MADHORROR to bring horror-film icons together for Halloween

Tickets on sale now.

Freddy Krueger, the little girl from The Exorcist and Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange will come together in Madrid this autumn at MADHORROR, the great international festival dedicated to horror, dark fantasy and Halloween culture. The first edition will take place from 30 October to 2 November 2026 at IFEMA MADRID, with Álex de la Iglesia as its honorary patron.

These icons of horror and fantasy cinema form part of the first announcement of confirmed guests, including Robert Englund, Linda Blair and Malcolm McDowell, alongside other prominent names such as Michael Biehn — co-star of Aliens — Glen Schofield, Greg Nicotero, Sandy Petersen and Mister Jagger. The line-up will continue to grow over the coming weeks with further additions, experiences and programme announcements.

MADHORROR will transform IFEMA MADRID into a vast immersive experience spanning more than 25,000 square metres, where visitors will be able to experience, first-hand, adventures that go beyond the screen. The festival will combine cinema, immersive experiences and areas dedicated to gaming, comics and horror culture, creating a complete programme of entertainment for the Halloween bank holiday weekend.

Immersive experiences and haunted tunnels at MADHORROR

Among the content already confirmed are several haunted attractions and tunnels developed specifically for the festival. These experiences include high-impact offerings such as Obake Yashiki – 404. Inspired by traditional Japanese haunted houses, this attraction places visitors in a room for several minutes, where they become helpless prey to sudden scares, horrifying events, the atmosphere, the darkness and the terror. Obake Yashiki also includes Instituto Maldito, which recreates an abandoned Japanese school with a narrative rooted in psychological horror.

Film festival and encounters with international talent

The MADHORROR film festival will be one of the central pillars of the programme, screening the 10 most relevant and acclaimed horror films from the international festival circuit and leading genre festivals. The festival format is designed to go further, including tribute screenings dedicated to the artists appearing at MADHORROR. It will also include special presentations, Q&As and meetings with guest directors, actors, producers and creative teams.

Horror film exhibitions

MADHORROR will include three great exhibitions that pay tribute to pivotal figures in the horror and fantasy film world. The exhibition “DDT Special Effects: 35 years in the labyrinth of Spanish horror and fantasy”, displaying original pieces created by Montse Ribé and David Martí's studio, who won the Academy Award for “Pan’s Labyrinth”. The exhibition will provide an overview of the make-up and special-effects work carried out for national and international productions, including collaborations with directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Álex de la Iglesia, Pedro Almodóvar, and Juan Antonio Bayona.

Meanwhile, “40 Years of Aliens”, courtesy of 20th Century Studios, will bring together a selection of original objects from the universes featured in the film franchise launched by Ridley Scott and James Cameron.

The exhibition “Chicho Ibáñez Serrador: His Favourite Horrors” will pay tribute to one of the key figures in Spanish horror, with a selection of materials linked to his career as a creator and director, including his film work and his impact on television.

A complete plan for the Halloween bank holiday weekend in Madrid

MADHORROR is presented as a comprehensive leisure and cultural experience for Halloween bank holiday weekend 2026, combining indoor activities with a themed outdoor area. The festival will feature Village MADHORROR, a social space offering food, music and themed ambience, allowing visitors to extend the experience throughout the day.

Tickets for MADHORROR 2026 are now available in various formats, currently at a discounted price.