November once again brings a new long weekend for thousands of workers in Madrid. This Monday, November 9, 2026, marks the day of the Virgen de La Almudena, patron saint of the capital, a local holiday that will allow for three consecutive days of rest, from Saturday 7 to Monday 9.
The day is added to Madrid's labor calendar after the All Saints' Day holiday, which this year was moved to Monday, November 2, as November 1 fell on a Sunday. In this way, some Madrid workers will be able to enjoy two long weekends in just one week. La Almudena and San Isidro, celebrated last May 15, are the two local holidays in the city of Madrid during 2026. Both dates are paid and non-recoverable for those subject to the capital's labor calendar.
In which municipalities of Madrid is Monday, November 9, a holiday?
The holiday on November 9 corresponds to the city of Madrid, so it mainly affects workers whose labor calendar is governed by the local holidays of the capital. It is not a non-working day for the entire Community of Madrid. Therefore, employees in other Madrid municipalities, such as Getafe, Leganés, Móstoles, Alcalá de Henares or Fuenlabrada, must consult their local labor calendar to check if they have to go to work that Monday.
Local holidays are established independently in each municipality, so a celebration in the capital does not imply that the rest of the towns in the region also have the day off.
Why is November 9 a holiday in Madrid and who is the Virgen de La Almudena?
On November 9, Madrid celebrates the day of the Virgen de La Almudena, considered the patron saint of the city. Its name comes from the Arabic term al-mudayna, which means citadel or walled enclosure, and is related to the legends surrounding the origin of the image. One of the best-known stories tells that the residents of Madrid hid the carving of the Virgin in a hollow of the old wall to protect it during the Muslim invasion. Years later, after the conquest of the city by Alfonso VI, a procession was organized to find it. According to legend, a section of the wall collapsed and revealed the image that had remained hidden for centuries.
Another popular narrative relates the discovery to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid. According to this account, the Virgin would have guided the knight to Madrid and, upon his arrival, a gap would have opened in the wall that allowed the image to be discovered. The festivity has an important religious and cultural tradition in the capital. Every November 9, numerous Madrilenians participate in the events organized in honor of their patron saint, with religious celebrations and a floral offering around the Almudena Cathedral.
Madrid's next long weekend will arrive in December
After the La Almudena holiday, workers will have to wait until December to enjoy another period of rest. The labor calendar includes Constitution Day, Sunday, December 6, and the Immaculate Conception holiday, Tuesday, December 8.
In the case of Madrid, Monday, December 7, will be a regional holiday in 2026, forming a four-day long weekend, from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8. A new opportunity to rest before the Christmas celebrations.
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