On Sunday, 25 October 2026, Madrid will host the XXXIII Fiesta de la Trashumancia . More than 1,400 sheep and goats will set off at 11.00 am from Casa de Campo for the city centre. This year, the traditional payment of 50 maravedís will take place at Plaza de la Villa, not at the town hall. The move and the change of route are justified by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid on the grounds of a rally that has been ongoing for weeks at Kilómetro Cero: the flocks will therefore avoid Puerta del Sol and the Plaza de Cibeles.
According to the city council and the organisers, the procession will proceed after setting off via Puente del Rey and the Cuesta de la Vega towards the centre. The route includes sections along Calle Mayor, Plaza de la Villa and Plaza Mayor, before the return journey follows Calle Mayor, Cuesta de la Vega and Puente del Rey back to Casa de Campo. The ceremony featuring the symbolic payment of 50 maravedís is based on the Concordia de 1418, which governs historical grazing rights.
The festival commemorates transhumance and the old livestock trails that run across the capital. The organisers and city authorities emphasise its cultural and agricultural value: maintaining migratory pastures, preserving the Cañadas and raising the profile of extensive grazing are central to the event. Short-term traffic restrictions and diversions have also been announced around the streets mentioned, to ensure the flocks can pass safely.
The revised route, timings and move of the official welcome to Plaza de la Villa are set out in announcements from the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and programme information from the organisers. The authorities and regional media agree that the number of animals is more than 1,400. Further stops along the route may be adjusted at short notice depending on local conditions; the city advises people to follow instructions from law enforcement officers on the day of the event.
The Fiesta de la Trashumancia brings together tradition and the current interests of sheep-farming businesses. Supporters point to the ecological functions of livestock migration, such as linking grazing areas and protecting open landscapes. The event’s specific political or financial consequences cannot be quantified in advance; any statements on this are for the stakeholders to make.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).