'BIOPHEST' 2nd multidisciplinary biophilia festival
In April 2026, many of the spaces in Matadero will host the second edition of Biophest Festival, which brings together biophilia (our innate love of nature), thinking and the arts.
Following last year’s successful debut, once again the festival, curated by urban botany expert Elena Páez and cultural communication specialist Eva F. Cortés, will feature internationally renowned artists, musicians, naturalists and scientists who will help us to imagine a more interconnected life between humans and the plant world.
Experts on a range of subjects, including neuroscientist Nazareth Castellanos, researcher Michael Marder, musicians Joe Patitucci and Teo Lucadamo, and artist María Eugenia Diego, will take part in the 2026 edition of Biophest.
The festival will also include local agents who will showcase for the public—through workshops, experiences and guided tours—the diversity of the natural environments around Matadero Madrid.
The second edition of the festival will revolve around the concept of the mosaic landscape, a term referring to territories whose land is used for various purposes—crops, pastures, forests, etc.—and comprises a varied patchwork rather than homogenous stretches. Not only does this combination of human and natural elements result in a more dynamic territory, it is also an effective tool for reducing the risk of fires, as it creates swathes which act as firebreaks and facilitate assistance by emergency teams.
In a broader sense, the mosaic landscape alludes to the rich nature of diversity and the way it can transform our relationship with the environment and those who live in it, a notion which will run through the festival’s various content.
Biophest is organised by Matadero Madrid via its programme Intermediae, which is committed to taking a community and social perspective. The festival falls within the line of work centred on permaculture and critical ecology, which has been a key focus of Intermediae’s programme since the beginning. This event is sponsored by Água das Pedras and the Association for Spanish Forest Certification (PEFC Spain).
