Easter in Madrid 2026

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Words from the Mayor

Once again, Madrid is gearing up to celebrate the intense spirituality of Easter. It’s one of the most important times in the city’s cultural life, and one of its most deeply rooted traditions.

These are days when tradition, culture, and faith intertwine to commemorate—with respect and faithfulness—a spiritual legacy that has defined generations of Madrid residents. During this sacred time, our streets are transformed into a setting of contemplation and beauty, where silence, music and devotion combine to celebrate the mystery of the Death, Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, Madrid will once again honour its Christian roots as it hosts centuries-old processions and moments of profound religious emotion. The solemnity of our religious images, the dedication of the brotherhoods and the fervour that fills every corner of Madrid remind us of the power of a living spiritual heritage and the value of what has, over time, become an indisputable symbol of our collective identity.

Once again, the cultural offerings for this liturgical season will give it all the solemnity it deserves. The 19th Organ Music Series in San Ginés, dedicated this year to "Women on the Organ", will bring together outstanding performers such as Mirjam Laetitia Haag, Saskia Roures and Pilar Cabrera, reaffirming Madrid's commitment to its rich artistic tapestry and to showcasing the musical heritage housed in our churches. We’ll also be able to enjoy a Special Concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band in Almudena Cathedral, saetas sung from the balconies of the city’s historic centre and the traditional Easter Sunday tamborrada drum parade in Plaza Mayor, which immerses the city in an atmosphere of solemnity and shared emotion every year.

I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the brotherhoods, confraternities, congregations, image bearers, musicians, security forces, municipal staff, volunteers and all those who make this celebration possible. Their dedication, passed down through generations, underpins the magnificence of a Holy Week that continues to grow in depth and in number of participants, welcoming those who experience it from a perspective of faith, cultural tradition or admiration for a legacy that belongs to us all.

I invite the people of Madrid and visitors alike to experience these very special days for the city to the fullest. May every step, every procession, every moment of silence and every prayer draw us closer to the mystery of Easter—that is, the mystery of Jesus' sacrifice, which has illuminated Europe’s soul and defined the very core of its spirituality.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida
Mayor of Madrid

Words from the Archbishop of Madrid

Dear residents of the city of Madrid:

For Christians, Easter is the heart of the liturgical year. It’s a week when the Church celebrates the central mystery of the faith: the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it does so not only within the walls of its houses of prayer, but also in the streets; in the places we visit each day when we go to work, to school, to do our shopping or simply to stroll and enjoy our city.

Each image and each step remind us of specific moments in the life of Our Lord and express a faith which, through art and popular devotion, invites everyone—believers and non-believers alike—to encounter Christ and his Mother. The people of Madrid, as well as those who visit us at Easter, view the images carried through our neighbourhoods as part of their history and a living tradition passed down from generation to generation, and we can see this reflected in the faces of those who accompany the processions.

In these public displays of faith, we contemplate a God who chose to become flesh in his Son Jesus: a poor, suffering and deeply human flesh with which many can identify, especially those who experience pain or hardship. Easter reminds us that God does not remain distant, but enters into our history and walks with us to transform it.

It is also a privileged setting for expressing the deepest feelings of the soul. A saeta, a processional march or the slow advance of a penitent can give voice to feelings that sometimes remain hidden. It is an invitation to open ourselves to the hope born of Easter.

I would like to thank Madrid City Council for its assistance in promoting these celebrations, which are part of our city's spiritual and cultural heritage. I also hope that these holy days will be an opportunity for us all to come together, reflect and experience inner renewal. Finally, I encourage everyone to participate in and enjoy the different cultural and social initiatives offered by the city council, in partnership with various organisations, during Easter.

With my blessing and affection,

José Cobo Cano
Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid