The 10 best plays in Madrid in 2025

You’re probably familiar with musicals like The Lion King, The Bodyguard, or Les Misérables. But make no mistake—Madrid isn’t just the city of musicals; it’s the city of theatre in all its forms. Whether you love drama, laugh-out-loud comedy, gripping thrillers, or mind-bending narratives, there’s something for everyone here!

And because we know you like to plan ahead, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best plays in Madrid for 2025, along with a few extras. So, if you’re planning a trip, you can complement your plan with a healthy dose of culture.

A quick overview of Madrid’s most iconic theatres

Before diving into the top shows, let’s take a look at some of the best venues in Madrid for theatre, musicals, stand-up, and performances. What makes Madrid a paradise for theatre lovers is its vast selection of venues, with over 100 theatres ranging from grand auditoriums to intimate independent spaces.

The Teatro Lope de Vega, right on Gran Vía, remains the home of the most spectacular musicals. Across the street, Teatro Coliseum continues to host top-tier productions. Nearby, Nuevo Teatro Alcalá and Teatro Rialto maintain their reputations for high-quality performances.

For something different, Teatro Príncipe Pío and Teatro Apolo have gained recognition for their eclectic programming.

But Madrid’s theatre scene isn’t just about Gran Vía. In other neighbourhoods, you’ll find gems like Teatro Lara, a bohemian favourite for comedy, and Teatro Pavón, known for its bold and innovative productions. Teatro Calderón and Teatro Alcázar remain essential stops for fans of classic theatre.

The 10 best plays in Madrid in 2025

Whatever your taste, there’s something for you among the 10 best plays in Madrid in 2025. Take a look!

#1 Madres

(“Mothers”) One of the comedy plays in Madrid that talks about motherhood, work-life balance, sexuality, and all those things that nobody tells you before having children. The play takes place in a school’s waiting room, a place that serves as the perfect excuse to deliver hard-hitting truths.

#2 Bis a Bis

(“Vis a vis”) Things get ugly when the Mustard Law comes into force, an absurd regulation that sends any comedian who gets too funny to the nick. And of course, Los Morancos end up in prison… They’ll have to sort themselves out to survive in a prison environment full of tension and dodgy characters.

#3 Última planta

(“Top Floor”) Herminia—a textbook religious woman who dreams of going to heaven—finds her divine plan going pear-shaped when Margot appears, a bold and unapologetic drag queen. After this, more and more characters keep appearing who will put obstacles in her path and make her settle scores with her inner demons.

#4 Alicia en el país de las maravillas

(“Alice in Wonderland”) Alice dives headfirst into a journey to a world where madness is normal and the impossible is just a matter of attitude. There she’ll cross paths with characters who are worse off than her, like the Blue Caterpillar or the Cheshire Cat. A hilarious surrealist adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

#5 Pero qué me estás contando

(“What Are You On About?”) Intelligent, absurd humour with touches of silent film. A comedy that turns the everyday into pure surrealism with a luxury cast including Chema Aguilar, Nicky Negrete and Pablo Rivero Madriñán.

#6 Los tacones de papá

(“Dad’s High Heels”) A girl raised amongst masses and rosaries throws herself without a safety net into the world of drag when she loses her father and suddenly discovers that life isn’t black and white, but a great palette of colours. A story about identity, family and the right to be who you really are.

#7 Los sueños de Elsa 2

(“Elsa’s Dreams 2”) And for the little ones in the house, there are also hit plays like “Elsa’s Dreams”—A Tribute to Frozen.

What’s it about? At the palace, they’re throwing the party of the century; they’ve pushed the boat out and invited the best of the best of classic fairy tales: princes, princesses, heroes with capes and swords, and a few magical characters. Everything looks too good to be true, but there’s an unexpected mess that threatens to ruin the celebration. The solution? Perhaps one of the guests has it.

#8 Conspiranoia

A group of friends decides to give a reality check to a mate who lately has been thinking about nothing but conspiracies. But telling her what they all think of her won’t be easy. The meeting will end up airing dirty laundry, uncomfortable secrets and bad blood accumulated between lifelong friends. In the end, the big question is: can you truly love someone who has a completely different worldview from yours?

#9 El secuestro

(“The Kidnapping”) The best play in Madrid and the one that will keep you on tenterhooks is this one. In it, a desperate butcher kidnaps a minister’s son to save his business, but, naturally, the plan gets complicated and the family doesn’t help. A comedy of errors that promises laughs and more laughs.

#10 Felipe V, el rey que nos salió rana

(“Felipe V, The King Who Went Mad”) Of the 10 best plays in Madrid 2025, this is the one that will surprise you the most. It’s a comic portrayal of the first Bourbon on the Spanish throne, who went from being a Prince Charming to a monarch with serious mental problems. A play that perfectly weaves together history and humour.

More comedy in Madrid’s theatres

If you’ve got your eye on comedy plays in Madrid and what you’re after is laughing until your sides ache, here are the most side-splitting stand-up comedy proposals for 2025.

Luis Zahera in "Chungo"

If you thought Luis Zahera only knew how to play the tough guy, prepare yourself to discover his more comic side. In “Chungo”, the Galician actor looks back on his career with a monologue packed with anecdotes and personal stories ranging from his childhood to his beginnings in television and cinema.

Miguel Noguera in "Ultrashow"

A monologue halfway between a delirious lecture and the most bizarre theatrical piece. Miguel Noguera stands alone on stage to fire off a string of absurd ideas, occurrences and mental images that don’t follow any order, but will end up making you burst with laughter. A comic show with a surrealist touch that will make you wonder: what have I just seen and why did I love it?

Tips for getting tickets and discounts

Seeing one of the 10 best plays in Madrid 2025—or any other—doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. And here are some tricks!

The best seats fly out, so buy your tickets as soon as possible to secure a good spot. Don’t forget that many theatres have discounts on Wednesdays or Thursdays for Viewer’s Day. And if you’re travelling to Madrid with hardly any planning or the weather takes a turn and you want an indoor plan, look for last-minute offers. Many ticket selling platforms offer reduced passes on the same day.

If you want to take your experience to another level, do your research, because some theatres have agreements with restaurants to make your day perfect and at a very good price.

Are you coming to see any of the 10 best plays in Madrid?

See? Madrid is full of plans and the theatre is a must if you visit the city. But of course, after a spectacular performance, what you need is comfortable and well-located accommodation so you don’t have to worry about how to get back.

That’s where Waourentals comes into play, we have perfect accommodation options for you to enjoy the theatre without rushing and with all the comfort you deserve.

Are you coming to Madrid and looking for a 10/10 experience? It’s a no-brainer: a good play and accommodation with Waourentals.