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Madrid prepares for its art week in early March as winter yields to spring. The 44th edition of ARCOmadrid, Spain’s premier contemporary art fair, is set to take place from March 5th to 9th, 2025, at the expansive IFEMA MADRID exhibition center.
This year’s edition turns its gaze to the Amazon. The central curatorial project, titled Wametisé: Ideas for an Amazofuturism, is curated by Indigenous artist Denilson Baniwa (from the Brazilian Amazon) and curator María Wills. This theme invites visitors to imagine new futures through Amazonian cosmologies and contemporary art, reflecting new modes of creation that represent hybrid existences between human, vegetal, physical, and metaphysical bodies.
In the Indigenous languages of the Upper Rio Negro, Wametisé roughly means “named places” and refers to the creation of the world and the assignment of territories to humanity by a great snake. In the context of the fair, Wametisé becomes a lens through which artists explore ancestral knowledge alongside speculative futures to explore an entangled legacy of nature, technology, and culture.
1. ARCOmadrid: The Main Event
Dates: March 5–9, 2025
Location: IFEMA MADRID – Recinto Ferial
Address: Av. del Partenón, 5, 28042 Madrid, Spain
ARCOmadrid stands as a cornerstone in the international art calendar, bringing together galleries, artists, collectors, and curators from around the globe. This year’s focus on the Amazon aims to explore new modes of creation and representation, reflecting the fair’s commitment to addressing pressing global issues through art.
ARCOmadrid has long been a bridge between Europe and Latin America, and this year’s focus deepens that connection. The Amazonian project includes 15 participating galleries and 23 artists, spotlighting voices from Indigenous and Latin American communities within a global dialogue.
Beyond this special section, ARCO’s General Programme features 178 established galleries from 36 countries. Two additional curated sections enrich the fair: Opening. New Galleries (18 galleries under 7 years old) highlights fresh voices in contemporary art, and Profiles: Latin American Art (10 galleries) reinforces ARCO’s historic ties to Latin American artists.
Walking into the Wametisé exhibition at ARCOmadrid, you’ll find an immersive space inspired by Amazonian lore. The exhibition design draws on the image of a coiled snake guiding visitors through a spiral journey.
The curators Baniwa and Wills, in collaboration with Madrid’s Institute for Postnatural Studies, goal is to spark reflection on how we are all connected across species, time, and physical and metaphysical realms.
The Amazon’s myths, like the great serpent that shaped the land, echo through contemporary artworks that mix organic materials with technological media. The theme is expansive but grounded in something deeply human: the desire to imagine a better relationship between people and the land.
By rooting the show in Amazonian cosmology, ARCOmadrid’s curators provide an entry point that is both culturally rich and easy to relate to. This bold mix of rainforest mythology and futuristic thinking sets the tone for the entire fair, reminding everyone that contemporary art can be a space of storytelling and transformation, not just highbrow theory.
3. Theresa Weber at HATCH in the Opening. New Galleries Section
The Opening. The New Galleries section at ARCOmadrid focuses on emerging international galleries. This section, curated by Cristina Anglada and Anissa Touati, highlights Spain’s unique position as a cultural crossroads. The curatorial approach emphasizes “entangled legacies of space,” exploring how historical and cultural narratives can foster new, inclusive stories.
The selection process also prioritizes innovative gallery management styles that challenge traditional models. These styles reflect the evolving needs of contemporary art practices and audiences, aiming to re-envision the future through the intersection of various histories and myths.
This year, the section includes a solo presentation by Theresa Weber, curated by Margaux Knight, with Hatch, a nomadic gallery based in Paris. Weber, a young German-Jamaican artist (born in 1996), creates installations that celebrate hybridity and collective rituals.
Her solo project, “With the Floats,” is inspired by Junkanoo, an Afro-Caribbean masquerade festival born from resistance to colonialism. Junkanoo is practiced in former British-American colonies, most notably in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Belize, and historically in North Carolina and Miami.
Five sculptural panels, three wearable carnival costumes, and a sprawling floor print will create an immersive display connecting water, land, and body. Weber’s art draws on Carnival as a space of resistance and reinvention, where masks and dance allow people to become someone (or something) new. The work also nods to philosopher Édouard Glissant’s idea of cultures as archipelagos, interconnected but distinct islands of identity.
Hatch Gallery’s participation is part of ARCO’s push to champion young galleries, and Weber’s vibrant presentation embodies the fresh energy of Opening. New Galleries.
Learn More: Hatch
2. Pere Llobera at Bombon Projects in the Main Programming Section
Barcelona’s Bombon Projects gallery is back at ARCO with a presentation featuring Eva Fàbregas, Lara Fluxà, Pere Llobera, and Marie Zolamian, alongside a solo project by Aldo Urbano. They will feature artists investigating sensoriality, history, and perception as ways to look at the present.
Barcelona-based painter Pere Llobera is known for his witty, thought-provoking canvases. His work has a sly sense of narrative. Despite its formal precision, Llobera infuses each image with conceptual weight and humor.
This is painting that can make you smile at first glance, then prompt deeper reflection the longer you look. He depicts quirky domestic dramas and fantastical allegories, yet for fair-goers, Llobera is a perfect example of approachable contemporary art: visually engaging, story-rich, and not at all intimidating.
Learn More: Bombon Projects
Savoring Madrid: Where to Eat and Stay During ARCOmadrid
Art satiates the soul, but Madrid ensures the palate is equally indulged. The city caters to all tastes, whether you’re craving traditional Spanish flavors or seeking the frontier of culinary innovation.
Where to Eat in Madrid
- Restaurante Botín: For a dose of history (and a hearty meal), grab a table at Sobrino de Botín, officially Europe’s oldest restaurant. Since 1725, Botín has been serving classic roast lamb and suckling pig from a wood-fired oven in an atmosphere straight out of an old painting. Goya supposedly washed dishes here, and Hemingway was a regular. Need we say more? It’s the kind of place where the tiled walls and bustling servers make you feel connected to generations of Madrileños.
- Sisapo: Focusing on fresh, seasonal ingredients, Sisapo’s menu features traditional dishes with a modern twist. With a welcoming atmosphere and a carefully curated selection of wines and beverages, Sisapo provides a dining experience that is both comforting and exciting, perfect for those looking to explore the depths of Madrid’s culinary scene.
- DiverXO: If you’re in the mood for something adventurous, treat yourself to DiverXO. Chef Dabiz Muñoz often describes this three-Michelin-starred spot as a “rollercoaster” for your palate, a wild, avant-garde journey through flavors and presentations. Securing a reservation is tough, but the experience is unforgettable: think clever nods to street food and flavor combinations you’ve never imagined. DiverXO has put Madrid on the map of cutting-edge cuisine, much like ARCO has for cutting-edge art. (Tip: Muñoz’s more casual eatery, StreetXO, offers a playful tapas-style take on high cuisine without the waitlist.)
Where to Stay in Madrid
When it comes to accommodations during ARCO, you have two primary considerations: proximity to the fair vs. immersion in the city’s culture. The good news is, Madrid’s efficient transport (and plentiful taxis) means you’re never too far from anywhere.
Many attendees stay in the center to enjoy Madrid’s evening vibe after the fair. There’s nothing quite like discussing the day’s inspiring art over tapas in a rustic taberna or a trendy fusion bistro. Madrid is a city that embraces the night, and during ARCO, the creative conversations flow as freely as the sangría.
- Pullman Madrid Airport & Feria: If you want to be near IFEMA for early fair visits, look at the business hotels around Campo de las Naciones. The Hotel Pullman Madrid Airport & Feria is a five-minute walk to the ARCO halls, which is incredibly convenient if you plan on multiple days at the fair or need to shuttle artwork (or tired feet) back to your room. However, the surrounding area is pretty quiet after business hours. Think of it as a practical home base; you can always take a taxi or metro downtown for dinner or to go to museums.
- Gran Hotel Inglés: If you prefer to stay in the thick of Madrid’s historic and cultural core, consider a hotel in neighborhoods like Centro, Salamanca, or Chueca. Waking up in the city center means you can start your day with a stroll through iconic streets (or chocolate con churros at the 24-hour San Ginés café) before diving back into the art whirlwind.
- Hotel Montera Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton: With a contemporary design, this hotel boasts “El Cielo de Montera,” a rooftop bar offering panoramic views of the city’s skyline. It’s an ideal spot to unwind, cocktail in hand.
Madrid Art Scene Map | Madrid City Guide
Madrid City Guide
As the sun sets over the Manzanares River, casting a golden hue over the city’s eclectic architecture, one can’t help but feel that art and life are inextricably woven in Madrid.
From the dynamic installations at ARCOmadrid to the historic flavors of Botín and the avant-garde creations at DiverXO, Madrid in March offers rich experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned art aficionado or a curious traveler, the city’s blend of tradition and innovation promises an unforgettable trip.
My Madrid City Guide includes an interactive map with ARCOmadrid, my favorite galleries, smaller institutions, restaurants, and hotels.
You can also visit ARCOmadrid’s website for more visitor information, including tickets, an interactive fairground map, and transit recommendations.
Next week, I’ll cover the gallery and museum exhibitions to see. If you aren’t subscribed to my Substack, get added below to receive what to see during ARCOmadrid.
