Easter in Madrid 2025

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Madrid is undergoing an extraordinary period in every aspect, including its cultural life and tourism sector.

But Madrid is renewing itself without losing touch with its past and its essence. It's a city that looks to the future without leaving behind its traditions, and that's probably what makes it so authentic and attractive to both tourists and locals. During Easter, tradition truly takes over the streets in the most visible way. In fact, this celebration brings our Christian roots to the forefront and renews the long-standing devotion of so many people here in Madrid to the mysteries of the Passion, Death and the Resurrection of Christ, the Triduum Paschale, the heart of the entire liturgical year.

From Good Friday (April 11th) until Easter Sunday (20th), Madrid will once again immerse itself in its traditional Easter processions and festivities, heralded a week earlier by the traditional San Ginés Organ Music festival. Once again this year, many of the processions will pass through the Puerta del Sol, our city’s beating heart. Others, such as El Santísimo Cristo del Pozo in Vallecas, El Silencio in Carabanchel, and El Nazareno in Villaverde, will make their way through the city’s districts. The hard work and dedication of the brotherhoods and guilds, congregations, penitents and statue-bearers deserve our full recognition.

The first processions taking place in our streets and squares, on the Friday of Sorrows, are El Cristo del Pozo y Nuestra Señora de los Dolores and El Santísimo Cristo del Perdón y María Santísima de la Misericordia. Then come the processions of La Borriquita, Los Gitanos, Las Tres Caídas, Jesús Nazareno El Pobre, Jesús de Medinaceli and many more, all visually stunning and extremely moving. It's a unique chance to see the beatiful images adorned with candles, flowers and cloaks, which are usually stored inside basilicas and churches, like the figure of the Divine Captive, bound at the wrists, carved by Mariano Benlliure. Thousands of people, many from abroad or other parts of Spain, will gather together to enjoy the music, processions, trumpets and drums, the vibrant robes of the brotherhood members, and the traditional foods eaten at this time of year, including chickpea stew, torrijas (Spain's answer to French toast), fried cod Soldaditos de Pavía and bartolillos pastries available in bakeries and restaurants all over the city.

Let's take in the concert performed by La Banda Sinfónica Municipal at La Almudena Cathedral, the moving Saeta songs of lamentation from Maundy Thursday to Easter Saturday sung from balconies by some of our finest singers as the processions pass by beneath, and the tamborrada drum parade on Easter Sunday in the Plaza Mayor. Madrid is a unique city, and our Easter celebrations are an unforgettable experience. The epitome of our culture and devotion. A time for celebration, tradition and gratitude.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida
Mayor of Madrid