Yesterday, the Autonomous Community of Madrid celebrated the 40th anniversary of the historic pool M-86. The celebration of what was once the world’s largest aquatic facility arrives as the complex just finished the first phase of a €12 million ($13.8 million) renovation process.
Madrid’s community president Isabel Díaz Ayuso was present for the landmark birthday. See pictures of the celebration, which took place at the pool in the bustling Retiro district, below:
Díaz Ayuso called the project, which is funded by Madrid’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sport within her executive branch, a “heart-and-lung renovation”.
“Lung” can be taken quite literally here, as air conditioning and ventilation were focuses of the first phase of renovation. The pool’s electrical system and basin were also on the first phase agenda.
The second phase of the renovation will focus on the building’s exterior, locker rooms, sports medicine area, and administrative office space. Local news outlets report that this phase is now set to finish in 2029. This represents a two-year delay from what was originally announced.
The M-86, short for “Mundial 86,” got its name from the 1986 World Championships in which it opened its doors for. Spain’s capital has not hosted a World Championships since then, but it remains a central part of the national swimming scene. 83 professional athletes, most of them on Spain’s National Team, train at M-86. In 2025, the complex saw around 900,000 visitors enter its doors, a 7% increase from the previous year.
