On Sunday 4 October 2026, the Cabalgata de la Hispanidad will travel along Gran Vía in Madrid, as the highlight of the first weekend of Hispanidad 2026. According to the Community of Madrid the parade starts at 18:00 at the Plaza de España and continues to the junction with Calle Alcalá. It will feature 15 elaborately designed floats and around 4,500 participants in total.
The regional government lists delegations from 22 countries: Spain, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea. Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are also taking part. Bolivia has the largest group, with about 900 participants. The Colombian delegation is bringing the Carnaval de Barranquilla to the parade with around 170 performers; according to the event documents, about 250 people are registered for Colombia overall.
The United States is the guest country this year. It marks the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence and will be accompanied by the World Street Brass Band from New Orleans. According to the official announcement, the parade will also be broadcast live at the Freedom Tower in Miami; a link-up is also planned with the Plaza de Callao in Madrid.
The route will feature music, dance, theatre and street circus performances, including mariachi groups, tango, salsa, candombe, and Andean and Caribbean dances. Madrid City Council is also providing information about road closures and diversions around Gran Vía and Calle Alcalá on Sunday afternoon and evening. It recommends using public transport and following the routes marked on site.
The Cabalgata is part of the Hispanidad 2026 programme, which, according to the Comunidad de Madrid, includes more than 200 events at around 70 venues from 2 to 12 October. The concert series is set to feature Sebastián Yatra on 10 October at Plaza de España, as well as Arturo Sandoval (10 October), Marta Sánchez (11 October) and Carlos Baute (12 October). Family events featuring clowns, Pasacalles, circus and acrobatics are planned at, among other locations, the Jardines del Palacio de Vista Alegre and Parque de Santander. The Teatros del Canal and the Teatro de La Abadía is taking part with productions including Nascencia by the Ballet Español de la Comunidad de Madrid, the Mexican Ferial de Calaveras and the XXVIII Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea de Madrid.
Information on times, route, participant numbers and programme is based on the latest publications from the Comunidad de Madrid and mobility information from Madrid City Council.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).