Things to Do in Madrid in November 2026: Events, Holidays and Local Tips

November 2026 in Madrid at a glance

Before the detail, these are the dates worth noting. Two of them are public holidays that change the rhythm of the city; the rest mark the shift from autumn to Christmas. Where the 2026 edition has not been published yet, we give last year's date as a guide.

• Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November: All Saints' long weekend (the Sunday 1 holiday moves to Monday 2 across the Madrid region).
• Saturday 7 to Monday 9 November: La Almudena long weekend, in the city of Madrid only.
• Until 30 November: JazzMadrid, the city council's international jazz festival.
• During the month: the Festival de Otoño of the Madrid region (exact dates to be announced).
• Friday 27 November: Black Friday.
• Late in the month: the Christmas lights switch-on (22 November in 2025).

The All Saints' long weekend: 31 October to 2 November

The month opens with three days off in a row. Halloween falls on Saturday, All Saints' Day on Sunday and Monday 2 is a public holiday across the region, so the centre fills up from Friday afternoon. The theme parks keep their Halloween seasons going (Parque de Atracciones until 1 November and Parque Warner until the 2nd), the historic cemeteries welcome visitors and museums open on holiday hours. It is all in our Halloween in Madrid guide.

If you already know the city, a three-day weekend is a good moment to leave it for a day. Toledo and Segovia both make excellent day trips, and you will find guided options for both in our tours and day trips from Madrid. Book early, as demand rises over long weekends.

La Almudena: Madrid's patron saint (Monday 9 November)

On 9 November Madrid celebrates the Virgin of La Almudena, its patron saint. In 2026 the day falls on a Monday and is a holiday in the city only, so 7 to 9 November is a second long weekend for those who live here. The 2026 programme has not been published yet, and 2025 is a good guide: that year the festivities ran from 6 to 9 November, and the main day began with a solemn Mass at 11 am on the esplanade of the Almudena cathedral, followed by a procession carrying the image of the Virgin to Plaza Mayor and back.

The most popular moment comes at midday in Plaza Mayor, where the corona de la Almudena, the ring-shaped cake of the feast, is handed out (from 12.30 pm in 2025). The square also hosted traditional music and zarzuela at midday and in the afternoon.

To understand why the patron saint and her cathedral stand where they do, join the Madrid Essentials free tour, which passes through Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace viewpoint and the Almudena cathedral. Check the departures for those days on the tour page.

JazzMadrid and the Festival de Otoño

JazzMadrid, the city council's international jazz festival, opened on 2 October and runs until 30 November 2026. Its main venues are the Teatro Fernán Gómez on Plaza de Colón, CentroCentro inside the Palacio de Cibeles and Condeduque, with more concerts in other halls and jazz clubs around the city. It is one of the best plans for a November evening, rain or shine.

The Festival de Otoño of the Madrid region, devoted to contemporary theatre, dance and live arts, holds its 44th edition in November at venues such as Teatros del Canal, Condeduque and Teatro de La Abadía. Its official website has not yet published exact dates or the full programme, so check it before planning your trip around a particular show.

Autumn in the Retiro and the walk to Cibeles

November is when the Retiro turns gold: the trees change colour and the park has its best weeks for a walk without the heat. From October to March it opens from 6 am to 10 pm, and the handiest metro stations are Retiro (line 2), Ibiza (line 9) and Atocha or Estación del Arte (line 1).

Two warnings. The Palacio de Cristal is still closed for restoration, with reopening planned for 2027. And when there is a weather alert for wind or storms, the city council may close the park or cordon off areas, which it announces on its X account.

The walk from Cibeles to the Puerta de Alcalá and the Retiro is one of the loveliest in Madrid in autumn. It is the final stretch of the Madrid Monumental free tour, which covers Gran Vía, the Bank of Spain, Cibeles and the Puerta de Alcalá before reaching the park. Check the departures on the tour page.

What to do in Madrid when it rains in November

November brings some rain: the Retiro averages 6.5 days of precipitation across the whole month. For those days, Madrid has the great museums of the Paseo del Prado, the Reina Sofía (closed on Tuesdays) and the Thyssen, along with covered markets, bookshops and theatres. You will find many more ideas in our guide to things to do in Madrid when it rains.

A walking tour can still work on a grey day: our free tours go ahead in the rain and are only cancelled if there is an official weather alert. Bring a compact umbrella and shoes that cope with wet cobbles.

Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas

Friday 27 November is Black Friday, and Gran Vía, Calle de Preciados and Calle de Fuencarral are where the shopping buzz concentrates that weekend. Shops in the Madrid region are free to set their own hours, so many in the centre also open on Sunday.

The other big date at the end of the month is the Christmas lights switch-on. The 2026 date has not been announced; in 2025 it was Saturday 22 November at 7.30 pm on Plaza de Cibeles, and the Cortylandia show started the same day. The Christmas market in Plaza Mayor opened on 27 November. If you are staying longer, our guide to things to do in Madrid in December covers everything that comes next.

Madrid weather in November and what to pack

According to AEMET's reference values for the Retiro (1981-2010), the average November high is 13.5 °C and the average low 6.3 °C, with about 58 mm of rain spread over six or seven days and some 144 hours of sunshine. In practice: crisp mornings, pleasant sunny middays and cold nights, especially in the second half of the month.

The days are short. Early in the month the sun sets at around 6.15 pm, and by the end of November before 6 pm, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and early afternoon.

• A light jacket for the day and something warmer for the evening.
• Comfortable shoes that can handle rain: the centre is best seen on foot, and there are plenty of cobbles.
• A compact umbrella in your bag.
• A scarf for the second half of the month.

Which free tour to take in November

With one day, start with Madrid Essentials, which in November has the added draw of La Almudena. With two, add the Monumental for the Retiro and Cibeles, or the Madrid Medieval free tour, in English, for the Arab wall, the Cuesta de la Vega and a finish at the Templo de Debod. For one of your evenings, if you understand Spanish, the Haunted Madrid free tour covers the Inquisition, executioners and real crimes of the old town. It is run in Spanish, only on some nights and is not recommended for under-14s, so check the departures on its page.

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