Madrid Holy Week 2025: Dates, Processions, and Tourist Highlights

Madrid is gearing up for Holy Week 2025, a significant cultural and religious event. Officially commencing on April 13th (Palm Sunday) and lasting until April 20th (Easter Sunday), processions will begin as early as April 11th (Friday of Sorrows). During this week, Madrid transforms into a display of religious devotion, with brotherhoods parading religious images through the city streets. These processions involve months of preparation by dedicated members and feature music, candles, and incense. Each day offers a unique procession with its own schedule and route, spanning from the historic center to various neighborhoods. The processions start on Friday of Sorrows with the Santísimo Cristo del Perdón and María Santísima de la Misericordia, and the Virgen de la Estrella. Palm Sunday includes the Borriquita, the Procession of Silence, and the Students' Procession. Tuesday features the Traslado del Santísimo Cristo de los Alabarderos, organized by the Royal Guard. Wednesday showcases the Cristo de los Gitanos and the Tres Caídas procession. Thursday processions include the Divino Cautivo, Jesús el Pobre y el Dulce Nombre, and Jesús del Gran Poder and Esperanza Macarena. Good Friday, the most solemn day, features Jesús de Medinaceli, the Cristo de los Alabarderos, and the Santo Entierro. Holy Saturday includes the Encuentro. The week concludes with the Tamborrada on Resurrection Sunday. Beyond Madrid, other municipalities in the Community of Madrid also hold notable celebrations. The Passion of Chinchón, a theatrical re-enactment, will be held on April 19th, and the brotherhoods of Alcalá de Henares also hold processions. Madrid's Holy Week offers a blend of faith, art, and tradition, with the city offering concerts, an exhibition about the history of the brotherhoods of Madrid, and a 'torrijas route' to sample the local gastronomy.