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Madrid St Patrick’s Parade 2026: 14 March on Gran Vía, 600 bagpipers and a free concert in Callao
Central Madrid is preparing to turn green with the St Patrick’s parade. More than 600 bagpipers will travel along Gran Vía. There will be concerts and cultural activities throughout the week. Mobility and the atmosphere will change in the very heart of the city.
Madrid city centre is preparing to turn green with the St Patrick's parade. More than 600 bagpipers will make their way along Gran Vía. There will be concerts and cultural activities (30 processions and a proclamation at the Almudena) throughout the week. Mobility and the atmosphere will change in the very heart of the city.
Next Saturday, 14 March, Gran Vía will exchange its usual pulse for the rhythm of Irish bagpipes and dances. The St Patrick's parade, which has already become a fixture in Madrid's calendar, will bring together hundreds of people in the city centre. From 17:00, the route will set off from the Metrópolis building and proceed to Plaza de España, filling the city's main artery with music and colour.
The organisation, led by Bras Rodrigo and the Fundación Banda de Gaitas de Corvera, will involve more than 600 bagpipers from around 40 bands, as well as dance groups, entertainers and associations. The festive atmosphere will extend beyond the parade: at the end, Callao square will host a free concert to round off the day.
Semana de Irlanda, to be held from 10 to 17 March, will bring literary events, cinema and cultural activities to spaces such as Matadero, Lavapiés, El Ateneo and Cine Doré. In addition, Gran Vía Metro station will be transformed into 'Green Vía' during these days, with special decoration and daily Celtic music and dance performances, adding a symbolic nod to the Irish spirit in the heart of Madrid.
This programme of activities not only enlivens the cultural agenda, but also changes mobility and the atmosphere in the centre. Those passing through the area will notice the change in the city's rhythm, with traffic closures and a festive atmosphere that invites people to join in, even if only in passing.
Gran Vía, the epicentre of Madrid's urban life, has established itself as a venue for major celebrations and cultural events. Its ability to host large-scale events and its connection with other key points in the city make it the ideal place for initiatives such as the St Patrick's parade. Madrid is already beginning to move in that direction, adapting its pulse to the new traditions that attract more followers every year.
Exact route: 17:00 Metrópolis (Gran Vía/Callao) → Gran Vía → Plaza de España (approx. 19:30). Bagpipers from Spain, Celtic dances and entertainers take part. Callao concert after the parade. Gran Vía Metro “Green Vía” 10–17 March with music/dance.
Traffic closures/mobility: 15:30–21:00 Gran Vía, Caballero de Gracia, Virgen de los Peligros, Maestro Guerrero, Reyes, Princesa, Cuesta San Vicente, Alcalá (Cibeles–Gran Vía). EMT routes 001/002/1/2/3/9/25/39/44/46/52/74/75/133/138/146/147/148/158/C1/C2 diverted. Callao/Gran Vía/Sol Metro recommended.