.

Plaza Mayor Christmas market

Plaza Mayor hosts the city’s oldest Christmas market from late November to 31 December 2026, with about 104 stalls. This is where Madrileños buy figures for their Nativity scenes, along with decorations and joke items for the Day of the Holy Innocents on 28 December. In 2025 the market opened on 27 November; the 2026 opening date had not been announced.

Nativity scenes and Cortylandia

Belenes, or Nativity scenes, are a big part of a Spanish Christmas. The Real Casa de Correos at Puerta del Sol usually hosts one of the best known. Cortylandia, the animated Christmas show for children on the front of the El Corte Inglés store at Preciados and Callao, runs from November to 5 January 2027.

Key dates

  • 8 December. Immaculate Conception, a national holiday.
  • 22 December. The Christmas lottery draw, El Gordo, broadcast all morning.
  • 24 December. Christmas Eve (Nochebuena). Many museums close early.
  • 25 December. Christmas Day, public holiday. Most museums are closed.
  • 31 December. The San Silvestre Vallecana fun run in the afternoon, and the twelve grapes at midnight.
  • 1 January. New Year’s Day, public holiday.
  • 5 January. The Three Kings parade.
  • 6 January. Epiphany (Día de Reyes), public holiday, and the last day of the lights.

New Year’s Eve at Puerta del Sol

On 31 December, Spain sees in the new year by eating twelve grapes, one on each stroke of the clock on the Casa de Correos at Puerta del Sol. The square fills hours before midnight, access is controlled and there are security checks. Many people watch on television instead, or join the celebrations in bars and hotels.

The Three Kings parade

The Cabalgata de Reyes, on the evening of Tuesday 5 January 2027, brings Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar through the city on floats, throwing sweets to the crowds. It runs down the Paseo de la Castellana to Cibeles, from about 6pm to 9pm. Arrive early for a spot near the barriers. The next morning, families share a roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake with a hidden figure inside.

Museum and attraction hours over the holidays

  • Prado: closed 25 December and 1 January; 10am to 2pm on 24 and 31 December and 6 January.
  • Reina Sofía: closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January.
  • Thyssen: closed 25 December and 1 January; 10am to 3pm on 24 and 31 December.
  • Royal Palace: closed 25 December, 1 and 6 January; closes at 3pm on 24 and 31 December.
  • Bernabéu tour: closed 25 December and 1 January.
  • Mirador Madrid: closed 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January.
  • Royal Botanical Garden: closed 25 December and 1 January.
  • Retiro: the park stays open, but there are no rowing boats on 24, 25 and 31 December or 1 January.

Tips

Book hotels early for New Year’s Eve and the weekend of the Three Kings. Shops are busy all December and the January sales begin after 6 January. Evenings are cold, often close to freezing, so bring warm layers for the lights and the parade.