New Year's Eve in Madrid 2026: the chimes at Puerta del Sol

Where it happens: the Real Casa de Correos clock

The official celebration is in Puerta del Sol. At midnight on 31 December the clock on the Real Casa de Correos strikes twelve, and the whole of Spain eats grapes in time with it. Shortly before twelve a ball drops down the tower; then come the four quarter chimes and, after them, the twelve strokes, spaced out so there is time to swallow each grape (Madrid Tourism).

The 12 grapes in two sentences: you eat one grape on each of the twelve strokes of midnight, and if you finish in time you start the year with good luck. The quarter chimes do not count, so wait for the first stroke.

The custom is usually dated to 1909, when grape growers from eastern Spain gave away their surplus (Madrid Tourism). Entry to the square is free and needs no booking.

The 'preuvas' on 30 December

On the night of 30 December there is a rehearsal with the midnight chimes: the preuvas ("pre-grapes"), with the same security set-up as New Year's Eve. In 2025 the square was cleared and reopened just as on the 31st (see below), and Sol station also closed from 18:00 (Madrid Transport Consortium).

In 2026, 30 December is a Wednesday and 31 December a Thursday.

Times, capacity and entry points at Puerta del Sol

The 2026 times have not been published. In 2025, according to the council's statement of 30 December (Madrid City Council):

• 21:00: police clear the square completely.
• 22:00: people are let back in, only through four entry points with a double police check: Calle Mayor, Calle del Arenal, Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo. The other streets (Preciados, Montera, Carmen, Carretas…) are kept as evacuation routes, with no entry (Madrid City Council, 2016).
• Capacity: 15,000 people. Once full, the entry points close, however long it is until midnight.
• The same times and entry points applied to the preuvas on the 30th and the grapes on the 31st.

Tip: if you want to be inside, be at one of the four entry points before 22:00. With 15,000 places, turning up at eleven means risking being left outside, in a side street.

In 2022 the council set aside an area for people with reduced mobility, entered via Calle Esparteros towards Calle del Correo (Madrid City Council). It is not yet confirmed for 2026.

What you cannot bring

Police at the checkpoints look for dangerous items. In its 2022 plan the council specifically named glass, blunt objects and firecrackers (Madrid City Council). In other years bags and backpacks were also searched (Madrid City Council, 2015).

Bring your grapes in a plastic container, leave glass bottles of cava behind, and travel light: a big backpack slows you down at the checkpoint. In a crowd this size, keep your phone and wallet in a closed pocket.

Metro, local trains and buses on New Year's Eve

The 2026 timetables will be published in December. In 2025:

• Sol metro station: closed on 30 and 31 December from 18:00 until the end of service (Madrid Transport Consortium). The nearest stations are Ópera, Callao, Gran Vía, Sevilla and Tirso de Molina.
• Cercanías at Sol: closed from 21:00 on 30 and 31 December (Madrid Transport Consortium).
• Metro: no all-night service was announced. On 1 January it opened at 7:00.
• EMT buses: on the 31st, the last daytime departures were between 21:30 and 21:45. Night buses ("búhos") left Cibeles from 22:30 until 7:00 on 1 January, every 45 to 50 minutes until midnight and every 20 to 35 minutes after that. On 1 January, daytime buses started between 7:15 and 8:45 depending on the line (Madrid Transport Consortium).
• Airport: the Exprés Aeropuerto bus made its last daytime runs at 21:45 from Atocha and 21:30 from T4, and its night service ran from 22:30 to 7:00 in both directions.
• Bus interchanges: on the 31st they closed early, between 22:00 (Plaza de Castilla) and midnight (Avenida de América).

If you have an early flight on 1 January, remember the metro does not open until 7:00: a pre-booked airport transfer saves you relying on the night bus.

Traffic: the centre is closed to cars in stages. In previous years, municipal police diverted traffic at Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, Calle Mayor and Calle de Alcalá before closing the area to pedestrians (Madrid City Council, 2022). On the afternoon of the 31st there is also the San Silvestre Vallecana, a 10 km race that starts on Calle Concha Espina and passes the Puerta de Alcalá and Cibeles (Madrid Tourism), with more closures in the afternoon. Do not drive.

What opens and closes on 31 December and 1 January

• 31 December: a normal working day, but many places close early. The Museo Reina Sofía is closed all day; the Palacio de Cristal and Palacio de Velázquez in the Retiro open until 17:00 (Museo Reina Sofía).
• 1 January 2027 (Friday): a national public holiday across Spain (BOE). The Reina Sofía and the Retiro palaces are closed. The metro starts at 7:00 and buses later than on a normal day.
• 6 January is also a public holiday.

Before visiting any museum or shop on those two days, check its website: each one sets its own hours.

Alternatives to Puerta del Sol

• The preuvas on the 30th: the same ritual, the night before.
• Dinner and grapes at a restaurant or hotel: if you would rather eat out, book early and ask what the menu includes (grapes, party favours, closing time).
• Ticketed parties: buy only from the organiser's official website or box office, and check that it states the venue and the times.
• The Christmas lights: on the 31st you can walk round them before dinner. See our guide to the Madrid Christmas lights.

If you want to walk back from Sol after the chimes, look for a place to stay near Sol and the centre. For everything else on those days, see the Madrid events guide.