Canadian singer The Weeknd visited the historic Sabatini Gardens in Madrid on August 27 ahead of his three scheduled concerts in the Spanish capital. A member of the pop star's team posted images of the outing online one day before his performances began.
The surprise sightseeing trip delighted local fans, who reacted on social media after discovering how close the artist had been to them. Tesfaye later launched his Madrid concert run at the Metropolitano stadium, telling the audience during his venue debut that the first night is always the most special.
Sightseeing Tour and Fan Reactions
The Sabatini Gardens are an extensive natural park situated directly in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid. The site is one of the most visited locations in the capital, which has welcomed more than five million foreign tourists this year alone.
The artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, traveled to Spain for six scheduled performances. His itinerary included three shows in Madrid, two in Barcelona, and one in Castellón. This tour marks his return to the country following previous visits in 2017 and 2023.
Tesfaye has long maintained a strong connection to Spain, notably collaborating on a hit track with Spanish singer Rosalía. His recent stroll through Madrid prompted an enthusiastic response from followers on social media. Fans commented online that they were shocked to learn he had walked past them unseen, with one person noting they were working at the time and another stating they had been standing only a few metres away without realizing it.
Royal Palace Architecture and Historic Monuments
The primary photograph shared by his team captures the statue of King Alfonso X the Wise, which stands on the central terrace of the Sabatini Gardens. Visitors walking through this section of the park can also view surrounding sculptures honoring historic Spanish monarchs, including Alfonso VI, Alfonso VIII, and Jaime I the Conqueror.
The central garden design features a large rectangular water basin that reflects the facade of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Small circular fountains with water jets are set between trimmed cypress hedges, accompanied by a double-flight stone staircase leading upward to the elevated upper terrace.
The Royal Palace of Madrid looms directly above the garden grounds, displaying its massive granite base, neoclassical pilasters, upper floor architecture, and the distinctive windows of the Royal Armoury. Looking outward toward Cuesta de San Vicente and Gran Vía, visitors can observe two of the capital's most famous historic skyscrapers, Edificio España and Torre de Madrid.
Urban Iconography and Madrid Rooftops
The sightseeing excursion provided a rare moment of leisure for Tesfaye, who often incorporates architectural imagery into his visual project branding. Observers noted that the Temple of Debod, an ancient structure surrounded by water with views over city sunsets and nighttime panoramas, aligns closely with the solemn and mystical aesthetic seen in his music productions.
Similarly, high rooftops across central Madrid offer panoramic views that mirror the visual themes of urban solitude, city lights, and nighttime settings prominent throughout music videos for hits such as Blinding Lights. The city welcomed the singer warmly as he brought his global tour to the capital.
The tour follows a lucrative period for the artist, whose reported earnings in 2025 placed him among the highest-earning music acts worldwide, surpassing annual figures achieved by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Tesfaye has previously signaled plans for a final career chapter starting in Mexico before stepping away from his stage persona, while also co-hosting major events from Tokyo to Broadway alongside P!nk and teasing potential new music collaborations with Ariana Grande.
