The festivities of the Virgin of La Paloma live this Saturday August 15 their central day in Madrid, with events spread between the Church of the Virgin of La Paloma, the plaza de la Paja and the Gardens of Las Vistillas.
The program mixes some of the most traditional moments of the fair, such as the floral offering, the solemn mass, the lowering of the painting, and the procession, with free concerts and DJ sessions that will extend the party until dawn.
Floral offering, mass, and traditional contests
The day starts at 12:00 hours in the plaza de la Paja with the traditional intermission. At 12:45 hours, one of the first important moments of the day will arrive: the floral offering to the Virgin at the facade of the Colegio La Salle-La Paloma, at numbers 19-21 on Calle de la Paloma.
The solemn mass will begin at 13:00 hours in the Church of the Virgin of La Paloma. At that same time, the plaza de la Paja will host the fan contest and, starting at 13:30 hours, the traditional Manila shawl contest.
What time is the lowering of the painting
One of the most recognizable acts of the festivities is scheduled for 14:15 hours: the lowering of the painting of the Virgin.
As tradition dictates, a group from the Fire Department of the City of Madrid will be in charge of removing the painting from its location in the church. This gesture is one of the most characteristic symbols of La Paloma and brings together neighbors, visitors, and devotees around the temple each year.
What time is the procession of the Virgin of La Paloma 2026
The procession of the Virgin of La Paloma constitutes the other great moment of the day. According to the detailed program published by Diario de Madrid, the departure from the Church of the Virgin of La Paloma is scheduled for 19:30 hours.
There is a small difference with a summary note previously disseminated by the City Council, which placed the start at 20:00 hours. For service information, the most precise reference is the detailed program, where the departure is expressly stated at 19:30 hours.
The procession will travel through the streets surrounding La Latina before returning to the temple. The religious day will end at midnight with the Salve to the Virgin in the plaza de la Paja, this year led by Mari Pepa de Chamberí.
DePol performs tonight in Las Vistillas
The other great search of the day will be musical. DePol heads the programming this Saturday in the Gardens of Las Vistillas, with a free concert scheduled for 21:30 hours.
Before, at 8:00 PM, Olga María Ramos will perform on the same stage with a traditional proposal. After DePol's concert, the music will continue from 11:00 PM until 2:00 AM with DJ Boti On The Beat.
Las Vistillas thus becomes one of the two main points of the night. The other will be a few minutes walking, in the plaza de la Paja.
La Plazuela and Roneo Brunch, in the plaza de la Paja
The plaza de la Paja will have the family activity Journey to the Espapirifáctico World from 8:00 PM. At 9:30 PM the Roneo Brunch Party will start there, hosted by La Plazuela.
Starting at 11:00 PM, DJ Bea Miau by Vibra Mahou will take over. The program includes a first session from 11:00 PM and a continuation between 12:15 AM and 2:00 AM.
The night will allow choosing between two simultaneous atmospheres: DePol and Boti On The Beat in Las Vistillas, or La Plazuela and Bea Miau in the plaza de la Paja.
Key schedules of La Paloma this August 15
The morning will focus on tradition. The traditional intermission will begin at 12:00 PM, the floral offering will be at 12:45 PM, the solemn mass at 1:00 PM, the shawl contest from 1:30 PM and the lowering of the painting at 2:15 PM.
The afternoon will start again with the procession, scheduled for 7:30 PM according to the detailed program. From 8:00 PM the music will begin in Las Vistillas and the family activity in the plaza de la Paja. The two major musical attractions will coincide at 9:30 PM: DePol and Roneo Brunch.
The DJ sessions will extend the festivities until 2:00 AM.
The parties continue on Sunday, August 16
Saturday will not yet put an end to the festivities. On Sunday August 16 there will be a final day with Miss Caffeina as the headliner in Las Vistillas, at 9:30 PM, and Karavana at the same time in the plaza de la Paja.
The Sunday program will also include traditional vermouth, a drinking contest with a pitcher, a water party on the street of Calatrava and performances by Elena Rodríguez and the groups El Orgullo de Madrid and Los Castizos. The night will end with DJ El Pulpo in Las Vistillas and DJ Tama in the plaza de la Paja.
A day to plan by schedules
La Paloma concentrates in a few hours some of the most anticipated events of the August festivities in Madrid. Those who want to follow the traditional part must pay attention to the offering, the mass, the lowering of the painting, and the procession. Those looking for the musical programming will have two main stages from 8:00 PM.
The most important piece of information for organizing is the time of the procession: 7:30 PM from the Church of the Virgin of La Paloma. From there, the night is divided between Las Vistillas and the Plaza de la Paja, with free concerts, DJ sessions, and a festive atmosphere until dawn.