Carnival Madrid 2026

Every year, from the weekend before Shrove Tuesday right up to Ash Wednesday, Madrid celebrates Carnival with a full programme of free, themed activities for all ages. In recent years, the hub for these festivities has been Matadero Madrid and Madrid Río Park. Take note: the 2026 celebrations will take place from 14 to 18 February!

Some of the main highlights include the inaugural speech, the Murgas and Chirigotas street musician performances, the Manteo del Pelele blanket-tossing of the straw doll and the symbolic Burial of the Sardine.

The Burial of the Sardine (Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2026)

We know that Carnival celebrations are drawing to a close when it's time for the Burial of the Sardine, a tradition captured by Goya in one of his paintings. Costumes are put away, the fanfares fall silent and the sardine is buried with honours to indicate that the hour has come to wrap up the festivities and get ready for Lent.

The parody burial procession usually starts at Plaza de San Antonio de la Florida. Later, the sardine is customarily buried in Pajarito Fountain at Plaza de las Moreras in Casa de Campo Park. An impressive bonfire closes the ceremony, as though driving away all evils and any negative thoughts, with the ashes representing the happiness, peace and harmony that charaterise Madrileños.

The Carnival Sardine

Carnival is one of the city’s most well-known traditions, and the Burial of the Sardine is a particularly popular event. As a tribute to the deceased sardine, for the past few years the city’s main bakeries, restaurants and markets have served up original Carnival Sardines which you can purchase throughout the festivities. They come in all sizes and are made from different ingredients, both sweet and savoury.

Check the full program