The Mayor of Madrid believes that the criticisms from Getafe regarding the mobility chaos at Mad Cool are unjustified and attributes them to Sara Hernández's electoral campaign.
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida, has hit back at the Mayor of Getafe, Sara Hernández, over the criticisms regarding mobility during Mad Cool. At an event this Friday, Almeida stated that the complaints from the Getafe City Council are due to Hernández being "in an electoral campaign" for 2027.
Almeida: "Mobility has improved"
Almeida acknowledged that the festival "presents a series of inconveniences," but emphasised that the situation "has improved considerably" compared to the first edition. "The criticisms are not justified," he declared, recalling that the frequencies of Cercanías and Metro have been increased so that the more than 50,000 people attending the venue each day can do so "in the proper safety conditions."
The Madrid mayor insisted that the city council is "in a process of continuous improvement" and downplayed the complaints from Getafe, which yesterday demanded "urgent explanations" from the Government Delegation, the Madrid City Council, and the festival promoters following the "mobility chaos" on Wednesday.
Government Delegation calls for structural actions
For his part, the Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, has urged the Community and the Madrid City Council to "be responsible" and undertake structural improvements in the area surrounding the Iberdrola Music venue. Martín recalled that he has been "requesting actions for more than three years" to ensure safety and mobility at large events.
"Miracles cannot be made while improvements are not executed," warned Martín, who noted that on the second night, exits were "more staggered" and there were fewer incidents. "If they are committed to consolidating that space for large events, they must commit to improving the surroundings," he concluded.
The exchange of statements highlights the tension between different administrative levels. While Almeida downplays the problems, Getafe and the Government Delegation are urging solutions. Residents in the northern area of Getafe, the most affected by the traffic jams and crowds, are still waiting for concrete measures to ease their daily lives during the festivals.
What changes for the residents of Getafe?
For residents of Getafe Norte, Mad Cool presents a logistical challenge every summer. Traffic jams, road closures, and nighttime noise are recurring complaints. The Getafe City Council has requested a specific mobility plan, but so far there has been no progress. The next event will be in July 2027, when the festival returns to the Iberdrola Music venue.
In the meantime, attendees at this year's Mad Cool have experienced delays in access and exits, with queues at the metro and shuttle buses. The festival organisation has announced that it will reinforce transport services for the final day, although without specifying measures.
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