Madrid | Issue #160
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid (and Surroundings!) This Weekend
Itâs Friday again!
Is summer over, or are we trapped in some kind of time loop endlessly repeating the unsettling nothingness of August?
Itâs getting hard to tell. Madrid is still surprisingly empty, which, admittedly, isnât unusual for this time of year, and the cityâs cultural calendar hasnât exactly roared back to life yet. In other words: thereâs still not, like, a lot to do.
This weekend, squeeze in one last afternoon at the pool before they close for the season, wander through the Prado and Thyssen after dark for free, travel back to the Middle Ages, or join 30+ artists at Coca-Cola Music Experience.
Happy weekend!
1. đ¤ Coca Cola Music Experience: Two days, 30+ artists and one massive end-of-summer festival
Want to send summer off with something considerably louder than a day at the pool (more on that below)? Coca-Cola Music Experience is back this weekend. The two-day festival takes over Iberdrola Music for its 16th edition, bringing together more than 30 Spanish and international artists across pop, reggaeton, urban music and electronic music.
The lineup is pretty ridiculous. Melendi, Wisin, Dellafuente, Milo J and Dimitri Vegas are among the biggest names, joined by Omar Montes, Natalia Lacunza, Lucho RK, Ruslana, Violeta, Dei V, YSY A, Taichu, Pepe y Vizio and plenty more. (If you donât know who these people are, youâre probably an old).
Hosted once again by radio personality Tony Aguilar, CCME is designed as a giant pop-music celebration, mixing established stars with emerging artists, plus activities and other surprises throughout both days.
If you want to confuse your Spotify algorithm, pick this event. It includes pop, reggaeton, rap, and EDM. And with two full days of music, itâs a pretty spectacular way to close out Madridâs summer festival season.
đĽď¸ What: Coca-Cola Music Experience 2026
đ Where: Iberdrola Music, Calle Laguna Dalga, Madrid
đ When: Sept. 4 & 5
đď¸ Tickets start at âŹ42 (for one day)
2. đˇ Fiesta de la Caldereta: Get drenched in wine and eat stew
Yum! Or as youâd say in Spain, Ăąam! If you didnât have a chance to escape Madrid last weekend, I have another option this week thatâs waaaaaay out of your comfort zone. Not only because itâs, like, far away from central Madrid, but also because it involves eating from a stew that may or may not be Soylent Green (Google it, kids!).
Kidding! Well, Iâm kidding about the Soylent Green part, because this party is taking place in Hoyo de Manzanares, a small town thatâs nowhere near MalasaĂąa.
The townâs Fiestas Patronales are taking place this weekend in honor of its patron saint, the Virgen de la Encina. The festivities officially start today with the traditional pregĂłn, this year delivered jointly by the PeĂąa el Huevo and AsociaciĂłn de Belenistas, which are celebrating their 30th and 25th anniversaries.
Sunday is the real reason to make the trip. It's the DĂa de la Caldereta (aka Stew Day), a local tradition big enough to have been declared a Festival of Regional Tourism Interest.
The whole day turns Hoyo into one enormous village party, beginning with pasacalles through the streets and continuing with traditional games, a bull run and a bullfighting festival.
Then comes the caldereta itself. The day culminates with the Gran Cena, a huge communal dinner serving a traditional Spanish stew of shepherding origins, made with meat (usually lamb), vegetables, olive oil and wine, followed by a verbena where the town keeps partying into the night.
Then thereâs the wonderfully chaotic Riego del Vino (aka Wine Spraying): a tradition in which wine is sprayed over the crowd during the celebrations. (Maybe donât wear your favorite white shirt).
If youâre afraid of venturing outside the M-30 beltway, this is definitely not for you.
đĽ What: Fiesta de la Caldereta
đ Where: Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid
đ When: Sept. 4â9; DĂa de la Caldereta on Sunday
đď¸ Tickets: Free
3. đ° Travel back to the Middle Ages in a walled village
You guys remember the movie Timeline? No? Figures. It was pretty bad. Itâs about a bunch of students who are sent back in time to medieval France, and everyone gets killed or something. I donât recall; I think I fell asleep watching it.
Anyway, if youâve always wondered what it was like for Paul Walker to get teleported there, your dream is about to come true because this weekend, Buitrago del Lozoya (one of the best-preserved historic towns in the Madrid region) turns its old center into a sprawling medieval market, with the townâs walls, castle and narrow streets providing a considerably more convincing backdrop than your average collection of tents in front of the mall.
The XXIV Feria Medieval de Buitrago del Lozoya runs through Sunday, filling the town with artisans, food stalls, musicians, jesters, storytellers and street performers.
There are circus and fire shows from Rithualâs, folk music from Raebellion Folk, La captura del DragĂłn Rojo and, after dark, Demonium, a large-scale nighttime parade that should provide some appropriately creepy medieval atmosphere.
The fair takes over several squares, with storytelling in Plaza del Gato, food, acrobatics and fire performances around Plaza del Castillo, and games and attractions in Plaza de Picasso.
You can also use the occasion to explore Buitragoâs medieval walls and Torre del Reloj at a reduced price, which is probably the best way to appreciate just how perfect a setting the town is for the whole thing.
If youâre complaining about the fact that this activity is also outside of Madrid, gimme a break; itâs not Londonâs Whitechapel in 1888.
đ What: 24th Medieval Fair of Buitrago de Lozoya
đ Where: Historic center of Buitrago del Lozoya, Madrid
đ When: Through Sept. 6
đď¸ Tickets: Free admission
4. đźď¸ Two museums, one very cultured Saturday night
Why choose between the Prado and the Thyssen when you can do both? This Saturday, two of Madridâs greatest museums are opening their doors after dark, and you can turn the whole thing into a free nighttime art crawl along the Paseo del Prado.
Get off the TikToks and start at the Prado (which, as you know, opens late on the first Saturday of every month). Thereâs something undeniably cool about wandering through one of the worldâs greatest museums at night, when the daytime crowds have disappeared, and VelĂĄzquez, Goya, and company suddenly feel a little more atmospheric.
The evening combines access to selected parts of the collection with cultural activities, music and other programming, and yes, admission is completely free.
Then walk five minutes up the Paseo del Prado to the Thyssen. Unlike the Prado, Thyssen Nights happen every Saturday, opening the museumâs temporary exhibitions for free from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Itâs a chance to see some of the museumâs most interesting rotating shows in a much more relaxed setting, and a pretty excellent alternative to immediately surrendering your Saturday night to a crowded bar.
Hit the Prado when it opens, wander up to the Thyssen afterward, and youâve got several hours of world-class art for precisely âŹ0. Just arrive early: free museum nights are not exactly one of Madridâs best-kept secrets. (The city may be empty, but there are still tourists walking around).
đď¸ What: Prado Museum at Night + Thyssen Nights
đ Where: Museo del Prado (Paseo del Prado) + Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (Paseo del Prado, 8)
đ When: Sept 5 (Prado 8:30â11:30 p.m. / Thyssen 9â11 p.m.)
đď¸ Tickets: Free admission
5. đ One last cruise dip before Madrid closes the pools
Summer is technically still hanging on, but Madridâs public pools are about to call it a year, so if youâre into gay cruising swimming at the Complu or any of the other cool pools, you better hurry up.
This Sunday marks the end of the 2026 summer season for the Madrid regionâs outdoor pools. Among the options are Canal de Isabel II, San Vicente de PaĂşl and the enormous Parque Deportivo Puerta de Hierro, where you can swim, sunbathe on the grass,
gay cruise,read a book or simply lie there pretending the end of summer isnât approaching.The M86 swimming center is also included among the regional facilities, although conditions and prices vary depending on the pool.
And thereâs an especially good reason to go if youâre a youth: holders of Madridâs Carnet Joven can swim for free at several regional pools through September 6, with special discounts available at others.
Otherwise, admission remains remarkably cheap, topping out at around âŹ5. Same-day tickets can be purchased online or through the DeportesCM app.
So consider this your warning: you have one final weekend to squeeze some summer out of Madrid before the gates close.
đŹ What: Madridâs regional swimming pools
đ Where: Multiple locations around Madrid
đ When: Through Sept. 6
đď¸ Tickets: âŹ0ââŹ5
đş What to watch if you donât want to leave the couch this weekendâŚ
đş Movie: The Righteous (Los Justos) | 2026
đWhere to watch: HBO Max
âWhatâs it about: The 12 members of the jury in a high-profile case against an allegedly corrupt businessman receive a letter with a shocking offer: âŹ1 million in exchange for finding him not guilty.
𤊠Why you should watch: Because it takes the 12 Angry Men setup and gives it a cynical twist, forcing ordinary people struggling with their own problems to decide exactly how much their principles are worth. The moral dilemma doesnât always go as deep as it could, but a mix of tension and dark humor makes the experiment worth watching. Also, Carmen Machi is in it and sheâs awesome.
đŹ English Subtitles: Yes.
đđť Places to try this weekendâŚ
đąđ§ TOĂM: Lebanese comfort food that gets it right
Whatâs it about: TOĂM is a relaxed Lebanese deli built around the idea that food is better shared: fresh mezze, creamy hummus, falafel, grilled meats and excellent shawarma, all rooted in traditional Lebanese flavors.
Why you should go: Because the chicken shawarma is a standout, the falafel is among the best youâll find in Madrid, and the mezze make it dangerously easy to keep ordering. There are also plenty of genuinely good vegetarian and vegan options, plus the kind of warm service that makes the whole place feel totally welcoming.
Bottom line: Authentic Lebanese food and generous sharing plates. Go with friends, order far too much, and leave happy.
đ Address: Calle del Conde de PeĂąalver, 31, Madrid
â The Miners: Eastern Europeâs specialty coffee favorite lands in Chueca
Whatâs it about: The Miners, the specialty coffee chain that started in Prague, has opened its third Madrid location and first in Chueca, just off Plaza Pedro Zerolo. Yay! They offer their own specialty coffee, properly whisked matcha (iced included), and the clean, contemporary atmosphere that has helped the brand expand across Europe.
Why you should go: Because this one feels particularly well suited to its neighborhood: one block back from the chaos of Gran VĂa, with Plaza Pedro Zerolo essentially serving as Chuecaâs living room. And they take the coffee seriously: their head of coffee, Boris Kalinin, was recently named Czech Roasting Champion.
Bottom line: A very welcome new addition to Chuecaâs coffee scene and potentially your new spot for a flat white, an iced matcha and three hours of doing absolutely nothing around Plaza Pedro Zerolo.
Address: Calle de las Infantas 9, Madrid
đ¨đťâđť Viral Memes of the Week
đ BelĂŠn Esteban crying over going back to work is all of us
đś How was El Fin de Semanaâs concert?
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