NEWS FROM D&P YOUR DMC FOR SPAIN AND MORE…
Unique Moments:
Autumn in Spain
Autumn is the perfect time to take your first break since the summer holidays. Why not organise a trip to Spain? It’s a time for savouring seasonal specialities, such as mushrooms and chestnuts, having fun in the fiestas around the grape harvest, or buying something unique before Christmas comes round. What’s more, you will find going out to hear the sound of footprints on a carpet of dry leaves, seeing large forests coloured in russet and yellow hues or spending the night in a mountain hotel very inspiring. Finding truly natural autumn landscapes in Spain is easy. Perhaps the only difficulty is choosing from the idyllic spots that are spread across the country. The coastal landscapes that are more associated with summer give way to sleek mountains, vast vineyards, valleys where time seems to stand still and forests engulfed in a completely peaceful atmosphere.
We have several ideas for enjoying this season to the full.
Highlights of the season in Spain
Enjoy nature in all its glory
Are you looking for specific travel plans to natural spaces that become spectacular in autumn? For example, in the Ambroz Valley (Extremadura), “Magical Autumn” is celebrated with activities, such as hikes, artisan markets, photographic rallies, etc. A wonderful opportunity to explore this valley, listed as a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) by the European Commission in 2019, an initiative of the European Commission that recognises sustainable tourism options. In different beech forests such as Montejo (about 100 kilometres from the city of Madrid) they do guided tours and in places like the Selva de Irati (Navarra) – the second largest beech-fir forest in Europe and declared a Biosphere Reserve – you can take a free educational excursion.
Also, during this time, the deer’s rutting season takes place, as they court the female by emitting a surprising sound. There are several regions in Spain where jeep excursions are organised to see this spectacle, such as Cabañeros National Park (Castile-La Mancha), Monfragüe National Park (in Extremadura) or the Culebra mountain range (in Castile and Leon).
Also, get your binoculars ready for spotting migrating birds. Recommended areas? Many: There are many: the Gallocanta lakes (Aragón), the Ebro Delta (Catalonia), Doñana National Park (Andalusia), etc.
Harvest is a festival in Spain
We cannot contemplate autumn in Spain without thinking of the grape harvest. There are scores of regions you can visit to enjoy wine tourism. On this occasion, we are going to suggest a trip to La Rioja (home of one of the most famous Spanish wines) where there are over 80 wineries offering tours and wine is part of the local culture. As well as visiting wineries, you can fly over the vineyards in a balloon, go to a wine museum, attend a tasting course and treat yourself to a vinotherapy treatment. Very close by, in Rioja Alavesa, you will also find some of Spain’s most spectacular wineries, such as Marqués de Riscal, designed by the architect Frank Gehry.
And when we say that harvest is a festival in Spain, it is because there are a multitude of celebrations taking place as early as the end of summer, such as the Riojana Harvest Festival (in Logroño, La Rioja), the Jerez de la Frontera Harvest Festival (Andalusia), the Montilla Harvest Festival (Andalusia) and the Cangas del Narcea Harvest Festival (Principality of Asturias).
A rural getaway… with the aroma of roasted chestnuts, soups and stews
In autumn, you might be thinking about lighting the fire, savouring the unmistakable taste of roast chestnuts, black truffles, warm soups and stews, … And what better place to do all this than in a charming Spanish village! For example, you are going to love the white-washed villages of Cádiz and Málaga, the villages with “black architecture” in Guadalajara, the medieval towns, etc.
By the way, many Spanish regions have fiestas to celebrate the arrival of chestnuts: Castanyada in Catalonia, Amagüestu in Asturias, Magosta in Cantabria, Gaztainerre in the Basque Country, Chaquetía in Extremadura, Magosto in Galicia… And the list could go on a lot longer.
Halloween… Spanish and Madrilenian style
Did you know that All Saints Day is celebrated in Spain on 1 November? Traditionally, people visit cemeteries and decorate their family graves with flowers. Even though it might seem a bit strange, some cemeteries are now more like outdoor museums thanks to their sculptures. Throughout the year and especially in late October and early November, several cemeteries, such as the ones in La Almudena and San Isidro (in Madrid), organise guided tours where you can learn about the exciting stories of the famous people buried there. In fact, around twenty Spanish cemeteries form part of the European Council’s European Cemeteries Route.
Thanks to globalisation in the 21st century, we’ve been able to learn more and more about other cultures. Centuries-old traditions from different countries now go hand in hand with each other. And that’s why around the 1 November in Madrid, not only will you find traditional sweets, such as huesos de santos (or “saint’s bones”) and buñuelos (fritters), but you can also see candy, pumpkins, sweet bread for the Day of the Dead and sugar skulls. Remembering loved ones is now accompanied with zombies, dead people of all shapes and sizes and elaborate La Catrina skull make-up. Theme parks, restaurants, cultural centres, etc. all join in this fusion of Spanish, Anglo-Saxon and Mexican cultures. Welcome to Halloween in Madrid!
Venues
The Sorolla Museum in Madrid reopens its doors with new activities and workshops for your events
After a two-year hiatus, the Sorolla Museum is preparing to regain its place among the most unique cultural spaces in Madrid. The house-museum where Joaquín Sorolla lived and worked will once again receive visitors this year, although the exact date of reopening has not yet been confirmed. Its return also means recovering a scenario with many possibilities for event organizers: from visits to the museum and tours of its gardens to workshops and cultural activities for groups. With the reopening, the painter’s most recognizable universe will also return: the beaches full of light, the children playing among the waves, the portraits of his family, the sun-drenched gardens and the scenes of work and celebration that made the Mediterranean one of the great protagonists of his work.
But one of the great attractions of the museum is precisely in being able to discover these paintings within the context in which they were created. Touring the rooms of the house allows you to get closer to the artist’s daily life and better understand his way of working and looking. For those attending an event, it can be a way to incorporate a cultural experience into the day without resorting to the usual spaces.
The luxury offer expands in Barcelona with a new Bless hotel on Passeig de Gràcia
The proposal of the Bless Barcelona combines a privileged location with 119 rooms and suites, three gastronomic spaces, a rooftop with panoramic views and experiences of gastronomy, art, well-being and creativity. With this hotel, the Palladium Hotel Group brand adds its fourth hotel in Spain and reinforces its presence in the luxury segment.
Bless Collection Hotels, the luxury brand of Palladium Hotel Group, presents Bless Barcelona, its new hotel on Passeig de Gràcia and the fourth establishment in the collection.
Located on Passeig de Gràcia, the hotel occupies a building with more than a century of history. In order to take care of the guest during their stay, Bless Barcelona offers 119 rooms and suites. Many of them have views of emblematic places such as Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça Catalunya.
Among the most unique categories are the Terrace Studio Suite, with a panoramic terrace; the BlessED Barcelona Suite, a double-height duplex; and the BlessED Couture Penthouse, the hotel’s most exclusive suite, with 360-degree views over Barcelona.
Three gastronomic spaces:
Gastronomy is also one of the pillars of the Bless Barcelona experience through SINEDIE, La Pajarera and Hofmann.
Nobu arrives in the capital of Madrid with Nobu Hotel Madrid, its fifth proposal in Spain
The brand’s fifth hotel in Spain is located on Calle Alcalá, between Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta del Sol, joining its hotels in San Sebastián, Barcelona, Marbella and Ibiza. It has 50 rooms and suites, including the Nobu Suite – 105 m² and private terrace – on the top floor. It has four different gastronomic proposals: Nobu Restaurant, a Cocktail Bar, a Rooftop on the seventh floor and the Lobby Lounge.
Nobu has already opened Nobu Hotel Madrid, its first hotel in the Spanish capital and its fifth establishment in Spain. Located on Calle Alcalá, between Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta del Sol, the hotel combines Nobu’s distinctive features: gastronomy, contemporary design with attention to detail and intuitive service, shaped by the character and rhythm of Madrid.
Gastronomy remains at the core of the Nobu experience, framed by a natural approach to design and service. Together, they express Nobu’s style of laid-back luxury, where quality, attention to detail and genuine hospitality take precedence over excess.
Connections
United Airlines will connect Ibiza directly to New York from 2027
Ibiza will have its first direct air connection with the United States next summer, after United Airlines announced a new route between Newark Liberty International Airport and Ibiza Airport.
Service will begin on May 31, 2027, with four weekly flights operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Oct. 7. The route will be operated with United’s new Airbus A321XLR, a long-haul aircraft designed for transatlantic flights to destinations that do not require a larger widebody aircraft.
The new service to Ibiza is part of United’s biggest international expansion to date, with the addition of 10 new destinations in Europe and Asia by summer 2027. Ibiza is one of eight destinations where United will be the only U.S. airline to offer a direct connection from the United States.
ART: Madrid and more
Ricardo de Madrazo (1852-1917): drawings and watercolours
The Prado Museum will host an exhibition devoted exclusively to Federico de Madrazo’s youngest son, the least well-known member of the family, from 13 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. The exhibition primarily features his work on paper, along with some of his sketchbooks, drawings and watercolours.
This exhibition, curated by Pedro J. Martínez Plaza from the 19th-Century Painting Collection, has been made possible thanks to the Museum’s different acquisitions in recent years.
Through sketchbooks, drawings and watercolours, the exhibition seeks to showcase the diversity of Ricardo de Madrazo’s artistic work, ranging from copies of ancient paintings to Orientalism and genre scenes as a result of his travels throughout Spain, Europe and North Africa.
Ricardo de Madrazo y Garreta (Madrid, 1852–1917) was the youngest son of the painter, Federico de Madrazo, and a member of one of the most influential families of 19th-century Spanish painting. He grew up in an environment closely connected to art, surrounded by the creative activity of his father and his siblings, Raimundo and Cecilia.
His work focused mainly on genre painting, landscapes and Orientalist themes as a result of his travels through North Africa and his interest in Mediterranean cultures. His paintings stand out for their bright colours, loose brushwork and an evocative atmosphere, moving away from the academic portraits that characterised the work of his father.
When: from 13th October until 17th January 2027
Where: Prado Museum, Madrid
Dalí’s Freudian Universe
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum will host an exhibition from 20 October 2026 to 24 January 2027, which is curated by Jaime Brihuega and seeks to shed new light on the diverse and prolific work of Salvador Dalí.
The link between Salvador Dalí’s work and the writings of Sigmund Freud is one of the essential pillars of his visual poetics. The circumstances that shaped the childhood and teenage years of the painter from Figueres fostered the emergence of this relationship, which transformed into an obsession over time and culminated in them meeting in 1938, when Freud was exiled in London.
Dalí got hold of translations of Sigmund Freud’s work in the early 1920s, during his stay at the Students’ Residence in Madrid. From 1926 onwards, his artistic production was gradually linked to Surrealist poetics, which were highly influenced by the thoughts of the doctor from Vienna. In this context, Dalí made a decisive contribution through the development of his “paranoiac-critical method”, derived from his reading of Freudian texts. After meeting Freud in London, the presence of these theoretical elements was prominent in his subsequent mystical-nuclear phase.
The exhibition is divided into seven sections organised chronologically and associated with key moments in the artist’s life. Each section brings together works by Dalí related to Freudian thought and is rounded off with paintings and drawings by leading artists and figures, such as Jean Arp, Arnold Böcklin, Sigmund Freud, Max Ernst, Jean-François Millet, Pablo Picasso, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Julio Romero de Torres, Gino Severini and Yves Tanguy, among others.
When: from 20th October 2026 until 24th January 2027
Where: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
Cayetana: Grandee of Spain
The exhibition devoted to Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba, will be presented at Liria Palace from 30 September 2026 to 31 January 2027, highlighting her extraordinary contribution to the conservation of the immense historic and artistic legacy of the House of Alba.
Following the success of the exhibition held at Las Dueñas Palace in Seville, Cayetana. Great of Spain is coming to Madrid this autumn with a new route, adapted to the rooms at the 18th Duchess of Alba’s home in Madrid. In addition to celebrating the centenary of her birth, a new section of the exhibition commemorates the 70th anniversary of the monumental restoration of Liria Palace.
The exhibition, curated by Eugenia Martínez de Irujo and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, in conjunction with the team at the Casa de Alba Foundation, is the result of more than three years of research by its curators. It has been organised to mark the centenary of the birth of the 18th Duchess of Alba and brings together a careful selection of more than 200 pieces, including works of art, haute-couture dresses, photographs, personal objects and correspondence.
Visitors will also be able to go on a journey through the life of the Duchess who has most influenced the recent history of the House of Alba. Different themed blocks take visitors through her biography, her contributions in the field of culture through patronages of major artists, support for the fine arts and opera, as well as her role as a collector and painter. The exhibition also raises awareness of less known aspects of her life, such as her early work in defending animals, her charity work and her firm social commitment.
The new section devoted to the 70th anniversary of the monumental restoration of Liria Palace highlights the immense efforts to conserve the legacy of the House of Alba by the Duchess of Alba and her husband, Duke Luis, through unpublished photographic material and documents.
In 1936, the palace was bombed and looted during the Spanish Civil War, whereby only the four outer walls were left standing. In 1945, Duke Jacobo decided to rebuild it and the works were completed in 1956. However, the death of the 17th Duke of Alba prevented him from seeing the finished building. The 18th Duke and Duchess of Alba were responsible for finishing and redecorating the palace, extending and reorganising the art collection, furniture and other decorative elements.
When: from 30th September 2026 until 31st January 2027
Where: Palacio de Liria, Madrid
EVENTS: music, theatre, dance, gastronomy, fashion…
Shakira
The Colombian artist has announced her return to Europe with a historic European nine-twelve residency as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. The concerts will be held on 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 September and 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 October 2026 at the custom-built Shakira Stadium.
Shakira will be back stronger than ever to delight fans with some of her most recent hits, including her latest album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024), making her return to Spain eight years after the El Dorado World Tour which stopped off in Madrid in 2018.
This limited series of concerts will be held at the Shakira Stadium, a temporary venue integrated into Iberdrola Music with capacity for more than 50,000 fans per night. Designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) architecture studio, the immersive space will offer full visibility, cutting-edge acoustics and premium fan experiences, introducing the international artistic residency format for the first time in Spain.
During this residency, Madrid will host a wide variety of activities, such as concerts, exhibitions, talks, workshops, films, gastronomy, literature and cultural experiences, all of which have been curated by Shakira under the name Es Latina.
The Colombian singer-songwriter has sold more than 95 million albums worldwide and has won many awards, including four GRAMMYs®, fifteen Latin GRAMMYs® and numerous World Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She is the most-viewed female Latin artist and one of the Top 10 artists of all time on YouTube with over 27 billion cumulative views, and the most-streamed female Latin artist of all time on Spotify.
Her greatest hits include songs like Hips Don’t Lie, which became a global phenomenon, as well as Whenever, Wherever, which marked her breakthrough into the English-speaking market. Other hits, such as Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, La Tortura alongside Alejandro Sanz, Ojos Así, TQG with Karol G, Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 or Te Felicito with Rauw Alejandro also stand out, consolidating her place in contemporary music. She was recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Since its launch in February 2025, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has broken records all over the world, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time by a Hispanic artist.
When: 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 September and 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 October, 2026
Where: Iberdrola Music, Madrid
The Odyssey. The Immersive Journey
The MAD (Madrid Digital Arts) Immersive Experiences Centre will host a new immersive experience from 18 September 2026 that takes visitors to Ancient Greece in the Mycenaean period to relive the trials and adventures of Odysseus on his long journey home to Ithaca. On this occasion, MAD adapts one of the great classics of universal literature, Homer’s Odyssey, and explores one of the most fascinating civilisations in Western history.
Following the international success of previous productions, such as Tutankamon, The Last Days of Pompeii, Legend of the Titanic or Cleopatra, MAD has visited 24 cities on 4 continents and has been seen by more than 5 million spectators worldwide.
This exhibition has been created for the enjoyment of all the family and offers a new way of experiencing history and approaching Homer’s poem, inviting adults and children alike to discover the adventures of Odysseus together. From the battlefield in front of the walls of Troy and the ingenuity of the wooden horse, to the encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the seduction of the Sirens, the descent into the Underworld, the dreaded passage through the six-headed Scylla and the Charybdis whirlpool and the long-awaited return to his family in Ithaca.
The Odyssey boasts a spectacular and didactic experience with a journey guided by Homer’s voice, the author to whom the poem is attributed, acting as a narrator throughout the experience. Visitors will move through scenic recreations, 360° surround projections, an interactive metaverse, multisensory virtual reality and a holographic installation to enter the Greece of heroes and follow the journey of Odysseus.
Equipped with noise-cancelling headphones, visitors will enter a fully interactive virtual world, in which they can open doors and take a torch to light their way, guided by Homer’s voice from the very first moment, presenting each room and accompanying them throughout the experience. For the first time, the immersive film has not been designed as a unique sequence, but rather as eight independent stories. Each of the great trials faced by Odysseus becomes a short film in itself, with its own visual language, atmosphere and original soundtrack, so that the central tale is more like eight productions brought together under the same roof as a linear show.
It must be mentioned that the experience is available in English for the first time ever, including the immersive main hall. From the metaverse and the holographic installation to the interactive rooms and exhibition panels, the international audience will be able to follow each moment of the story. This makes it the most accessible production ever created by the studio to date.
When: from 18 September, 2026
Where: MAD (Madrid Artes Digitales) Immersive Experiences Centre, Madrid
El Alma al Aire, the Musical
Stage Entertainment España is producing a new musical based on Alejandro Sanz’s songs that have left a lasting impression on a whole generation. It is an intimate and emotional tale that is intertwined with the artist’s musical world, focusing on human connections, which can be seen at the Teatro Ocaso Coliseum from 1 October to 29 November 2026, from Wednesdays to Sundays.
Who can’t remember the songs that have left a lasting impression on them? Those that accompany us, make us smile, move us and remind us who we were and who we want to be. Songs that have brought different generations together and tell of dreams, roots, freedom, love, etc.
This is how this ambitious musical production came about, seeking to celebrate the impact that Alejandro Sanz’s artistic world has had on fans. It is an experience that transforms iconic songs from his career, such as El Alma al Aire, Cuando Nadie Me Ve, Amiga Mía, Corazón Partío or No es lo Mismo into an exciting story full of life.
El Alma al Aire takes the audience to a small fishing village where characters from different generations face important decisions that will shape their destiny. This choral narrative follows Ale, a talented young musician, his family and his friend, Bruno, who witness how the arrival of Alma (a real estate developer from Madrid who moves to the village with her two daughters) upsets the balance of the community.
The musical features a spectacular set design, as well as other cutting-edge elements and blends traditional customs with magical realism. Produced by Stage Entertainment Spain, it has the full support of Alejandro Sanz and features a libretto by Álvaro Tato, winner of two MAX Awards.
When: Wednesdays to Sundays. From 1 October to 29 November, 2026
Where: Teatro Ocaso Coliseum, Madrid
TRADE SHOWS & CONGRESSES
ESMO Madrid Congress 2026
IFEMA MADRID will host the ESMO Congress 2026, organised by ESMO – European Society for Medical Oncology, from 23 to 27 October 2026.
The ESMO Congress is the most influential oncology platform for clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, journalists and healthcare industry representatives from all over the world, and will present the latest developments in cancer treatment, with an extensive educational programme and great opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas.
It is a meeting point for international experts in medical oncology where all of the developments in the treatment of cancer can be discovered, along with the application of state-of-the-art technology and innovation in the curative therapy for oncological diseases.
Furthermore, the congress is accompanied by an extensive educational programme, offering unparalleled networking opportunities for oncologists and other stakeholders from all around the world.
The ESMO Congress offers an in-person experience, accompanied by opportunities to network, as well as the convenience of an interactive virtual format for those who are unable to attend in person.
When: From 23 to 27 October 2026
Where: IFEMA, Madrid
SPORTS OF THE SEASON !!!
IFEMA Madrid Horse Week 2026
Halls 12 and 14 at IFEMA MADRID will host the thirteenth edition of IFEMA Madrid Horse Week from 26 November to 29 November 2026. It is the most important equestrian event held in Spain and consolidates Madrid as an equestrian city that seeks to bring the world of horses to the general public. For yet another year, it will bring together the best riders in the international ranking in the Jumping and Dressage disciplines.
Following a break in 2025, Spain’s leading multi-disciplinary equestrian event will be back with renewed energy and major sporting and entertainment features. Madrid will once again become the world capital of equestrian sport and one of the most important social events in Spain.
This edition’s major new sporting feature will be the inclusion of a third FEI World Cup. The FEI Carriage Driving World Cup will join the traditional FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cups, reinforcing the event’s multi-disciplinary and unique character on the international equestrian scene.
In addition to the 5* international competition, Mutua Madrid Horse Week will feature a parallel CSI event for amateurs and up-and-coming show jumpers, providing a platform and spotlight for the next generation of equestrian athletes.
Hall 4 will once again host the Horse Show, the meeting place for fans and professionals from the equestrian world. Dozens of stands specialised in equestrian products, technical equipment, equestrian fashion, accessories, food and services related to horses will be a key feature, along with the lifestyle and culinary proposals and activities for all ages. Visitors will also be able to enjoy an uninterrupted programme of equestrian exhibitions and shows at the Non-Stop Arena, which have been designed for all the family.
The main arena will once again host some of the event’s iconic competitions and shows, such as the Pony Turf by AON, the spectacular Six Bars competition and the Porsche Jump & Drive, one of the public’s favourite competitions.
When: From 26 to 29 November 2026
Where: IFEMA, Madrid
Motorcycle sport: Autonomous Region of Valencia Grand Prix
The Ricardo Tormo de Cheste Circuit, in the province of Valencia, hosts the last race of the World Motorcycle Racing Championship.
On the first two days you can see both training sessions and classifying stages in the different categories: 125cc, Moto2 and Moto GP – to decide the starting grid for Sunday’s competition. The Ricardo Tormo circuit has been designed according to American characteristics, allowing full visibility of the circuit to all spectators.
When: 20 to 22 November 2026
Where: Cheste, Valencia
D&P is at your disposal to offer you an attractive program together with your attendance at the events and activities mentioned for your guests and team, just inform us of your objectives and needs, we will design a proposal that matches your expectations and budgets.