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 heart of these festivities has been at Matadero Madrid and Madrid Río Park, where onlookers revel in a huge parade and witness local traditions mixed with Ibero-American folklore. Take note: the 2024 celebrations will take place from the 10th-14th February!

Some of the main highlights include the Carnival Parade, the inaugural speech, the Masquerade Ball at Círculo de Bellas Artes, the Murgas and Chirigotas street musician performances, the Manteo del Pelele blanket-tossing of the puppet, the Madrid Comparsas musical event and the symbolic Burial of the Sardine.

The Burial of the Sardine (Ash Wednesday, 14th February 2024)

Carnival celebrations draw to a close with 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 humble fish is buried with honors to indicate that the time has come to wrap up the celebrations and get ready for Lent.

The burial procession starts at Plaza de San Antonio de la Florida, goes along the bridge across the river Manzanares and winds its way along Paseo del Comandante Fortea, Calle Santa Comba, Calle del Doctor Casal and the M-30 underground passage (Check out the map).

Finally, the sardine is buried in the Pajaritos Fountain at Plaza de las Moreras in Casa de Campo Park. An impressive bonfire closes the ceremony, as though driving away all evils and 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 offered 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. Find out which establishments are involved.