Red alert in the Spanish capital: The Madrid Book Fair and the iconic Retiro Park were forced to close their doors today, Friday, at 6:00 PM. The reason for this is expected wind gusts of up to 55 kilometers per hour and temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius, posing a significant safety risk.
The news reached the public shortly after Queen Letizia’s official opening tour, who visited the venue accompanied by Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun and other dignitaries. The Book Fair’s management announced that Retiro Park had already been evacuated from 4:00 PM to ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors.
All Activities Suspended: A Blow to Literature Lovers
All planned events in the pavilions, autograph sessions, and all other activities within the framework of the Book Fair are affected by the closure. The organizers regret the inconvenience caused and announced that they would update information on the reopening tomorrow morning, Saturday.
Debido a la alerta roja establecida por la AEMET, a partir de las 16:00 el parque de El Retiro será desalojado.
— Feria del Libro de Madrid (@FLMadrid) May 30, 2025
Nos vemos mañana. Mantente actualizado a través de nuestros perfiles en redes sociales. pic.twitter.com/HAJQHzdjjB
Retiro and Other Parks Closed: Safety First
In addition to Retiro Park, eight other historic green areas in Madrid are also closed: Capricho Park, the Rose Garden of Parque del Oeste, Juan Carlos I, Juan Pablo II, Quinta de Fuente del Berro, Quinta de los Molinos, Quinta Torre Arias, and the Linear Park of Manzanares. The Madrid City Council has issued a red alert in accordance with its protocol for adverse weather conditions and the management of tree-related incidents. There is a very high risk of falling branches and trees.
Retiro Park Expected to Reopen on Saturday
The reopening of Retiro Park and the other affected green spaces is planned for tomorrow, Saturday, once technicians from the City Council have assessed possible damage to the trees and taken appropriate measures.
Meteorological Situation: Aemet Gives All-Clear for Central Madrid
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has not issued any alert for the capital itself. Only for the south, Vegas, and west of the Autonomous Community of Madrid is a yellow warning for temperatures up to 36 degrees Celsius in effect, which will be deactivated on Friday evening at 9:00 PM.
Despite the Setback: Optimism for the Book Fair
The 84th Madrid Book Fair started on Friday with promising expectations. The aim is to exceed last year’s revenue of eleven million euros and visitor numbers of over one million. Despite the forced closure on Friday afternoon, visitors still have more than fifteen days to explore the 365 bookstores and publishing stands – six more than last year – and meet thousands of authors at signing sessions.
