How We Spent the Summer at Club Voilàrt

June, July and August 2026

This summer, Club Voilàrt continued to be a meeting place for art and culture. Throughout June and July, we explored galleries, discovered new cultural spaces in Madrid and enjoyed one of Voilàrt’s most special experiences: visiting the Museo Nacional del Prado before it opened to the public.

These months have been about continuing to do what lies at the heart of the Club: discovering new places, learning from experts and, above all, sharing art with others.

17 June · An afternoon exploring the galleries of Tribunal

On 17 June, we met in Tribunal to explore some of the neighbourhood’s contemporary art galleries, accompanied by Ana Belén Feijoo.

The visit gave us the opportunity to learn more about how galleries work, discover the exhibitions on view and explore some of the keys to looking at and understanding contemporary art.

There was also plenty of time for conversation. We ended the afternoon over a glass of wine, sharing our thoughts on what we had seen, one of those occasions when the experience continues long after leaving the last gallery.

26 June · Pablo Pérez-Mínguez at Nômade Temple Madrid

A few days later, on 26 June, we met again to attend the opening of Pastores y Dioses. El desnudo masculino en la obra de Pablo Pérez-Mínguez at Monopol, the cultural space at Nômade Temple Madrid.

Part of the PHotoESPAÑA 2026 programme, the exhibition introduced us to a lesser-known side of Pablo Pérez-Mínguez, one of the photographers most closely associated with Madrid’s Movida cultural movement.

As well as discovering his work, the evening gave us the opportunity to explore a different kind of cultural space in the heart of Gran Vía and enjoy the atmosphere of an exhibition opening together. Because one of the things we value most at the Club is precisely this: finding different ways to experience art.

25 July · The Museo del Prado behind closed doors

On 25 July, we enjoyed one of the most special moments of the summer: visiting the Museo Nacional del Prado before it opened to the public.

At nine in the morning, while the museum was still closed, we began a two-hour visit through its galleries accompanied by an art history expert.

Without the usual flow of visitors, we were able to take our time in front of the works, observe the details at a slower pace and enjoy something rarely experienced in one of the world’s most visited museums: silence.

Returning to the Prado in this way allowed us to see it from a different perspective. And that is precisely one of the ideas behind Club Voilàrt: returning even to places we think we already know and discovering them anew.

And this is only the beginning

June and July brought us galleries, photography, Old Masters, new cultural spaces and, above all, many moments shared together. August gave us time to prepare for a new season, full of new experiences and opportunities to continue discovering Madrid and its culture from a different perspective.

At Club Voilàrt, we come together every month around art: visiting exhibitions and museums, discovering galleries and new cultural spaces, and sharing experiences designed to enjoy culture at a slower pace and in good company.

If you would also like to be part of our upcoming experiences, we invite you to join Club Voilàrt.

Become a member and discover everything that is still to come.

Cuando llega el verano, Madrid cambia.

When Summer Arrives, Madrid Changes

The city becomes quieter, some places close for a few weeks, and the pace of life slows down. It is a familiar scene in July and, especially, in August: less traffic, fewer people, and calmer streets.

Yet one thing remains very much alive: culture.

Far from coming to a halt, Madrid’s cultural scene adapts to the summer season, offering new ways to experience the city. Major museums remain open, and Madrid continues to offer a rich cultural programme for both residents and visitors, including open-air cinemas, concerts, performances, and evening events across the city

Photograph taken at Casa de México.

Museums and Special Summer Activities

Throughout July and August, museums such as the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofía remain open. In addition to their permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, some museums organise special summer activities, including workshops, film screenings, performances, and extended opening hours or evening visits.

As these activities are often seasonal and subject to change, it is advisable to check each museum’s programme before planning your visit.

Summer can also offer a different way to experience Madrid’s museums. At certain times of the day, visitor numbers tend to be lower than during other seasons, allowing you to enjoy some galleries in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Photograph taken by the author at the Reina Sofía Museum.

Art, Architecture, and Historic Spaces

Summer is also an excellent opportunity to discover other parts of Madrid’s rich heritage. Churches, historic libraries, foundations, smaller museums, and remarkable buildings offer a different perspective on art while providing a welcome escape from the heat. Many of these places also offer pleasant spaces to take a break during the hottest hours of the day without missing out on the city’s cultural life.

Throughout July and August, Madrid invites you to explore the city from a different perspective. Beyond its world-famous museums, it is the perfect time to step inside places that often go unnoticed, learn more about the city’s heritage, and discover unique cultural experiences

Photograph taken by the author at the Nômade Hotel.

Sometimes, simply changing the way you look at the city is enough to discover details that often go unnoticed. A guided tour, an exhibition, or a historic building can become a completely different experience when you understand the stories behind it.

At Voilàrt, we believe that every museum, historic building, and exhibition has stories that enrich the visitor experience. That is why we design guided experiences led by specialists who bring each place to life through its history, context, fascinating details, and cultural significance.

If you would like to discover Madrid through its art, architecture, and heritage this summer while escaping the heat for a few hours, we invite you to explore the city with Voilàrt.

Because even in summer, Madrid still has so much to discover.

Si el destino es un blog internacional o la web de Voilàrt, también puedo adaptarlo a un estilo más turístico, más elegante o más orientado al SEO en inglés.

Madrid Can Also Be Discovered Through Its Galleries

Beyond its great museums, Madrid boasts a vibrant and diverse gallery scene. These are spaces that can sometimes feel intimidating, but they can also become one of the most rewarding ways to discover contemporary art.

When people talk about art in Madrid, the city’s major museums usually come first: the Prado, the Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen. And for good reason. They are essential institutions for understanding the city’s cultural and artistic history.

But Madrid’s cultural life extends far beyond its museums.

Madrid can also be discovered through its galleries: smaller, dynamic spaces that are constantly evolving. Unlike large museums, galleries offer a different relationship with art. Their exhibitions are often temporary, their visits shorter, and their scale allows for a more attentive and personal viewing experience. They provide opportunities to encounter contemporary artists, explore new artistic languages, and engage with current themes, often through formats that are less familiar or more experimental.

Fotografía de elaboración propia tomada en la Galería Hilario Galguera.

The city is home to a wide network of galleries spread across different neighborhoods. Areas such as Lavapiés and the surroundings of Doctor Fourquet Street have become key destinations for contemporary art, attracting artists, collectors, and curious visitors alike.

Yet for many people, walking into a gallery can still feel intimidating.

Sometimes we are unsure whether entry is free, whether we are expected to buy something, whether we can ask questions, or even how to interpret what we are seeing. But galleries should not be perceived as exclusive or distant spaces. In most cases, visitors are welcome to enter, explore, observe, and ask questions. You do not need to be a collector or an art expert. Curiosity is enough.

Fotografía de elaboración propia tomada en la Galería F2.

What can truly transform the experience, however, is having some context.

Knowing who the artist is, understanding the ideas behind an exhibition, learning about the materials used, or considering the questions a work raises can enrich the way we look at art. The goal is not to explain everything, but to provide a framework that allows each person to develop their own interpretation.

The experience also changes when it is shared. Visiting galleries with others creates opportunities to exchange perspectives, discuss ideas, and discover viewpoints that might otherwise go unnoticed.

At Club Voilàrt, we organize gallery visits because we believe they are an essential part of cultural life. Our aim is to bring these spaces closer to our members through carefully curated experiences, accompanied by specialists and designed to encourage enjoyment, learning, and conversation.

Galleries offer a way to discover artists, explore neighborhoods, and understand that art does not exist only within the walls of major museums. It also happens in more intimate spaces, in temporary exhibitions, and in the conversations that begin in front of an unexpected work of art.

Fotografía de elaboración propia tomada en la Galería Hilario Galguera.

Madrid can also be seen through its galleries. Exploring them with guidance and company can be a different way to engage with contemporary art and discover another cultural dimension of the city.

Premium cultural experiences in Madrid: art, wine and conversation

Madrid is so much more than museums and monuments. Its true essence is found in its streets, cafés and pubs where, for centuries, wine, ideas and words are mixed up. Places where, nowadays, between wooden tables and zinc bars, you can hear the buzz of those conversations that are still relevant. In Madrid, art does not just hang from the walls.

Hidden art in Madrid: secrets and symbols told by an expert.

Madrid: between what is visible and invisible

Visiting a city is not the same as taking your time carefully to fully understand it. When you pay attention and plan a more comprehensive visit, art and the city become alive elements capable of telling us its own story. We just have to learn how to listen to them. And to manage to comprehend that story, some kind of translation is needed: a mediator figure, an expert, who connects the knowledge with those who receive it and who offers quality information.

What to see in Madrid if you love art

The city of Madrid has become recently a very important metropolis, internationally speaking. From its Arab origins, Mayrit evolved into what we know today as Madrid, where they have been taking place social, cultural and urban transformations that increased especially after it became the royal capital in the 16th century. This rich past has given rise nowadays to a singular artistic offer, being a city in which art is not just exhibited, but it breathes in each corner. Below, we invite you to discover certain key points to create a mental image of Madrid and what it has to offer.

Contact us