Madrid marks Almudena day on Monday, 9 November, with mass, procession and free Corona cake

Mass and procession

Madrid celebrates the feast of its patron, the Virgen de la Almudena, on Monday, 9 November 2026, with a mass at the cathedral that bears her name. Archbishop José Cobo will preside over the mass, which is set to begin at 11:00. The motto chosen this year is 'Alcemos juntos la mirada', a nod to the visit of Pope Leo XIV in June. The renewal of the traditional Voto de la Villa by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida is part of the Mass. A procession around the streets near the cathedral will follow the mass if the rain allows, and the forecast is for rain.

Corona de la Almudena giveaway

The Plaza Mayor hosts a giant Corona de la Almudena, weighing about 300 kilos and measuring 25 metres in diameter, from which more than 5,000 free portions will be handed out to residents and visitors. The initiative is organised by the Asociación de Cocineros y Reposteros de Madrid (ACYRE Madrid) with the city council and starts at 12:30 in front of the Casa de la Panadería. If the weather turns bad, the event moves to the Bóvedas hall of the same building, and the portions will be distributed under the arcades of the square. The recipe is the traditional one, filled with custard and flavoured with Anís de Chinchón. ACYRE's president, Eduardo Casquero, said the cake dates from 1978, when Madrid's pastry guild created it to honour the Virgin.

Music and dance

The afternoon programme includes a goyesca zarzuela, chotis and pasodoble performed by the Agrupación de Madrileños y Amigos Los Castizos, starting near the Plaza de la Villa at 11:30. Folk groups including the Asociación Francisco de Goya and the Asociación Cultural Arrabel will perform later, along with organillero Alfredo Pobo. The music programme closes at 19:30 with a zarzuela recital at the Sony Auditorium of the Reina Sofía Conservatory, featuring students of the Alfredo Kraus singing chair.

Traffic and transport

Traffic restrictions are concentrated around the cathedral and the Bailén and Mayor streets. Between 10:00 and 12:30 there will be disruption on the roads around the cathedral during the mass. From about 12:30, for roughly an hour and a half until around 14:00, the procession will bring full closures on Calle Bailén, around Plaza de Oriente, Calle Mayor and Gran Vía de San Francisco. Three EMT bus lines, 3, 148 and an electric microbus, face diversions or changes of route.

Calendar

The festivity follows a local holiday period in Madrid. The city council has scheduled the last day of the floral offering for Tuesday, 10 November, when schools will take part in the morning and citizens may join in the afternoon.