Madrid

🏈 What's on in Madrid: November 6

‘Touchdowns at the Bernabéu’ sounds sacrilegious but what the hell do I know.

Madrid | Issue #169

🇪🇸 The Bubble is Spain's #1 English-language, bestselling newsletter.

Become a paid or free subscriber

---

Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend

Good morning and Happy Friday!

Hurray, us! It’s another long weekend in Madrid! Another great excuse to not work out, drink and be merry, just before the holidays.

• Personally, I’ll probably stay in all weekend because I have a cold (I’m regretting those early morning walks at the Retiro Park when it’s 4ºC outside).

• Even though right now I’m feeling like this, I’m still happy to bring you our weekly list of cool things to do (and eat) in the city.

Happy long weekend!

---

1. 🏈 Are you ready for some football? The NFL is back in Madrid for some reason!

Get ready, everyone! Madrid is about to experience something truly American. (If you thought I was talking about the impending arrival of Waymo, I don’t blame you.) I am talking, of course, about the NFL, baby!

• Goooooooal (or something like it)! American football is returning to the city this weekend, and the Santiago Bernabéu (that's a stadium, obvs) is once again hosting a game between two teams that I’ve never heard of, but that’s probably because I don’t follow organized sports. All I know for sure (because I’ve seen tons of American movies taking place in high school) is that there will be cheerleaders.

• It’s a second regular-season game, apparently. Look, I have no idea what any of this means. I’m just doing my job here, so bear with me.

• Last year’s debut saw the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders. This year, it’s the Atlanta Falcons taking on the Cincinnati Bengals.

• And these aren’t just any two teams. According to the press release (sorry, I sort of copy/pasted), the Falcons, who will technically be playing at home, are led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and feature running back Bijan Robinson, one of the NFL’s most exciting offensive players. On the other side are the Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, one of American football’s biggest stars. (I googled him; apparently that’s true).

• There’s also a halftime show! Colombian superstar Manuel Turizo (him, I know) will take over the field with his blend of reggaeton, pop, and tropical rhythms.

• The Madrid game is part of the NFL’s biggest international expansion yet, with nine regular-season games being played outside the United States this season, including destinations such as Paris and Melbourne.

My advice? If you can get tickets, go for the spectacle as much as the sport. And maybe the hot dogs.

🏈 What: NFL Madrid 2026: Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals

📍 Where: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Avenida de Concha Espina, 1, Madrid

📅 When: Nov. 8, 3:30 p.m.

🎟️ Tickets: Check official website

---

2.🏠 Open House 2026: Madrid is opening its doors to architecture fans & intruders (and you can be one of them!)

Ever walked past one of Madrid’s gorgeous buildings in Salamanca and wondered how you’ll exactly seize it once societal collapse finally arrives, courtesy of our tech overlords? Well, this weekend you have the chance to get a sneak peek and start thinking of ideas (bring a tape measure!).

• Open House Madrid is back for its 12th edition, inviting future warlords curious locals to explore more than 100 buildings and architecture studios across the capital, including spaces that are normally closed to the public.

• You’ll have access to historic palaces, architectural landmarks, contemporary offices, and hidden gems. It’s a good opportunity to discover Madrid from the inside out and, trust me, there’s a lot more to this city’s architecture than the Palacio Real and El Corte Inglés.

• But wait, there’s more! The program also includes guided tours, architectural walks, and visits to studios where you can meet the people responsible for shaping Madrid’s skyline. It’s basically an architect’s wet dream! Oh, and it’s also a great opportunity to ask who approved of the monstrosity known as the Mirador de Sanchinarro, a building so ugly it looks like my first experiment with Legos when I was 2 and high on LSD.

• The best part? It’s (mostly) free! The catch is that some of the most popular visits require advance registration, and places tend to disappear faster than your latest Tinder match. So check the program before heading out, especially if there’s a particular building you’ve been dying to explore.

My advice? Pick a neighborhood, choose a couple of buildings you’ve always been curious about, and spend an afternoon playing architectural detective. The ones with fallout shelters are super aesthetic! (I’m kidding, of course. There are none in Madrid.)

🏛️ What: Open House Madrid (12th Edition)

📍 Where: Various locations across Madrid

📅 When: Nov. 6–8

🎟️ Tickets: Free admission; some visits require advance registration

---

3. 👑 The closest you’ll ever get to owning a crown is eating one made of dough and sugar while crying in bed

It’s a great weekend for cafeteria Catholics! You know, those who pick and choose which parts of Church doctrine to follow and which to ignore. (Follow: holidays and chocolate eggs. Ignore: everything else.)

• The city celebrates the Virgen de la Almudena on Monday. That's its patron saint, with religious ceremonies, traditional music, colorful processions, and, most importantly, by eating a Corona de la Almudena (aka the city’s answer to the Roscón de Reyes).

• Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Please, Adrian… I can’t keep trying some new calorie bomb every weekend! I still have some huesos de santo left over from last weekend’s Halloween party, and I’m on Ozempic!” I hear you, but you’re the one who always insists on getting “the real Spanish experience,” so don’t @ me. If you want healthier options, go to an Honest Greens.

• Back to the Corona de la Almudena. As I was saying, it’s a fluffy, golden, ring-shaped sweet bread topped with almonds and sugar, usually sliced in half and stuffed with generous amounts of pastry cream, whipped cream, or chocolate truffle. Unlike its Christmas cousin, it doesn’t contain orange blossom water or candied fruit (which, btw, should be banned from existence).

• A relatively new tradition. The pastry was invented in 1978, when Madrid’s bakers organized a competition to create a dessert honoring the Virgin Mary (random, but…okay?), who also happens to be the patron saint of the city’s pastry makers (also random). It wasn’t an immediate hit, but today Madrid’s bakeries can sell as many as 300,000 coronas in just a few days.

• But there’s more to the celebration than stuffing your face. Nov. 6 to 10, Madrid honors its patron saint with a series of events centered around the Almudena Cathedral. There’s a traditional floral offering Nov. 7 to 10, a concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band on Friday evening, another concert on Sunday, and a parade featuring traditional Madrid performers on Sunday afternoon.

• The big party is on Monday. Nov. 9 is a public holiday in Madrid (another one!), and the festivities kick off at 11 a.m. with a solemn Mass at the Almudena Cathedral, followed by the traditional procession carrying the Virgin’s image through the historic center (you can see traditional costumes and stuff).

• Let them eat (free!) cake. Starting at 12:30 p.m., Plaza Mayor will host the preparation of a giant Corona de la Almudena, with approximately 1,000 free slices handed out once it’s ready.

• The square will also feature traditional Madrid music and dancing, including chotis and zarzuela, from noon to 2 p.m., and then from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Want more? There’s a free zarzuela concert at the Reina Sofía School of Music at 7:30 p.m., featuring selections from classics such as Luisa Fernanda and Doña Francisquita. (You’ll need to reserve a ticket in advance for the concert).

Not into crowds or patron saints? Grab a Corona de la Almudena from a traditional bakery like El Riojano on Calle Mayor, and spend all day in bed watching Love Actually.

👑 What: Virgen de la Almudena Celebrations