Madrid after dark: A guide to Veranos de la Villa 2025

• Blog
• Articles
• Lifestyle
• Madrid after dark: A guide to Veranos...

From 7 July to 24 August 2025, Madrid transforms into an open-air stage for Veranos de la Villa. Now in its 41st edition, the annual summer festival brings together more than 100 performances and cultural experiences across the city, some grand, others intimate, but all uniquely tied to place and atmosphere.

More than a festival, Veranos de la Villa is a season. One that invites residents and visitors alike to experience art not in isolation, but embedded within the city’s rhythm, architecture, and night air.

Opening night: Carmen reimagined

The season begins with "Carmen: 150 años" on 7 July at Puente del Rey. The avant-garde Catalan company La Fura dels Baus presents a contemporary homage to Bizet’s iconic opera with a dramatic outdoor staging and live music performed by the Banda Sinfónica Municipal. Admission is free, and the atmosphere promises to be charged with both energy and elegance.

A summer of music in historic courtyards

One of the hallmarks of Veranos de la Villa is its use of historical venues for live music. The central patio of Conde Duque hosts several standout events this year, including:

• Marcus Miller (23 July, 22:00): A retrospective concert by the legendary American jazz bassist, blending funk, soul, and cinematic nuance. Tickets from €24.

• Tomatito (25 July, 22:00): One of flamenco’s greatest living guitarists returns to Madrid for a night of masterful acoustic storytelling.

Scent as art

From 10 July to 3 August, the Serrería Belga will host "En el compás del verano," a multisensory exhibition exploring Madrid through scent. Curated by the Academy of Perfume and the Ventós Foundation, the show invites visitors to trace the city’s olfactory identity through carefully crafted aromatic compositions. Open Tuesdays to Sundays with free entry.

Dance and performance

This year's dance programming leans into refined choreography and thoughtful reinterpretations of tradition:

• “Marta la Piadosa” (25–27 July, 21:30): Teatro Defondo stages Tirso de Molina’s classic with contemporary flair at the cloister of IES San Isidro. Tickets €15.

• “Notte Morricone” (17–18 July, 20:00): A tribute to Ennio Morricone, with choreography by Christophe Bernard and dancers from Italy’s Aterballetto. Hosted at Nave 11, Matadero. Tickets from €24.

New flamenco and hybrid sounds

The summer’s flamenco programming strikes a balance between purity and innovation:

• Yerai Cortés (5 August, 19:00): A young talent reimagining flamenco guitar with minimalism and soul.

• Mayte Martín and Patricia Donn (5 August, 22:00): A genre-blurring concert blending flamenco, canción and poetic intimacy.

• Pasión Vega: Pasión Almodóvar (12 August, 21:30): An ode to the music behind Pedro Almodóvar’s cinematic world.

• Carlos Rodríguez Ballet Flamenco Company – Hilo de fuego (16–17 August, 21:30): A bold, contemporary flamenco ballet with an emotional undercurrent.

All performances take place at the Conde Duque Patio Central. Tickets for each range from €15 to €24.

Cinema under the stars

Madrid’s open-air film culture is in full force during Veranos de la Villa. Highlights include:

• "Cine caliente" at Parque de la Bombilla (Tuesdays from 16 July to 20 August): Classic films paired with live performances.

• Cineplaza at Matadero and La Estival at Plaza de España also offer curated lineups throughout the summer, with tickets from €3.50 to €6.

Closing event: Celia Cruz tribute

The festival concludes on 24 August with "Celia Vive," a tribute to the queen of salsa, Celia Cruz, marking her centenary. Cuban-Spanish singer Lucrecia leads the event at the open-air auditorium in Parque Pinar del Rey. Admission is free.

Planning the experience

Many events are free, though advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be booked through the official Veranos de la Villa website or at tourist information points throughout the city.

To elevate the experience: begin with an early aperitivo, enjoy a performance under the stars, then end the evening with a late dinner at one of Madrid’s refined yet understated restaurants—Triciclo, Sacha, or Casa Orellana are favourites for a reason.

Dress code leans toward relaxed elegance. Think linen, silk, natural fibres, and a layer incase things cool down post-performance