Refugio Climático returns to the Círculo de Bellas Artes for its third summer, turning the building's historic Salón de Baile into a free indoor refuge from Madrid's heat from 9 July to 6 September 2026. This year the space is built around 62 descansillos, a temporary habitable installation by Recetas Urbanas, the Seville-based architecture studio led by Santiago Cirugeda and Alice Attout.
What it is
Since 2024 the Círculo de Bellas Artes has converted its ballroom each summer into an air-conditioned public space open to anyone, with no purchase required to enter or stay. This year's installation reshapes the hall into an elevated living room of platforms, terraces, balconies and corners for sitting, reading or working. The refuge also includes a coworking area with tables, wifi and plug sockets, a drinking water fountain (visitors are asked to bring a reusable bottle), a board game library run with publisher Tranjis Games, a reading corner stocked with titles from the Círculo's own publishing house and from Lengua de Trapo, and a plant creche where locals can leave houseplants for the summer while they travel. A hybrid sculpture titled Cuerpo en refugio, by artist Ángela Enero Febrero and winner of the Life Intemares student competition, is also on display for the season.
Why it's worth attending
Beyond the space itself, the refuge runs a changing programme of free activities throughout the summer. Highlights include collective siesta sessions with live ambient sound, a participatory "crisis cabinet" imagining post-collapse political futures, board game afternoons, a simultaneous chess exhibition with FIDE master Jorge Rentería and a Masnou-format open tournament later in July, a Repair Café for fixing small appliances, a textile-upcycling workshop, and a talk by sociologist Eric Klinenberg, author of Palaces for the People, on 16 July. In August, astrophysicist Diego López Cámara Ramírez gives a talk tied to the total solar eclipse visible from Spain that month. Several sessions are aimed specifically at families, including a play-based workshop mixing model-building and collaborative games. Most activities are drop-in and included in general admission, though the programme changes week to week, so it's worth checking the calendar on the organiser's site before heading over for something specific.
Practical info
The Refugio Climático is open daily from 9 July to 6 September 2026, from 11:00 to 21:00, with two exceptions: on 14 and 16 July it closes early, at 20:45. Entry is free and no ticket or booking is required to use the space itself. It's located in the Salón de Baile of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, on Calle de Alcalá, a short walk from Banco de España and Sevilla metro stations.
FAQ
Is Refugio Climático free?
Yes, entry to the space is free and no ticket is needed.
Do I need to book?
No booking is required to use the general space; individual activities are announced with their own signup links on the Círculo de Bellas Artes website.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 11:00 to 21:00, except on 14 and 16 July, when it closes at 20:45.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, the space includes a board game library and family-oriented sessions, alongside activities aimed at adults.
