Madrid is gearing up to celebrate the feast day of its patron saint, the Virgen de la Almudena, on 9 November, with a programme that blends music, popular tradition, and gastronomy. The City Council of Madrid, through its Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport, is organising various activities to engage both locals and visitors, with the Plaza Mayor serving as one of the main venues.
The day will showcase traditional Madrid music and dance performances, alongside the preparation of the grand Almudena crown, which will be available for free tasting until supplies last.
Celebrations in Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor will host a variety of performances on 9 November to mark the patron saint's day. From 12:00 to 14:00, the Agrupación de Madrileños y Amigos Los Castizos will present a goyesca zarzuela and musical numbers reflecting the castizo atmosphere, featuring genres such as chotis and pasodoble. In the afternoon, from 17:00 to 19:00, attendees can enjoy different expressions of Madrid and Castilian folklore, with participation from the Asociación de Coros y Danzas Francisco de Goya, the Asociación Cultural Arrabel, and organ grinder Alfredo Pobo along with his companions. The performances will traverse various eras of popular tradition, from 18th-century goyesco dances to 19th and 20th-century Castilian and castizo dances.
Starting at 12:30, the Plaza Mayor will also be the site for the creation of the grand Almudena crown, an initiative the City Council promotes annually in collaboration with the Asociación de Cocineros y Reposteros de Madrid (ACYRE). Once prepared, approximately 1,000 servings will be offered to attendees until supplies last. This sweet treat, created in 1978 to honour Madrid's patron saint, has become a gastronomic symbol and one of the most recognisable traditions of this celebration.
Musical highlights leading up to the festivities
The programme will kick off on 6 November at 20:00 with a free concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band at the Almudena Cathedral. Additionally, on 9 November at 19:30, a zarzuela recital will take place at the Sony Auditorium of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía. Students from the Alfredo Kraus Chair of Singing at the Ramón Areces Foundation will perform well-known pieces from the zarzuela repertoire, including works such as Luisa Fernanda, Doña Francisquita, and La del manojo de rosas. Entry will be free, subject to prior reservation on the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía website.
Moreover, from now until 8 November, the 'Patronas' cycle, organised in collaboration with Madrid en Vivo, will feature concerts in various music venues across the capital. The programme will showcase a range of styles, from jazz and flamenco to pop, rock, electronic music, and world music, with performances by artists including Allexa Nava, Susana Ballesteros, Aiko, Abril, Bego Salazar, and Cristina Gallego & David Bueno, among others. This initiative extends the celebration to different cultural spaces in Madrid and highlights the diversity of the city's music scene.
Religious events for the celebration
The celebration of the Virgen de la Almudena will culminate with religious events organised by the Archdiocese of Madrid. These include a triduum at the Almudena Cathedral from 6 to 8 November, and a floral and charitable offering in the esplanade of the cathedral over the weekend. On 9 November at 11:00, a solemn Eucharist will be held, followed by the traditional procession of the Virgin's image. During the procession, local groups will perform at the Plaza de la Villa as the image passes by. The programme will also continue with the floral and charitable offering, allowing citizens to pay tribute to the city's patron saint.
Through this extensive programme, Madrid once again celebrates one of its most deeply rooted festivities, combining religious heritage and popular traditions with the music, culture, and gastronomy that are integral to the identity of the capital.
