Madrid Three Kings Parade 2027: a practical guide

What is the Three Kings Parade?

In Spain, Christmas presents are brought by the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar), on the night of 5 to 6 January, and children find them when they wake up on the 6th. The evening before, the Kings ride through the city on floats in a huge parade with music, dancers and pages who throw sweets to the crowd. It is a free street event, with no tickets.

Madrid's is the biggest in the city and is run by the City Council. If you have never seen one: it is not a solemn religious procession but a loud, joyful family celebration, with hundreds of thousands of people on the streets (Madrid Tourism). In Spanish it is called the Cabalgata de Reyes.

When is the Madrid Three Kings Parade 2027?

On the evening of Tuesday 5 January 2027. Madrid Tourism's Christmas 2026-2027 listings give 18:00 to 21:00 and say the full programme will be published at the end of November (esmadrid.com). The 2027 route, theme and details have not been published. We will update this guide as soon as they are (in 2026, the council's detailed announcement came out on 4 January).

The next day, Wednesday 6 January 2027, is a public holiday across Spain (BOE).

The 2026 route and times, for reference

This is how it went on Monday 5 January 2026, under the theme 'El saber compartido' (Shared Knowledge) (City Council):

Route, north to south: Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz, Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza del Doctor Marañón, Glorieta de Emilio Castelar, Plaza de Colón, Paseo de Recoletos and Plaza de Cibeles. These are the points the council gives for the parade and for its accessible viewing areas. It does not publish passing times for each stretch: the head of the parade leaves at 18:00 and the Kings, who come last, reach Cibeles at about 21:00.

The 2026 parade: 15 floats (the three royal floats and twelve more), ten national and international street theatre companies, a procession of more than a thousand people and over a tonne of sweets. The Municipal Police band and mounted unit led the way. While the floats were on their way, the Cibeles stage had circus from the Teatro Circo Price, dance and magic. It was broadcast live on RTVE and Telemadrid.

Where to watch: stands, spots and tips

• Stands: in 2026 there were stands with more than 8,000 seats along the route and 2,200 seats at Cibeles (City Council). The council does not explain how they are allocated, so expect them to fill early. Some Cibeles seats are set aside for social organisations (children in hospital or in care, and people with disabilities).
• First stretch (San Juan de la Cruz and the Castellana): the parade passes earlier, from about 18:00, and the avenue is very wide. The best choice with small children who tire or fall asleep early.
• Colón, Recoletos and Cibeles: the most crowded part, because that is where the finale, the speech and the fireworks take place. If you want to see the fireworks, get to Cibeles very early or accept you will watch from a distance.
• Arrive early: the council expected more than 200,000 people along the route. To get a front-row spot, go well in advance.

Tips for your first parade

• The sweets: pages and floats throw them to the crowd along the whole route. Children pick them up off the ground, so bring a bag to keep them in. If you would rather not be hit by them, stand a little further back.
• With children: agree on a meeting point in case you get separated. The parade lasts about three hours, so pick one spot and stay there rather than trying to follow it.
• Clothing: it is a January night outdoors, standing still for hours. Wrap up warmer than you think you need.
• Rain: the parade is outdoors. In heavy rain the council may change the programme, so check its announcements on the day.
• Crowds: keep an eye on your wallet and phone, as in any big crowd.
• If you cannot go: it is broadcast live on TV (in 2026, on RTVE and Telemadrid).

Accessibility

In 2026 there were five reserved, signposted areas for people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, and with reduced mobility. They were on the right-hand side of the route in the direction of the parade: Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz (near Calle Ríos Rosas), Plaza del Doctor Marañón (near José Abascal), Glorieta de Emilio Castelar (near Paseo del General Martínez Campos) and Plaza de Colón (two areas, either side of Calle Génova). Each person could bring up to two companions, first come first served, and a disability card could be requested.

Audio description, induction loops, amplified sound and vibrating backpacks were also lent out, first come first served. At Cibeles, people with disabilities entered the seating area from behind the square, between Calle de Recoletos and Calle de Alcalá (City Council).

Road closures, Metro and EMT buses

2026 information; the 2027 details are published in the days before.

• Car: do not drive. The route closes the Castellana and Recoletos, the city's main north-south artery.
• Metro: the best option. The Madrid regional government increased frequencies on lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 on the eve of Kings' Day, with extra staff at stations (Comunidad de Madrid). Stations along the route include Nuevos Ministerios, Gregorio Marañón, Rubén Darío, Colón and Banco de España (at Cibeles).
• EMT buses: on 5 January 2026, from 12:00 until the end of service, 29 daytime lines were diverted: 001, 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 27, 34, 37, 40, 45, 51, 52, 53, 61, 74, 146, 147, 150, CO3, E1 and the Airport Express. Fourteen night buses were also affected until 2:00 on the 6th (EMT Madrid).
• Flying in or out that day: the Airport Express bus changes its route through the centre from midday. Allow extra time or take the Metro (line 8).
• BiciMAD: docking stations on the route were closed, including Paseo del Prado 1B, Goya 1, Castellana 4, 42 and 43, and Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz 10.

Neighbourhood parades, with smaller crowds

Besides the big parade in the centre, many districts hold their own, usually in the days before. In 2026, according to EMT's diversions, there were parades on 2 January (Valdebebas), the 3rd (Chamartín, Sanchinarro and Las Tablas), the 4th (Fuencarral-El Pardo, Carabanchel, Ciudad Lineal, Moncloa-Aravaca, Moratalaz, San Blas-Canillejas, Tetuán, Usera and Villa de Vallecas) and the evening of the 5th (El Pardo, Barajas, Vicálvaro, Hortaleza, Latina, San Cristóbal, Puente de Vallecas and Villaverde) (EMT Madrid). They are smaller and calmer, a good alternative with young children. Each district publishes its 2027 times and routes in December.

What opens and closes on 6 January?

6 January (Epiphany, Kings' Day) is a national public holiday. It is a family day: many families spend the morning at home opening presents and have lunch together. In the afternoon people eat roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread with a small figurine and a dried bean hidden inside (Madrid Tourism).

• Reina Sofía Museum: closed on 1 and 6 January (Museo Reina Sofía).
• Other museums and monuments: many have special hours or close on public holidays. Check each website before you go.
• Shops and restaurants: many small shops close; tourist areas and the big department stores in the centre tend to be busier. Check each place's hours.
• Transport: Metro and EMT run a public holiday timetable.

On the morning of 5 January 2025, Aldeas Infantiles SOS gave out free roscón in Puerta del Sol (Madrid Tourism). If it returns in 2027, we will add it.

Where to stay and more plans

Madrid is in high demand on the eve of Kings' Day and on 6 January. If you want to stay within walking distance of the route, the Castellana, Chamberí and the Salamanca district are a few minutes away: find a place to stay in Madrid with free cancellation in case the programme changes.

• Madrid Christmas lights: switch-on, streets and times.
• What's on in Madrid: things to do these days.