What to Do in Madrid in October: Weather, National Day and Events

October weather: mild, with showers

Source: AEMET, normal values for the Madrid-Retiro station (1981-2010). These are averages: a still-summery start to the month or a cold, wet week are both possible. Showers are often short but heavy; keep a covered plan B, see what to do in Madrid when it rains. The clocks go back in the night from Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October 2026, so the sun sets an hour earlier from Sunday. For the whole season, see Madrid in autumn; the previous month is covered in what to do in Madrid in September.

Crowds, public holidays and prices in October

Monday 12 October 2026 is Spain's National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España), a public holiday across the country: the weekend of 10 to 12 October is a long weekend, very popular with Spaniards. Hotels in the centre fill up and prices rise that weekend; the rest of the month is quieter. On 12 October most shops close and museums run public-holiday hours: check each venue's hours and book tickets. To compare prices and areas, see where to stay in Madrid and the Madrid travel budget.

October 2026 events

Monday 12 October: National Day parade

The military parade takes place on the morning of 12 October, from the Paseo del Prado to Plaza de Colón via the Paseo de Recoletos, with units of the armed forces and a flypast. Admission is free, but crowds are dense and many streets are closed to traffic: arrive early, avoid driving and plan to go around the area on foot or by metro. If you don't want to watch the parade, stay away from the Prado and Cibeles that morning, or visit the Prado Museum in the afternoon.

12 to 18 October: Madrid en Otra Mirada

This heritage week opens several historic buildings in the city free of charge; advance registration opens at the end of September. Places go quickly: pick the visits you want now on esmadrid.com.

Transhumance festival: 24 and 25 October

Every late October, thousands of sheep walk through central Madrid in a free festival run since 1994 by the Trashumancia y Naturaleza association. The procession leaves the Casa de Campo, reaches calle Mayor by the cuesta de la Vega, goes down to Plaza de Cibeles and returns by the same route. The exact route and times were not yet confirmed at the time of writing: check esmadrid.com the week before. The procession temporarily blocks traffic in the centre.

JAZZMADRID and Suma Flamenca

JAZZMADRID26 runs from 2 October to 30 November in several venues, with tickets depending on the concert. The Suma Flamenca festival (21st edition) runs from 13 October to 1 November, mainly at the Teatros del Canal; for a more intimate show, see our guide to flamenco in Madrid. For more evening ideas, see Madrid at night. For the end of the month, see also Halloween in Madrid.

What to wear in October

• Layers: a jumper or light jacket for morning and evening, something lighter for the afternoon.
• A small umbrella or a raincoat: rain often comes as a shower.
• Shoes with grip: cobbles and wet leaves are slippery.
• A scarf for the evening, especially after 25 October when night falls earlier.

The best things to do in October

• The Retiro: the Retiro Park is the easiest choice for an autumn stroll; allow an hour and a half to two hours.
• A viewpoint: the Cerro del Tío Pío late in the afternoon, on a clear day.
• Museums: for a rainy day, the Prado, the Reina Sofía or the Thyssen-Bornemisza.
• Covered markets: see the markets of Madrid for a lunch under cover.
• Hot chocolate: the San Ginés chocolatería makes the most sense on chilly mornings.
• Meal times: Madrileños lunch around 2 pm and dine after 9 pm, see meal times in Madrid.

October 2026 at a glance

Going further

October follows what to do in Madrid in September and comes before what to do in Madrid in November. To compare every season, read the best time to visit Madrid, and for the other festivals of the year, the popular festivals of Madrid.