The 44th edition of Festival de Otoño, the Comunidad de Madrid's international performing arts festival, brings theatre, dance and music to stages across the region. It opens with a posthumous tribute to Robert Wilson, who died in 2025, and joins the 250th anniversary of US independence through American artists.
What it is
The programme brings together 28 productions from 18 countries, including world, European and Spanish premieres. Robert Wilson's company inaugurates it with PESSOA - Since I’ve Been Me, a visual theatre piece built from texts by Fernando Pessoa and his heteronyms, with actress María de Medeiros leading the ensemble.
The US strand features choreographers Trajal Harrell, with the Zürich Dance Ensemble, and Faye Driscoll, with Sweden's Cullberg, plus Pachuquismo by La Mezcla and concerts by Berlin-based US singer Sorvina and Britain's Izo FitzRoy. Belgium's tg STAN, Cape Verdean choreographer Marlene Monteiro Freitas and creators from Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and Chile complete the line-up.
The ÁGORA parallel programme adds free talks, short introductions before selected shows and conversations with artists afterwards. A new strand, Incursiones, takes theatre to Mercado de Vallehermoso on 13 November.
Venues
Teatros del Canal is the main hub and uses all four of its halls: Sala Roja Concha Velasco, Sala Verde, Sala Negra and Sala de Cristal. In Madrid city, the programme also uses Contemporánea Condeduque, Teatro de La Abadía, Réplika Teatro, Sala Cuarta Pared, Teatro Pradillo, Sala Mirador and Mercado de Vallehermoso. Beyond the city, performances take place at Teatro Centro Sociocultural El Soto in Móstoles, Teatro Real Carlos III in Aranjuez, Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte in La Cabrera and Auditorio Pilar Bardem in Rivas-Vaciamadrid.
Why it's worth your time
The line-up includes documentary theatre (Mi madre y el dinero, Collons! and El rincón de los muertos), a staged concert by singer Ede, and Contra Antígona, in which 14 audience members each day form the Greek chorus. Many productions are Spanish or European premieres, and works in French, Polish, Dutch and Portuguese carry Spanish surtitles. Habla el mercado, a 45-minute headphone itinerary with tastings through Mercado de Vallehermoso, runs three sessions on 13 November.
Practical info
ÁGORA talks and Antesalas are free until capacity. Antesalas last about 20 minutes and start 30 minutes before selected performances. Contra Antígona, Hashima Hamlet and Coreografías virtuales carry a strobe-light warning, while Yesterday You Were Angry In Green (visual and sound) and NÔT (visual) warn of intense stimuli. Canal metro station (lines 2 and 7) serves Teatros del Canal.
FAQ
When is the Festival de Otoño 2026 in Madrid?
The 44th Festival de Otoño runs from 6 to 29 November 2026. It opens on Friday 6 November with Robert Wilson's PESSOA at Teatros del Canal and closes on Sunday 29 November with performances of Collons!, The Forest and Contra Antígona. There are no performances on Mondays, and Thursday to Sunday carry most of the programme.
How much do Festival de Otoño tickets cost?
At Teatros del Canal, the main venue, tickets cost between €9 and €35 depending on the show and seating zone. Other venues set their own prices through their own box offices. Teatros del Canal also offers a progressive discount of 20% for two shows, 30% for three, 40% for four and 50% for five or more, up to four tickets per show and on the general rate only.
Does the Festival de Otoño have English subtitles?
The programme lists Spanish surtitles only, not English ones. Productions in French, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese and Italian carry Spanish surtitles. The concerts by Sorvina (20 and 21 November) and Izo FitzRoy (21 November) are in English, and the official programme gives no language for several dance pieces, including Tambourines, flesh chariot, chariot of flesh and NÔT.
Are there Festival de Otoño shows outside Madrid city?
Yes, four venues outside Madrid city host performances: Teatro Centro Sociocultural El Soto in Móstoles (Marea Weekend, 6 to 8 November, and Historia de un jabalí, 18 November), Teatro Real Carlos III in Aranjuez (Sorvina, 21 November), Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte in La Cabrera (Collons!, 21 and 22 November) and Auditorio Pilar Bardem in Rivas-Vaciamadrid (Un tiro cada uno, 21 November). Tickets for the last three were listed as coming soon at the time of writing.
How long are the Festival de Otoño shows?
Productions run from 45 minutes to two hours. Habla el mercado lasts 45 minutes and Adentro! 50 minutes, while Nachtland runs 1 hour 40 minutes, NÔT 1 hour 45 minutes and Contra Antígona two hours. Most performances start between 18:00 and 21:00, with a few daytime sessions.
