Mad Cool Festival

Mad Cool has grown into one of Spain's flagship music festivals since its 2016 debut. The next edition is expected to run over four days in the second week of July (dates to be confirmed). Staged at the purpose-built Iberdrola Music grounds in the Villaverde district on the southern edge of Madrid, it draws a big international crowd for four days of guitar-driven headliners, indie, pop and electronic acts across multiple stages, all within easy reach of a major European capital.

What to expect

The festival spreads over four days and several stages, mixing stadium-scale headliners with a deep supporting bill. Dates and the first artists are usually announced in the autumn or winter before the festival, so check the official site for the line-up. The Iberdrola Music site, home to the festival since 2023, is valued for its capacity and infrastructure, and the July timing means long warm evenings that run late into the night. Being on the Madrid metro network, it is a city-based festival rather than a remote campsite.

Buy day or full-festival passes in advance through the official site, plan for the Madrid summer heat, and use public transport to reach Villaverde rather than driving.

Mad Cool is staged at the Iberdrola Music grounds in the Villaverde district in southern Madrid. Fly into Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), then ride Metro Line 8 into the city and change for connections toward the venue; dedicated festival shuttle buses typically run from central hubs such as Atocha to the site each day. Cercanías commuter trains also serve the southern suburbs near the grounds. Late-night transport is laid on for the headliner exodus, but crowds are huge — check the official festival travel page for the exact shuttle stops and last services.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Spain (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.