Explore 19 events and festivals in Málaga, Andalusia throughout 2026.
Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes / Epiphany Parade)
Málaga's spectacular Cabalgata de Reyes Magos is one of the largest Three Kings parades in Andalusia, drawing tens of thousands of spectators each January 5th. The three kings arrive by boat at the port before leading an elaborate float procession through the city centre, with costumed attendants showering the crowds with sweets. The celebration culminates in a royal ceremony at the Cathedral, making it a cherished highlight of the Spanish Christmas season.
Málaga Carnival
Málaga Carnival is a nine-day fiesta rooted in traditions dating back to 1887, filling the city with costume contests, satirical musical groups called chirigotas, and colourful street parades centred on Plaza de la Constitución. Highlights include the official opening ceremony, nightly performances by competing comparsas and chirigotas, and the humorous closing ritual known as the Burial of the Anchovy on La Malagueta beach. It is one of the most festive winter events on the Costa del Sol, celebrated from February 7 to 15.
Marbella Carnival
Marbella Carnival runs for two weeks in February with a packed programme that begins with the Opening Proclamation Gala and features nightly competitions from carnival musical groups, a grand costume parade through the old town, and a closing humour parade. The festivities draw both residents and visitors to the streets of the old quarter with elaborate costumes, live music, and a joyful atmosphere typical of Andalusian carnival culture.
Benalmádena Carnival
Benalmádena Carnival brings the town to life each February with satirical chirigotas, colourful costume parades, and street performances that run across multiple days and neighbourhoods. Groups compete in singing satirical songs called letrillas while families, locals, and visitors fill the streets in creative fancy dress. The festive spirit extends across the municipality, making it a lively and accessible introduction to Andalusian carnival traditions.
Málaga Film Festival
The Festival de Málaga is Spain's most important competitive film festival dedicated exclusively to Spanish-language cinema, held each March at the historic Teatro Cervantes and venues across the city. Now in its 29th edition (March 6-15, 2026), it showcases premieres, retrospectives, and industry events while awarding the coveted Biznaga de Oro trophy to the best Spanish-language feature. The festival transforms Málaga into a hub for Spanish and Latin American filmmakers, attracting international press, directors, and film lovers from around the world.
Málaga Half Marathon
The TotalEnergies Málaga City Half Marathon is one of the fastest half marathons in Europe, with a nearly flat 21km course that winds through the heart of the city with only seven turns and a mere seven-metre elevation gain. Held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the race attracts over 2,000 runners from across Spain and internationally, with course records of 58'27" for men and 1:05:46 for women set in recent editions. The route takes runners past Málaga's iconic seafront and historic landmarks, making it as scenic as it is speedy.
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Málaga's Semana Santa is considered one of the most spectacular Holy Week celebrations in Spain, with 42 brotherhoods organising 45 processions through the city from Palm Sunday (March 29) to Easter Sunday (April 5) in 2026. Enormous baroque floats called pasos bearing lifelike wooden sculptures of Christ and the Virgin Mary are carried by teams of costumed bearers called portadores, accompanied by the haunting music of brass bands and the scent of incense. The processions pass through the historic centre and beneath the Cathedral, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors who line the streets to witness this centuries-old tradition.
Weekend Beach Festival
Weekend Beach Festival is a beloved three-day open-air music festival held on the seafront of Torre del Mar each July, known for blending a wide range of musical styles from indie and rock to pop and flamenco-fusion under one banner. The 2026 edition runs July 9-11 and features a diverse lineup including Myke Towers, Ana Mena, Morad, La Pegatina, and many more across multiple stages with camping available for the full festival experience. Its relaxed beachside setting and eclectic programming make it one of the most popular summer festivals on the Costa del Sol.
Puro Latino Fest
Puro Latino Fest Torremolinos is a high-energy two-day festival at the Recinto Ferial celebrating Latin music in all its forms, from reggaeton and urban beats to salsa and tropical rhythms. The 2026 edition runs July 17-18 at the Torremolinos fairground on the Costa del Sol, with an already confirmed lineup of top-tier Latin artists drawing fans from across Spain and Europe. The festival delivers an authentic party atmosphere with non-stop dancing, making it the premier Latin music event on the Andalusian coast.
Marenostrum Fuengirola
Marenostrum Fuengirola is the Costa del Sol's most prestigious outdoor concert series, held each summer within the dramatic walls of the medieval Castillo Sohail with the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop. The 2026 season runs from mid-August through late August, hosting a mix of Spanish pop icons, flamenco artists, and international acts in an intimate 2,000-capacity setting inside the castle alongside larger outdoor stage shows. The unique combination of world-class live music and a historic fortress setting makes it one of the most atmospheric concert experiences in southern Spain.
Málaga Fair (Feria de Agosto)
The Malaga August Fair (Feria de Agosto) is one of the largest and most celebrated summer fairs in Spain, transforming the city for a full week every August. The festivities kick off with a spectacular midnight fireworks display near the port, followed by days of flamenco dancing, live music, horse parades, and hundreds of casetas where locals and visitors share food, wine, and rebujito cocktails. The fair runs across two main areas: the historic city centre hosts the daytime fair with street parties and traditional dress, while the fairground (Real de la Feria) comes alive at night with amusement rides, concerts, and non-stop revelry until dawn.
Canela Party
Canela Party is a four-day indie and alternative music festival held each August on the beachside grounds of Torremolinos, drawing fans of indie rock, punk, and electronic music from across Spain and beyond. The festival is renowned for its vibrant costume party tradition, where attendees dress up in creative outfits, adding a playful, carnival-like energy to the live performances. With twin stages arranged to avoid scheduling clashes and a loyal community of regulars, Canela Party has grown into one of the most distinctive grassroots festivals on the Costa del Sol.
Urban Art Fest
Urban Art Fest Malaga is a free three-day celebration of urban culture held at the Palacio de Congresos in Torremolinos each September, bringing together live music, street art demonstrations, graffiti battles, and tattoo art exhibitions under one roof. The festival features pop-up stalls from independent clothing brands and local artists, alongside skateboarding and BMX stunt performances throughout the weekend. Its free admission and eclectic mix of disciplines make it a genuine community event that showcases the creative energy of the Costa del Sol.
Our Lady of Victory (La Virgen de la Victoria)
Every September 8th, Malaga honours its patron saint, the Virgen de la Victoria, in a deeply moving celebration that blends centuries of religious devotion with festive community spirit. A solemn procession carries the image of the Virgin through the historic city centre, accompanied by flower offerings, traditional singing groups, and thousands of devoted malagenos lining the streets. The day is a public holiday in the city, and the atmosphere shifts from reverent to celebratory as the evening draws on, with music and gatherings continuing through the night.
Algatocín Fair
The Algatocin Fair is a charming annual municipal celebration held in early October in this small whitewashed village in the Genal Valley, part of the stunning Serrania de Ronda mountain range. The fair centres on the local gastronomic and cultural heritage of the area, with stalls serving traditional Andalusian dishes, craft workshops, folk music performances, and sports competitions spread across the village. It offers an authentic, unhurried taste of rural Malaga life, far removed from the coastal tourist circuit.
Fuengirola Fair (Feria del Rosario)
The Feria del Rosario in Fuengirola is one of the grandest fairs in the Malaga province, held each October in honour of the town's patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario, with festivities running for a full week. Days are marked by spectacular horse parades, riders and carriages in traditional Andalusian dress, while the fairground fills with hundreds of casetas offering food, manzanilla wine, and live flamenco music through the night. The procession of the Virgin on October 7th is the emotional centrepiece of the fair, drawing enormous crowds from across the Costa del Sol.
Yunquera Wine & Chestnut Fair
The Wine and Chestnut Fair in Yunquera is a beloved autumn celebration held on the last weekend of October in this scenic mountain village within the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. Visitors can taste chestnuts prepared every way imaginable including roasted, candied, in syrup, and freshly picked alongside local wines from the Malaga region, all served from artisan market stalls surrounded by golden autumn forests. The fair also features traditional folk music, craft demonstrations, and guided walks through the chestnut groves that have sustained this community for generations.
Chestnut Roast / Feast of Roasted Chestnuts
The Toston, or Chestnut Roast, is a beloved November 1st tradition observed in Marbella and throughout the villages of the Genal Valley, marking the autumn chestnut harvest with an endearing blend of rustic festivity and community warmth. Families and friends gather in parks and countryside spots to roast chestnuts over open fires, sharing them alongside sweet pastries, local food, and glasses of sweet wine or anis liqueur in the cool autumn air. The tradition is especially lively in nearby Ojen, where the Toston Popular draws large crowds for a free community celebration on All Saints Day.
Generali Málaga Marathon
The Generali Malaga Marathon is one of Spain's most scenic end-of-year road races, starting and finishing at the Paseo del Parque alongside the city's port and historic centre. The flat, certified course is popular with runners chasing personal bests, and the event offers distances for all levels including a full marathon, half marathon, and a shorter breakfast run for those wanting a more relaxed experience. With Malaga's mild winter climate and a festive city atmosphere, the race has become a standout destination event for runners from across Europe.
