Madrid’s Puerta del Sol New Year Celebration: 15,000 Capacity Limit and Transport Adjustments
To welcome the arrival of 2025, Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol will hold its traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations. The ‘pre-grapes’ rehearsal on December 30 and the ‘eating of the grapes’ ceremony on December 31 will be accompanied by large-scale music concerts. Strict crowd control and security measures will be implemented, and the public transport system will also be adjusted accordingly.
Celebration Performances and Entry Rules
The heart of the celebration is the stage set up at the ‘Kilometre Zero’ plaque in the square. On December 30, from 10:45 PM to 11:59 PM, ‘Dream Team’, composed of DJs Quique Tejada and Toni Peret, will deliver a music performance. On December 31, singer Edurne will hold a concert from 10:45 PM to 11:40 PM. Both events operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and entry will be closed once the square reaches its capacity of 15,000 people.
Security Deployment and Traffic Control
To ensure the event’s safety, Madrid will deploy approximately 500 National Police officers and 160 Municipal Police officers in and around Puerta del Sol. Four designated security checkpoints will be set up at Calle de Alcalá, Carrera de San Jerónimo, Calle Mayor, and Calle Arenal to prevent hazardous items from being brought in. Additionally, the ‘San Silvestre Vallecana’ race held on December 31 will also lead to traffic restrictions on some roads.
Public Transport Service Adjustments
During New Year’s Eve, public transport operating hours will see significant changes:
- Metro and Cercanías (commuter trains): From 6:00 PM on December 31, all entrances and exits at Sol station will be closed, and trains will pass through without stopping. Regular Metro service will run until 1:30 AM the next day and resume at 7:00 AM on January 1.
- Municipal Buses (EMT): On December 31, the last departures for daytime routes will be between 9:30 PM and 9:45 PM. The night bus service will start at 10:30 PM. On January 1, daytime services will gradually resume between 7:15 AM and 8:45 AM.
- Airport Express (Exprés Aeropuerto): On December 31, the last bus from Atocha station will depart at 9:45 PM, and the last bus from the T4 terminal will depart at 9:30 PM. The night service will operate from 10:30 PM, with departures from both Plaza de Cibeles and the T4 terminal.
