Inside Macondo Park, The City Created for Shakira’s Residency in Madrid

Two days before the start of Shakira‘s residency in Madrid, Macondo Park is finalizing the details to open its doors to the public this Friday (Sept. 18) at Iberdrola Music. The space will remain open throughout the 12 concerts of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, offering activities before and after each show.

“Spanish-language music has broken barriers,” said Pino Sagliocco, president of Live Nation Spain, during a tour of the venue on Wednesday (Sept. 16). According to the promoter, Macondo Park aims to extend that reach to other expressions of Latin culture, from literature and gastronomy to fashion, dance and emerging talent.

Shakira also visited the venue during the day to oversee the preparations. According to Sagliocco, the Colombian superstar was “looking at every detail, every corner” ahead of the first concert.

The space looks very different from how it did during past festivals, spanning 150,000 square meters with a capacity for 50,000 people. It also features bleachers built around the stage and a structure that ensures visibility from different points. The project required 16 months of planning and directly involved around 10,000 people, with approximately 1,000 workers present each night. “A new world has been created that didn’t exist before,” explained Sagliocco.

Shakira’s residency is scheduled for Sept. 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28, as well as Oct. 1, 2 and 3. Macondo Park will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. (local time), while Shakira’s shows are set to take place from 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (local time), allowing attendees to explore the space before and after each performance.

The name Macondo refers to the fictional town created for One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, whose work will have a prominent place in La Biblioteca (The Library), one of the eight pavilions. Sagliocco also recalled the relationship between Shakira and the Colombian writer, noting that the concept reflects the “spirit of freedom, coexistence and tolerance” they sought to bring to the project.

All this is part of ES LATINA, the programming created around the residency to celebrate Latin culture across various disciplines. Below, we break down the eight spaces, each offering a unique experience.

• La Biblioteca (The Library)

  Gabriel García Márquez’s work holds a prominent place alongside a selection of books that have inspired Shakira. The space will also host events featuring 24 female writers and a book club that will propose a different book each weekend. Additionally, there will be a bookstore, writing workshops with prizes and an immersive space inspired by One Hundred Years of Solitude, authorized by García Márquez’s family.

• El Taller (The Workshop)

  Fashion will be the focus of this space, where the work of emerging Spanish designers will coexist with haute couture brands. In addition to exhibitions, the pavilion will host runways where various fashion proposals will be presented during the residency.

• El Mercado (The Market)

  The gastronomy will be led by chef Rafa Zafra, who is responsible for curating the culinary selection for the space, which will also feature the participation of various other chefs. The offering will include around 35 types of food, with references to different Latin American countries.

• Museo de Shakira (Shakira’s Museum)

  Here, previously unreleased material selected by Shakira herself will be showcased, covering various stages of her career. The exhibit is organized into three sections: The Cultural Icon, Social Impact, and Latin Celebration. The experience was developed in collaboration with photographer and director Jaume de Laiguana.

• La Sala (The Living Room)

  Live music will have a second stage, separate from the one Shakira will use during her concerts, in La Sala. Artists announced as part of Es LATINA will perform here, including Amaia, Nathy Peluso, Guitarricadelafuente, Santos Bravos and Gale, as well as emerging talents. The full list of performances was previously announced by Billboard.

• Club Loba (She-Wolf Club)

  This space will recreate the sets from four of Shakira’s music videos. There will also be merch available for purchase, and a karaoke contest, with the prize being a trip around the world.

• Macondito (Little Macondo)

  Shakira’s children, Milan and Sasha, participated in the design of this children’s space, which also features collaboration with Disney. The place brings elements from the imaginary world of Macondo to an environment designed for kids, with activities related to magic, soccer, musical instruments and food tailored for the little ones.