IFEMA MADRID presents MADHORROR, the new international horror festival
With films, series, video games, comics, immersive experiences and prestigious international guests, the festival will be held from 30 October to 2 November 2026 at the Recinto Ferial.
Madrid is to host a major international festival MADHORROR, specialising in horror, dark fantasy and Halloween culture, which will hold its first edition from 30 October to 2 November 2026 at IFEMA MADRID. The announcement was made at the press conference this morning, which featured Daniel Martínez, Executive Vice President of IFEMA MADRID; Gonzalo Cabrera, Director of Culture and Education at IFEMA MADRID; Mike Hostench, Artistic Director of MADHORROR; and Álex de la Iglesia, the event's official patron.
Over four days, Madrid will be transformed into Europe’s leading capital of terror, with a never-before-seen event in Spain that combines a film festival, a convention, an experiential fair, and a fabulous public Halloween celebration. MADHORROR will take place across more than 25,000 square metres in Hall 14, the South Auditorium of IFEMA MADRID, and a large outdoor area featuring activities, gastronomy, and open-air experiences.
MADHORROR International Film Festival - South Auditorium
The MADHORROR film festival will be a central aspect of the line-up and will screen the ten most relevant and acclaimed horror films on the international circuit from key festivals such as Toronto Midnight Madness, Fantastic Fest (Austin), and Sitges – Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya.
The programme will also include sessions in tribute to the artists present at MADHORROR. It will be completed with special presentations, colloquiums and meetings with invited directors, actors, producers and creative teams.
Fair and convention - Hall 14.1 + Mezzanine
MADHORROR will offer a brilliant immersive experience in different themed areas, some of which are inspired by iconic creatures, mythologies, and universes of the genre, such as the INFERNAL HALL, the PAUL NASCHY SQUARE, the XENOMORPH HALL, the GREAT “MY FAVOURITE HORRORS” FORUM or the LIVING DEAD and HAIL SATAN rooms, to name but a few.
The initiative will host an extensive programme that will include themed exhibitions of cinema and horror culture, as well as immersive experiences, including a spectacular, exclusive “horror tunnel” that will thrill even the bravest, as well as two others inspired by Japanese horror, escape rooms, interactive games, and workshops on comics, cosplay, and makeup.
Among the most notable content, MADHORROR will feature three major exhibitions that pay tribute to key figures in horror and fantasy cinema, combining landmark anniversaries, artistic creation, and the audiovisual heritage of the genre.
DDT special effects: 35 years in the labyrinth of phantasmagoria horror
An exhibition of props and artefacts from films and series by the studio of Montse Ribé and David Martí, Academy Award winners for Best Makeup for Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece “Pan’s Labyrinth”, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026.
DDT have also worked with other iconic directors in both the national and international scenes, such as Álex de la Iglesia, Juan Antonio Bayona, Pedro Almodóvar, Jaume Balagueró, Daniel Monzón, Stuart Gordon, Andy Muschietti, and Alejandro Iñárritu, among others.
The festival will also commemorate the 40th anniversary of “Aliens” with a 20th Century Studios exhibition 40 YEARS OF ALIENS, which will display a selection of original objects from the cinematic saga universe spearheaded by Ridley Scott and James Cameron.
Lastly, MADHORROR will pay tribute to Narciso Ibáñez Serrador with the exhibition Chicho Ibáñez Serrador: his Favourite Terrors, a space dedicated to the life and career of one of cinema and television’s great figures. The exhibition will bring together a collection of pieces related to his career as a creator and director, a key and pioneering figure of the genre, responsible for fundamental titles such as “The House That Screamed” and “Who Can Kill a Child?”, the latter also coinciding with its 50th anniversary in 2026.
On the other hand, MADHORROR will host Playable Nightmares, a large gaming area that will include competitions, streaming, and an XR area, part of the Exploratorium MADHORROR.
Added to this, there will be exclusive presentations of film screenings, series, video games, and comics, as well as tributes, anniversaries, and retrospectives featuring national and international talent. The programme will be expanded to include masterclasses, panel discussions, lectures and round tables, as well as specialist workshops in FX makeup, cosplay and creature creation.
Among the activities, MADHORROR will include live podcasts, fan contests and large collective activations, such as the Zombie Walk or the Day of the Dead parade. The experience will be completed by a specialised commercial area that will bring together merchandising stands, art, collectables, publishers, and exclusive products linked to the universe of horror.
Village MADHORROR
The outdoor area of MADHORROR will feature a large social and themed gastronomic space, with food trucks, bars, music, entertainment, and special activities throughout the event.
First confirmed guests
MADHORROR’s inaugural edition will feature renowned figures from cinema and audiovisual arts, including Álex de la Iglesia as official patron; Linda Blair, star of “The Exorcist”; Robert Englund, best known as Freddy Krueger; Michael Biehn (“Aliens”, “The Terminator”); Malcolm McDowell, celebrated for “A Clockwork Orange”, “Cat People” and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween”; director and producer Juan Antonio Bayona, who will mark the twentieth anniversary of “The Orphanage” at MADHORROR;, as well as the designer, director, and producer of horror video games such as “Dead Space”, Glen Schofield.
The comics area will showcase national and international guests of the highest calibre. Among the featured Spanish creators will be Jorge Fornés and Eugenio Mira, illustrator and scriptwriter of top graphic horror stories in “Creepshow”.
Meanwhile, role-playing games will occupy plenty of space, with games of all kinds within the world of horror. The first guest in this field will be Sandy Petersen, designer of legendary titles such as “Call of Cthulhu”.
What’s more, MADHORROR will increase its appeal to new audiences by engaging numerous relevant digital content creators and influencers across cinema, television, gaming, and comics. These include Mister Jägger, NeliWR, Javier Olivares from La Botella de Kandor and Ana Yubari, among many others, who will help to boost the festival experience and its popularity among the fan community.
MADHORROR aims to become a major European event dedicated to horror and fantasy culture, encompassing film, video games, comics, immersive experiences, and the fan community in a unique format in Spain. IFEMA MADRID is committed to an international, cross-disciplinary project open to all audiences who are fans of fantasy culture and the celebration of Halloween.