Update 30 October 2026
- Past: the Renfe drivers' strike (Semaf) of 29 October, with minimum services of 75% at peak hours on Cercanías, has taken place.
- 11 November: the general strike is confirmed as called (CCOO, UGT, CGT, Sindicato de Inquilinas and others); minimum services for the metro, EMT, Cercanías and flights were still not published on 30 October. Read the dedicated page for the details.
- Around it: 4 November, Catalan teachers' rallies and the university strike on the Madrid campuses; 9 November, the Almudena local holiday; 13 November, start of the election campaign for 29 November.
Situation today (27 October 2026)
- Renfe strike on 29 October: 24 hours, Thursday 29 October 2026, called by Semaf (train drivers) across the whole Renfe group; minimum services set by the Transport Ministry: Cercanías 75% at peak hours (06:00-09:00, 13:30-15:30, 18:30-20:30) and 50% the rest of the day, Media Distancia 65% on average, high-speed and long-distance 73% (Infobae/EFE, 26 October). The report does not say which Cercanías networks are covered, so check your train on renfe.com.
- General strike on 11 November: 24 hours, Wednesday 11 November 2026, called by UGT, CCOO, CGT and other unions together with the Sindicato de Inquilinas, over housing and wages; the notice was registered with the Labour Ministry (El Independiente, 7 October; Andalucía Información, 22 October; sindicalismo.org, 19 October). The CEOE employers' federation contests its legality.
- Minimum services for 11 November: no decree found on 27 October for the Madrid metro, EMT, Renfe Cercanías or airports. They are normally set a few days before by the authorities (Transport Ministry for trains and flights, Community of Madrid for metro and buses). The Community of Madrid presented its proposal to the unions on 23 October without written documents; on 27 October UGT Madrid and CCOO Madrid called it "abusive", refused to sign the minutes and reserved the right to go to court, while the regional government says the unions offered no alternative (noticiasparamunicipios.com, 27 October; Gacetín Madrid, 25 October). CCOO and UGT asked the Transport Ministry on 22 October for "proportionate" services (Infobae).
- Other strikes: the indefinite strike of public-school teachers in the Community of Madrid, begun on 14 October, was still on at 26 October, and a university strike is planned for 4 and 5 November on the region's six campuses (elDiario.es, 26 October); neither affects transport. No strike specific to the Madrid metro, EMT or Aena found for the coming weeks as of 27 October 2026.
- Protests: the housing camp at the Puerta del Sol, set up at the end of September, was one month old on 26 October; the groups behind it are debating whether to leave and focus on the general strike or stay. The Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, resigned on 25 October; his successor is awaiting confirmation (elDiario.es, 26 October). The Government Delegation publishes the gatherings notified to it.
- Traveller advice: no strike or weather alert in the UK advice for Spain (FCDO, 12 August 2026).
Calendar to the end of January 2027
| Date | Event | What it means for you | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 29 October | Renfe train drivers' strike (Semaf), 24 hours | Cercanías, Media Distancia and high-speed trains reduced | Minimum services set (Infobae/EFE, 26 Oct) |
| 4-5 November | University strike on the six campuses of the Community of Madrid | Disruption on campuses, not on transport | Announced (elDiario.es, 26 Oct) |
| Since 14 October, no end date | Indefinite strike of public-school teachers, marches in the centre | Rallies near the Education Department and the Assembly of Madrid | Under way (elDiario.es, 26 Oct) |
| Monday 9 November | Almudena feast (local holiday in Madrid) | Shops and offices closed or reduced | Usual calendar, to be confirmed |
| A few days before 11 November | Publication of minimum services | Set the share of trains, metros and flights provided | Not yet published on 27 October |
| Wednesday 11 November | 24-hour general strike | Metro, EMT, Cercanías, trains and flights probably reduced; museums and public services affected | Registered (El Independiente 7 Oct, Andalucía Información 22 Oct) |
| Friday 13 November | Start of the campaign for the 29 November general election | Rallies and meetings | Official calendar (Euronews, 6 Oct) |
| 6-8 December | Constitution Day and Immaculate Conception | Long weekend, heavy crowds, reduced timetables | Usual public holidays, possible shift to be confirmed |
| 24-26 December | Christmas | Holiday timetables, shops closed | Usual calendar |
| 31 December to 6 January | New Year and Three Kings (parade on 5 January) | Crowds and closed streets in the centre and Puerta del Sol | Annual events, routes to be confirmed |
Safety and weather
- Demonstrations: they gather around Puerta del Sol, Atocha, Cibeles and the Congress of Deputies; they are generally peaceful, but keep your distance.
- Strike and safety: picket lines can block entrances; do not join marches.
- Weather: strong winds and sometimes heavy rain in winter; check AEMET before excursions (Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial).
What to do: refunds, insurance, alternatives
- On 11 November: central Madrid is walkable (Prado, Retiro, Royal Palace within a few kilometres); book museums with free cancellation, since some may close.
- Barajas airport: with a reduced metro, plan a taxi or private transfer and a three-hour margin before a flight.
- Trains: Cercanías and AVE run with minimum services; keep a changeable ticket for a fixed-date journey.
Keep your tickets, receipts and a screenshot of the announcement. For a flight, the airline must offer a refund or rerouting; the fixed compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 depends on the cause of the disruption and only applies to flights leaving the EU, or arriving in the EU with a European airline. Before booking anything non-refundable (hotel, train, excursion), read the cancellation terms.
What if you fall ill or get hurt during the trip? A disruption does not help when there is an accident. SafetyWing (bought online, for the length of the trip) covers medical costs and evacuation; it is not cancellation insurance, so read its trip-interruption terms before counting on it for a strike or a missed flight. See our travel insurance guide.
See also our safety and scams guide.
See also: Protests in Madrid: what to do and what to avoid and General strike on 11 November 2026.
Flight cancelled or delayed by a strike: are you owed compensation?
- Who is covered: EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) applies to flights leaving the EU (any airline) and flights into the EU on an EU airline.
- Amounts: €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km (or intra-EU flights over 1,500 km), €600 beyond 3,500 km, if the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure or arrives 3 hours or more late. The amount can be cut by 50% if you are rerouted at times close to the original.
- Strike: the case on this page — Here, the strikes are by third parties. An air traffic control strike, an airport staff strike or a general strike is usually an extraordinary circumstance: no compensation, but the airline must still offer a refund or rebooking and care (meals, hotel).
- Claim for free: directly with the airline, using the form on its website; keep your boarding pass and all proofs. Deadline depends on the country — Spain: 5 years.
- Claims service: AirHelp checks your flight for free and handles the claim, taking a commission only if it wins (about 35% of the compensation, VAT included, plus 15% if legal action is needed). You can also claim yourself at no cost.
What to do safely during the general strike
Here is a plan B to keep your trip going without taking risks.
- Areas to avoid on protest days: Sol, Cibeles, Atocha, Colón, plaza de España.
- Outing away from the marches: Toledo and Segovia, day trip, far from the squares where people march.
- Airport transfer: transfer from Madrid-Barajas airport, no train, metro or bus to catch.
- For the airport leg, Welcome Pickups offers a private driver booked in advance, so you do not depend on trains, the metro or buses.
- Calm hotel, free cancellation: hotels in Salamanca, quiet area, refundable if your plans change.
FAQ
Is there a strike in Madrid in November 2026?
Yes: a 24-hour general strike is called for Wednesday 11 November 2026, and Renfe train drivers strike on Thursday 29 October. Public-school teachers are also on an indefinite strike. No metro or EMT strike is announced in our sources as of 27 October.
Will the Madrid metro run on 11 November?
Probably with a reduced service, but the minimum services were not published on 27 October and the unions contest them. Check the Madrid metro website and the Community of Madrid the day before.
Will my flight be cancelled?
That is not announced at this stage. Check Aena and your airline: the flights affected by a strike are usually specified in the days before.
Detailed pages: Renfe strike and Ryanair and Barajas airport strikes.
Sources checked on 27 October 2026: Infobae/EFE (26 October 2026), noticiasparamunicipios.com (27 October 2026), elDiario.es (26 October 2026), Gacetín Madrid (25 October 2026), El Independiente (7 October 2026), Andalucía Información (22 October 2026), sindicalismo.org (19 October 2026), Euronews (6 October 2026), FCDO Spain (12 August 2026). Strike details (minimum services) will be added as soon as they are published.
