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Cultural venues in Madrid

Opera, zarzuela, theatre, music and exhibitions: where to go and how to buy tickets.

Updated

The essentials

  • Madrid has one of the largest offers of opera, theatre, classical music and dance in Europe, concentrated in a few districts.
  • The Gran Vía and its surroundings are the musicals district; the Barrio de las Letras is the home of classical theatre.
  • Exhibitions are spread across museums, foundations and centres such as Matadero or CentroCentro.
  • Always buy from each theatre's official box office. You will find the links in the Cultural calendar.

Theatres and music venues

Teatro Real

The Teatro Real, next to Plaza de Oriente.
The Teatro Real, next to Plaza de Oriente. Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Madrid's opera house opened in 1850. Today it is the home of opera, with international productions and a season of concerts from autumn to summer. Guided tours of the building are available. Programme and tickets.

Metro: Ópera (2, 5, R).

Teatro de la Zarzuela

Opened in 1856, it is the great temple of zarzuela (the Spanish lyric genre) and also stages dance and ballet. INAEM tickets.

Metro: Sevilla (2), Banco de España (2).

National Auditorium of Music

The National Auditorium of Music.
The National Auditorium of Music. Photo: Mentxuwiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Opened in 1988, it is the home of the Spanish National Orchestra and Chorus and of the concert series of the National Centre for Music Diffusion. Its symphonic and chamber halls host much of the city's classical music. INAEM tickets.

Metro: Cruz del Rayo (9) and Prosperidad (4).

Teatros del Canal

A performing arts centre run by the Community of Madrid, in a former water depot, with a particular focus on dance, opera and theatre. Programme and tickets.

Metro: Canal (line 2) and Ríos Rosas (1).

Other venues with history

  • Teatro EspañolOn Plaza de Santa Ana, heir to the 16th-century Corral del Príncipe. Official website
  • Gran Vía theatresLope de Vega, Rialto, Calderón, Coliseum: musicals and comedies all year round.
  • Círculo de Bellas ArtesExhibitions, cinema and a rooftop with views.
  • Teatro Circo PriceContemporary circus and concerts in a circular building.
  • WiZink CenterThe big arena for concerts and basketball.
  • Las Ventas bullringOpened in 1931, it hosts bullfights and also concerts. Read more

Exhibitions and cultural centres

Matadero Madrid

A complex of former slaughterhouses converted into a contemporary creation centre next to Madrid Río, with halls for theatre, dance, film (Cineteca) and exhibitions. Much of its programme is free or low-cost. Programme.

Metro: Legazpi (3 and 6).

CentroCentro and the Cibeles Palace

The City Council's cultural centre occupies the Cibeles Palace and has exhibitions and a viewpoint on its terrace. Programme.

Conde Duque and other spaces

The Conde Duque Cultural Centre is a former Baroque barracks with exhibitions, music and performing arts. Foundations such as the Fundación Juan March, La Casa Encendida or the Centro de Arte Canal add to them.

Las Ventas, a unique venue

The Las Ventas bullring is a brick Neo-Mudéjar building with a capacity of around twenty thousand people. Besides the bullfighting season (the San Isidro Fair, in May and June, is the most important), it hosts concerts and events. It can be visited on a guided tour. Official website.

Metro: Ventas (2 and 5).

The Las Ventas bullring.
The Las Ventas bullring. Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Buy safely

Use each venue's official box office or authorised platforms. Overpriced resales do not guarantee entry. See all the links in the Cultural calendar.

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