There is no place where concerts are organized in Madrid that does not arouse complaints from neighbors. Noise, mobility problems in the environment and almost impossible rest are the main criticisms received by spaces throughout the country. … the capital, from the Santiago Bernabéu or the Metropolitano to the Caja Mágica or Ifema. The Iberdrola Music, located in the Marconi industrial zone, in Villaverde, has also not experienced a respite since its opening in 2023. However, this will not prevent the space from continuing to take advantage of its esplanade, which in 2026 plans to double the events, according to the forecasts for next year that this newspaper was able to consult. But that does not mean that they forget the open neighborhood front, which is why the organization is intensifying its efforts to make coexistence more peaceful.
Looking ahead to next year, the place, which welcomed more than 230,000 people in 2025, is facing “a new stage of growth” and will seek to “strengthen its role as a meeting space and cultural reference” in the capital. Thus, beyond the next edition of Mad Cool and the concert of My chemical romance -which will take place on July 18 and with an estimated capacity of 55,000 participants-, the organization will aim to diversify the programming, including family-oriented proposals and activities for all audiences.
But other festivals held this year will also be repeated – among them the Coca-Cola Music Experience – and will seek to integrate new concerts and festivals into the calendar, which will be announced over the coming months.
Over the past year, Iberdrola Music highlights that within the framework of its activity they have worked to try to consolidate themselves as one of the main venues for major musical events in Madrid, and with the support of the capital’s City Hall. This, not only because of its role as a “driver of cultural activity”, but also for an economic issue, which also contributes to the regeneration of the territory. Likewise, Iberdrola Music plans to be part of the urban regeneration plan promoted by Madrid City Hall, which in 2022 launched an urban art project as part of the revitalization of the industrial area.
Economic engine
The events organized at the venue located in the Villaverde neighborhood created more than 10,000 jobs for a month. Among them, 3,000 were direct positions of the different promoters, linked to the consumption of the participants and the hiring of suppliers and staff by the organizations. The remaining 7,000 were indirect, mainly in commerce, hospitality and transportaccording to data from the Iberdrola Music organization.
In addition, the nighttime opening of the Metro and Cercanías, promoted by the institutions during major festivals, represented “additional income” for the Transport Consortium and Renfe Cercanías. Mad Cool invested 400,000 euros during the last edition for the nighttime extension of the Madrid suburban service.
For all audiences
The Iberdorla Music room is facing a new year by doubling the activities in this space, which will be announced in the coming months, and by focusing on “family” activities for all audiences.
10,000 jobs
In 2025, this space will support the creation of more than 10,000 monthly jobs. Among them, 3,000 were directly involved in the events organized on site. The remaining 7,000 were generated in the hotel industry, commerce and transport.
Measures to improve mobility
The organization of this place works to improve the conditions of access, mobility and arrival to the space, a challenge it has faced since the opening of this place in 2023.
10 years
Mad Cool, the main event that takes place at Iberdrola Music and which celebrates its tenth anniversary, faces two years in prison for environmental offenses for overcoming the noise in the 2023 edition.
All efforts do not stop there. Iberdrola Music assures that it continues to study and work on the transformation of the place to adapt and improve the experience both for the participants and for the residents of the surrounding area, assure sources from the place. From the first year of opening of the complex intended to accommodate tens of thousands of people, mobility problems were recorded. Many remember the chaos that followed Britain’s Harry Styles concert, when attendees criticized that getting home after the show was an impossible task.
The organization works in collaboration with different stakeholders involved to find the formula that allows them to improve access, mobility and conditions of arrival to space. Last year this issue was a headache for the authorities due to the refusal of the Getafe City Hall, which decided to distance itself from this event, to facilitate the Mad Cool shuttles that departed from this neighboring municipality to the industrial zone, forcing thousands of participants to cross the M-45 roundabout on foot. This council also did not allow taxi or VTC stops.
The space implements measures such as acoustic studies and real-time noise measurements to “protect the well-being of neighbors”
In addition to improving the accessibility of the installation, other types of work are also carried out, such as burying high voltage lines; as well as promoting measures that allow “protecting the well-being of residents of Getafe and Villaverde and, at the same time, offering the best experience to participants”, which include acoustic studies and prevention plans, real-time noise measurements and greater investment in security.
The space now faces a new year with the expansion of activities, the objective of improving mobility and with Mad Cool, its main event and which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, on the quay. The 34th investigating judge of Madrid opened an oral trial against the promoters of Mad Cool for the alleged commission of an environmental crime that occurred in this place, investigated following a neighborhood complaint, during the 2023 edition, in which international artists such as Robbie Williams, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Sam Smith participated.
About The Author
