November in Madrid is the month between seasons. The terraces start to empty, the light goes early and the city’s cultural calendar gets busy. By the end of the month the Christmas lights are on and the Plaza Mayor market is open. In between, there is plenty to fill your evenings.
Dates below were checked at the time of writing. Always confirm with the organisers before you go.
Monday 9 November: Almudena holiday
The feast of the Virgen de la Almudena, Madrid’s patron saint, is a local public holiday in the city. In 2026 it falls on Monday 9 November, which gives people who live here a long weekend. Some shops and services change their hours, and the area around the Almudena Cathedral, next to the Royal Palace, gets busy with celebrations. Note that the Reina Sofía museum lists 9 November among its closing days.
All month: JAZZMADRID
The city’s international jazz festival runs until 30 November, with concerts at venues including the Teatro Fernán Gómez, CentroCentro and Conde Duque. The 2026 edition marks the centenaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The full programme is on the festival website.
Autumn Festival
The Festival de Otoño, the region’s big autumn festival of theatre, dance and performance, is also part of November’s programme, often with international companies. It is a good option if you want live performance that does not depend on understanding Spanish.
Thursday 12 November: No Offense, But... at Off Latina
Our own show is back in La Cueva at Off Latina, La Latina. No Offense, But... is not your average comedy night: stand-up, live podcast moments, improv, bold opinions and a fair amount of chaos, hosted by Mehdi Mahtaj. Doors 21:00, show 21:30, tickets €8. In English. Details and tickets.
Thursday 19 November: the Prado’s anniversary
The Prado opened its doors on 19 November 1819 and marks the date each year. For 2026, 19 November is listed as a free entry day. Expect it to be busy and check the Prado’s website for timed tickets. For the regular free evening hours at the big museums, see our museum evenings guide.
Thursday 26 November: The Arab and the Jew at Off Latina
Mehdi Mahtaj and Rachel Arieff bring The Arab and the Jew to Off Latina: a Moroccan Muslim man and an American Jewish woman sharing a stage for stand-up, sketches, music and an honest conversation about politics, identity and Palestine. Doors 21:00, show 21:30, tickets €8. In English. Details and tickets.
Late November: Christmas arrives
Madrid switches on its Christmas lights towards the end of November, with the exact date announced by the city each year. The traditional Christmas market in Plaza Mayor opens around the same time and runs until 31 December. The official tourism site, esMadrid, publishes the dates once they are confirmed.
Weather and what to bring
November days can still be pleasant in the sun, but evenings are cool and get colder through the month. Bring a proper coat for the walk home. Our winter weather guide explains what to expect.
Plan a November Thursday
Both of our November shows fall on Thursdays, which makes them easy to build an evening around: a free museum hour, tapas in La Latina, the show at 21:30 and a late dinner. Our guide to Thursday night in Madrid has the full plan, our four-night itinerary starts on a Thursday too, and the what’s on page always shows the latest dates.
