Málaga: A Comprehensive Guide
Discover Málaga like never before — its history, cuisine, art, and hidden gems. A true insider’s guide to Southern Spain’s most charming city.
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× Málaga Fair 2026: sun, flamenco and a thousand reasons to love August
Picture this. You are holding a glass of sweet Málaga wine under a sky full of fireworks. A flamenco rhythm starts somewhere nearby and, without thinking, your feet begin to move. Your friends are at home, watching your stories and asking themselves why they did not come with you. Welcome to Feria de Málaga, the summer festival that turns August in the city into one long celebration.
× A poster that really breathes Málaga
Every great party needs a great invitation. The official fair poster, Aires de Málaga, does exactly that. Created by local artist Sara González Ruiz, it feels like the city itself has put on its most colourful dress and is calling the world to join the dance.
The design was chosen from more than 150 proposals and received almost half of all public votes. It captures Málaga’s warmth, its constant movement and that particular energy that makes visitors say, “There is something different about this place.”
× Key dates: usually mid–August
The Feria de Málaga usually takes place in the second half of August. It starts on a Friday night with fireworks by the sea and continues for nine intense days. Dates change each year, but if you are in Málaga around mid to late August, you are in fair season.
In recent editions, the opening evening has included a beachside speech, or pregón, by a well-known Malagueño. Writers, musicians and artists have all taken the microphone to explain what the fair means to them. It is a very local moment but also a perfect way for visitors to connect with the city’s voice.
× Two fairs, one heartbeat
The fair is essentially two experiences running in parallel. During the day, the party lives in the historic centre. At night, everything moves to the fairground at Cortijo de Torres. The same city, two different atmospheres, and one very clear idea: you are not going to bed early.
By day, the Old Town becomes an open-air fiesta. Streets fill with music, people in traditional dress, and groups dancing Sevillanas under balconies draped with shawls. Carriages and horses add a historic touch, while the smell of fried fish, jasmine and sweet wine mixes in the air.
By night, the focus shifts to Cortijo de Torres. There you find funfair rides, illuminated gateways, and rows of casetas (tents) with different atmospheres and music styles. You might start with a family dinner and end up at three in the morning singing along with strangers in a packed caseta.
× The bullfighting programme
Bullfighting is traditionally part of the fair and takes place in the historic La Malagueta bullring. During fair week, there is usually a special programme with well-known matadors and events such as the Picassian bullfight, which mixes bullfighting with a visual tribute to Picasso.
Whether you decide to attend or not, it remains one of the cultural pillars of the fair and attracts many visitors from Spain and abroad.
× Smart tips for enjoying the fair
- Dress the part. A polka-dot dress, a flower in your hair or a light Andalusian-style shirt will make you blend in immediately.
- Pace yourself. The fair can start at midday and end long after midnight. Enjoy, but think marathon, not sprint.
- Eat like a local. Try an espeto of sardines on the beach, some pescaíto frito and a plate of Iberian ham before you move on to dessert.
- Look up at night. The lights in Cortijo de Torres and the view of the city from the Ferris wheel are worth a brief pause away from the dance floor.
- Check official info. Each year the city launches updated maps, programmes and apps with concerts, activities and public transport details.
× Fireworks and first impressions
The fair usually opens with a firework display over La Malagueta beach. Thousands of people gather along the seafront to watch the show, listen to the opening concert and feel the first wave of fair atmosphere. It is one of those moments when the entire city seems to be in the same place at the same time.
× Why the fair is hard to forget
The fair is not just about music and lights. It is the way families, friends and complete strangers share the same streets, the same songs and sometimes even the same dance. You may arrive as a visitor, but it is very difficult to leave without at least one story that starts with: “You are not going to believe what happened at the fair…”
If you are looking for a week that combines culture, food, sea, music and a lot of human warmth, the Málaga Fair is exactly that: an intensive course in enjoying life the Andalusian way.
Book the trip, bring comfortable shoes and your best mood. Málaga will take care of the rest.
× The Málaga Fair: Andalusia’s wildest week of colour and tradition
La Feria de Málaga is one of the most important summer festivals in southern Spain and a key date in the Andalusian calendar. For nine days the city combines history, religion, popular culture and a lot of music. The result is a celebration that feels both traditional and very modern at the same time.
It commemorates the entry of the Catholic Monarchs into Málaga on 19 August 1487, but over the centuries it has evolved into something much broader: a giant open invitation to enjoy the city at its most extroverted.
× When does the Málaga Fair take place?
The fair generally runs from a Friday to the following Saturday in the second half of August. It always includes 19 August, the historic date being commemorated. While exact days change every year, the structure is similar:
- Opening night with fireworks and music by the sea.
- Historical parade and official opening of the fairground gates.
- Daily programme of concerts, activities, and events in both the city centre and Cortijo de Torres.
If you are planning ahead, checking dates for mid–August is usually enough to make sure you will arrive in the middle of the celebration rather than just after it ends.
× What kind of festival is it?
The Málaga Fair is a mix of popular fiesta, historical commemoration and cultural showcase. On one side, you have religious acts, official ceremonies and traditional costumes. On the other, open-air concerts, rides, DJs and a lot of modern influences.
This combination is what makes it so attractive. It is possible to spend the morning watching a historical procession, the afternoon dancing Sevillanas and the night listening to pop, rock or reggaeton in a caseta. All in the same city and, sometimes, with the same people.
× The Day Fair in the historic centre
During the day, the fair lives in the streets of the Old Town. Calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitución and surrounding areas are filled with decorations, live music and crowds moving from one bar to another.
- Where: historic centre, mainly around Calle Larios and nearby plazas.
- What to expect: traditional dresses, paper lanterns, wine barrels used as tables and impromptu Sevillanas.
- Local tip: dress smart but comfortable. People make an effort with their outfits, even in the middle of August.
× The Night Fair at Cortijo de Torres
Later on, the fairground at Cortijo de Torres becomes the main stage. Streets of lights, fair rides and casetas create a small city dedicated entirely to eating, drinking, dancing and going on “just one more ride”.
- Where: Real de la Feria, in the Cortijo de Torres area.
- What to expect: dozens of public casetas with different atmospheres, food stalls, churros stands and music until late.
- Highlights: free concerts at the Municipal Auditorium and a huge selection of rides for all ages.
× What to eat and drink at the fair
The fair is also one of the best excuses to try Málaga’s classic dishes in a festive setting.
× Must-try foods
- Espetos: sardines grilled on skewers over open coals, usually on the beach.
- Pescaíto frito: small fried fish, perfectly crisp and ideal for sharing.
- Jamón ibérico: thin slices of cured ham, often carved to order.
- Flamenquines: rolled, breaded pork with ham inside, fried until golden.
- Tortilla, croquettes, morcilla and a long list of tapas to keep you going.
× Drinks of the fair
- Rebujito: fino sherry mixed with lemon soda and ice. Light, cold and very easy to underestimate.
- Cartojal: Málaga’s classic sweet fair wine, usually served very cold in shared bottles.
- Beer and soft drinks: always available if you prefer to keep things simple.
× How to blend in like a Malagueño
You do not need to have grown up in Málaga to enjoy the fair like a local. A few details go a long way.
- Clap along when people start dancing Sevillanas. If you do not know the rhythm, follow someone who does.
- Dress with intention. A simple shirt, summer dress and comfortable shoes are better than full costume done badly.
- Order like a local. Rebujito or a small beer will always work. Sangria is much less common than visitors think.
- Say yes to dancing. If someone offers a hand, accept. Nobody is expecting professional moves.
- Listen to your body. Fair days are long, and August in Málaga is hot. Water and short breaks are your friends.
× Getting around during fair week
During the fair, Málaga extends and reinforces its public transport so that moving between the centre, the fairground and the surrounding areas is easier.
- Buses: EMT runs special lines and extra night services connecting the fairground with different parts of the city.
- Metro: usually operates with extended hours on key days, offering a quick, air-conditioned option.
- Cercanías trains: link Málaga with coastal towns like Torremolinos and Fuengirola, useful if you are staying outside the city.
- Parking: public car parks and designated fair parking areas fill up early. Public transport is often the most relaxed choice.
- Digital tools: each year, the city updates maps, fairground guides and sometimes interactive tools like caseta locators or WhatsApp-based assistants.
× Beyond the party: culture and tradition
Behind the music and the lights, the fair has a strong cultural and economic impact. It supports local artists, musicians, technicians, hospitality staff and small businesses. It also keeps alive traditions that have been passed down for generations.
- Historical parade with costumes, horses and references to 1487.
- Religious events, including the floral offering to the Virgen de la Victoria.
- Picassian bullfight, an artistic bullfighting event inspired by Picasso’s imagery.
× Is the Málaga Fair family-friendly?
Yes. Families are at the heart of the fair. You will see grandparents, parents and children sharing tables, rides and dances at almost any hour of the day.
- Daytime in the city centre is perfect for families with younger children.
- At night, the fairground has a large area of rides, games and attractions for kids.
- Safety is a priority, with medical points, police presence and specific help points across the fairground.
With some basic planning, the fair can be a highlight of the year for both adults and children.
× Final thoughts: why you should experience the fair at least once
The Feria de Málaga is more than a date on the calendar. It is a week when the city decides, collectively, to celebrate being Málaga. It is noise, colour and emotion, but also tradition, community and pride.
- A living expression of Andalusian identity.
- A chance to see how joy works when it is shared in the streets.
- An invitation to slow down the clock and move to a different rhythm.
- A place where strangers become dance partners in a couple of songs.
If you have never danced Sevillanas at noon, eaten sardines straight from the skewer or watched fireworks with thousands of people by the sea, maybe this is the year to change that.
Book your flights. Pack something with polka dots. Charge your phone. Málaga is waiting—and this fair is not just something you attend, it is something you join.
