Malaga Events in December 2026

Planning a visit to Malaga in December 2026? This guide brings together public holidays, ticketed performances and Christmas activities. The public holidays are confirmed; several festive programmes still await final details. Check the status of each listing and the organiser before booking.

Your festive guideMake your Christmas in Malaga sparkleChristmas lights, a seven-stop festive walk, holiday dates and family ideas.Explore the guide →

Editorial update, 10 October 2026: Christmas dates and prices from earlier editions must not be treated as confirmed for 2026. Municipal documents plan the lights switch-on for 27 November, but the final public programme and show times are still pending. Sections marked “2026 details unconfirmed” are planning ideas only. See our Christmas in Malaga guide for sources and current confirmation status.

January 2027 dates have not been confirmed. The linked January guide is the 2026 archive; check back for updated dates before planning your visit.

Public holidays in Malaga

December 2026 has three public holidays in the Andalusian working calendar: 7, 8 and 25 December. Constitution Day falls on Sunday 6 December, with the day off transferred to Monday 7. Source: official Andalusian calendar for 2026.

Sunday 6 December is Constitution Day. In Andalusia, the public-holiday day off is observed on Monday 7 December. Opening hours on the Sunday vary by shop, attraction and restaurant.

Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December are public holidays. Check holiday hours with individual museums, monuments, restaurants and shops; do not assume their normal weekly timetable applies.

The first weekend of December is one of the busiest of the year in the city because it coincides with two Spanish public holidays (people have a long weekend) and Christmas preparations. If you would rather avoid the crowds, give the city centre a miss this weekend.

Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) is a public holiday in Spain. Many businesses and attractions close or change their hours. Confirm Christmas Day opening directly with your chosen restaurant, museum or attraction before making plans. See Christmas dining tips and restaurants to contact.

Sunday Christmas shopping: check the published holiday opening calendar for each shop or shopping centre. Opening permission does not mean every business will open.

For more information on public holidays in Malaga, read our dedicated post here.

Keep your finger on the Malaga buzzer – sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter. All you need to know about what’s on and what’s new in the city in your inbox every other Friday.

Flamenco in Malaga in December

📍 Calle Ramos Marin Google map link
⏱ 8pm, Wednesday 9 December and Tuesday 22 December
💶 From €12

As usual, there are two key flamenco events, both at the Cervantes Theatre.

Tomatito

Tomatito is one of Spain’s most renowned flamenco guitarists. This concert, on Wednesday 9 December at 8pm, takes you on his musical journey, from his roots with legendary Camarón de la Isla to his latest album. Ticket prices start at €12. More information and link to book them here.

Zambomba Alejandro Estrada

Spanish Christmas carols get a flamenco touch on Tuesday 22 December at 8pm. Estrada is a renowned flamenco artist and his concert is bound to get your feet tapping. More information and link to book tickets (from €12) here.

Christmas Events in Malaga

Christmas Lights

2026 design unconfirmed: the following description records an earlier display, not a confirmed 2026 design. Calle Larios has previously featured 16 celestial angels. There are 32 columns stretching right along the street. The rest of the city centre is bedecked in different lights – the 270,000 LED lights hanging from the giant ficus trees and the sparkling almond trees on the Alameda Principal are particularly pretty. 

Christmas lights in 2026: municipal planning documents schedule the switch-on for 27 November. Daily operating hours, light-show times and the final end date must be checked in the City Council Christmas programme. Previous years’ hours are not a confirmed timetable for this season.

Locations to check in the final programme: Calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la Marina, Plaza del Obispo, Calle San Juan and Paseo del Parque. The decorations and any City Hall projections depend on the confirmed 2026 programme.

Light and sound show 

2026 show times and soundtrack are unconfirmed. Do not use the previous timetable to plan your visit. In earlier editions, the soundtrack has included Mozart’s Toy Symphony, Spanish Christmas carols and Christmas bangers such as Last Christmas, Christmas Carol Medley and All I want for Christmas (plenty of ear worms guaranteed!).

The scale and design of the Christmas lighting vary by season; check the final municipal programme for the 2026 display.

Christmas lights in the Botanical Gardens 

2026 dates and ticket sales unconfirmed in this guide. The botanical gardens have hosted evening Christmas light trails in previous seasons. Check the organiser’s current edition before buying tickets.

The lights and themes are divided into sections and cover most of the gardens. Expect a stunning show combining the gardens, its monuments and lights. The photo below gives you an idea.

Dates, entry slots and prices: check the organiser’s current booking page for the 2026 edition, including children’s tickets and access arrangements. We have removed earlier prices and dates because they have not been verified for this season.

Discounts: any reduced-price dates or time slots depend on the current ticket conditions. Previous-season offers should not be assumed to apply in 2026.

Accessibility and visit length: ask the organiser about the current route, step-free access and expected visit duration before booking.

Check the light-trail organiser’s website for the current edition, ticket availability and customer service details.

Getting there: confirm any event shuttle, departure points, last return and fare with the organiser. A Christmas shuttle is not confirmed by this guide for 2026.

Festive family visits to the Botanical Gardens

2026 family programme unconfirmed: check the botanical gardens’ current calendar for Christmas visits, workshops and activities. Previous Sunday schedules are not confirmed dates for this December.

Confirm the activity price, age range and booking requirements directly with the botanical gardens before arranging your visit.

Christmas lights on Malaga Cathedral

Malaga Cathedral provides the façade for some cool video mapping. You can see Christmas scenes on the south tower of the Cathedral, with lots of details relating to Malaga.

Previous-edition description; 2026 dates and times unconfirmed. An earlier display was ‘The Dream Fisher’ and pays homage to the cenachero, a traditional figure who used to sell fish from baskets strung across his shoulders. The dates, times and duration of the 2026 projection must be checked in the final City Council programme.

Christmas ballet

This December, Malaga has festive ballet performances: 

The Nutcracker

📍FYCMA Google map link
⏱ 4pm 19 December 2026
💶 From €57

19 December at 4pm, performed by the Tchaikovsky National Ballet at FYCMA. Tickets are €57 or €62 and available here.
FYCMA is Malaga’s Congress and Exhibition Palace and located to the west of the city centre. Get there by taxi or on the 4, 20 or 21 bus from the Alameda Principal (all with a short walk at the end). Allow around 30 minutes for your journey.

Swanlake

📍 Calle Ramos Marin Google map link
⏱ 4.30pm and 7.30pm, 27 December
💶 From €18

This performance of Swan Lake takes place on 27 December at 4.30 and 7.30pm at the Cervantes Theatre. Tickets from €18 and available here.

Christmas music in Malaga

If you’re looking for some typically festive music or something to get you in the mood for the Christmas season, try these concerts:

Blue Brothers Tribute Show

2026 performance unconfirmed in this guide. A Blues Brothers tribute has appeared in earlier listings. Check the FYCMA event page for the edition, date and ticket price before booking.

How to get to FYCMA

📍FYCMA Google map link

FYCMA is Malaga’s Congress and Exhibition Palace and located to the west of the city centre. Get there by taxi or on the 4, 20 or 21 bus from the Alameda Principal (all with a short walk at the end). Allow around 30 minutes for your journey.

Gala Christmas Concert

2026 gala details unconfirmed. St George’s Church is in the English Cemetery, opposite the bullring in La Malagueta. Check its current events calendar for the Christmas concert date, time and tickets.

Carol services — 2026 details unconfirmed

If you’re a fan of English carols, you’ll enjoy these services at St George’s Church (in the grounds of the English Cemetery, diagonally opposite the bullring in La Malagueta) To be confirmed

• Advent Carol Service on Saturday 5 December at 6pm. The choir from Holy Trinity Las Palmas will sing.
• Nine Lessons and Carols on Friday 11 December at 7pm. The Pueri Cantores children’s choir sings, with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Tchaikovsky, Strauss & Forrest

📍 Calle Ramos Marin Google map link
⏱ 8pm on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December
💶 From €12

The Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra perform classic Christmas pieces (Nutcracker Suite, Vier Lieder and Christmas Selection) at the Cervantes Theatre on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December at 8pm. Tickets cost from €12 – link to buy them and more information here.

Free Christmas concerts — 2026 details unconfirmed

Unconfirmed planning list: the venues below have appeared in Christmas concert listings, but the dates, times, performers and free-entry arrangements shown have not been verified for December 2026. Check the venue’s current programme before travelling.

MACP (Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares

📍 Plaza Enrique Guerrero-Herrera Google map link
⏱ noon on Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 December
💶 Free

Two local carol choirs – Pastoral Amigos del Beta and Pastoral Santiago de Mijas – perform in the patio at the museum. Free entry, but get there early to be sure of a seat. Do have a look round the museum, packed to the brim with artefacts and objects showing life in Malaga in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

📍 Calle Compañía Google map link
⏱ different dates in December
💶 Free

The lovely patio at this museum is the stage for Christmas choir concerts on the dates below. All concerts start at 7.30pm and there’s free entry. Don’t miss the Napolitan nativity scene!

Get there early to be sure a seat!

Museum of Malaga

📍 Plaza de la Aduana Google map link
⏱ noon on Sunday 13 December
💶 Free

The lovely patio at this museum hosts the Rhythm Bass Duo this month, with a mixed programme of music for trombone and percussion. Free entry, but get there early (say 11am) to be sure of a seat.

Municipal Band

The band plays its Christmas concert in Malaga Cathedral on Sunday 20 December at 7.30pm. This is one of the most popular concerts of the year, so expect long queues to get in. We’d get in line at least an hour before it’s due to start.

Russian Museum

To be confirmed.

Malaga Cathedral

The traditional Christmas concert takes place on Monday 21 December at 7.30pm, with a programme to be confirmed.

Free entry – again, get in line very early because this is another very popular concert.

Muelle Uno

📍 Muelle Uno Google map link

There are three free concerts this month in the Port:

To be confirmed

In squares and on streets

Local choirs and bands will be performing traditional Christmas carols, flamenco, jazz and gospel at the following locations (dates to be confirmed): 

• Alameda Principal – 6,7 and 8 December at 7.30pm.
• Plaza Feliz Saenz – 12 and 13 December at 7pm.
• Plaza de la Constitución at 7 and 8.30pm every day except 24 December from 20 to 29 December.
• Plaza de la Merced – 17 December at 7pm.
• Calle Tomás Heredia (in the Soho district) – on 18 and 19 December at 7pm.

Traditional verdiales Christmas music

📍 Auditorio Parque Andrés Jiménez Díaz Google map link

For  over 50 years, Malaga has been celebrating the annual verdiales competition. This traditional music and dance, an intrinsic part of Christmas in Malaga, originates from the villages in the mountains to the east of Malaga. Around 30 groups of musicians and dancers take place in 3 sections based on where the groups are from (Montes, Almogia and Comares).

The action takes place on Monday 28 December (to be confirmed) from noon onwards in Auditorio Parque Andrés Jiménez Díaz  in Puerto de Torre (Google map link here). Get there on the No 21 bus from the Alameda Principal (allow 45 minutes for your journey, including a short walk at the end).

Nativity scenes — 2026 details unconfirmed

Over 70 nativity scenes are on display around Malaga until 6 January. Ask at the tourist office for a map or follow this one.

Some of the biggest and most famous are:

Cathedral – open daily 10am-2pm & 5-8.30pm

Cofradía de Estudiantes – open Monday to Saturday 10.30am-2pm & 5.30-8pm (on Calle Alcazabilla)

Carmen Thyssen Museum – during museum opening hours (10am to 7pm), closed Mondays.

Archivo Municipal – larger figures set in scenery based on the Alcazaba. Open Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 5.8pm, weekends 10am-1pm (Alameda Principal 23).

City Hall – this traditional scene is open daily from 3 December from 10am to 2pm and 5 to 9pm.

Museum of Glass – has a nativity scene made up of over 100 Lladró figures. Open Tues-Sun 11am to 6pm.

Note that nativity scenes close in the afternoons of 24 and 31 December and are closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Children’s theatre — 2026 details unconfirmed

Free performances (expect puppets, clowns and famous stories in Spanish) take place at the Eduardo Ocón Auditorium (in the middle of Paseo del Parque) on 26, 27 and 28 December and 2, 3 and 4 January at noon.

Christmas markets — 2026 details unconfirmed

With Christmas on the horizon, Malaga markets are a great place to start your Christmas shopping. The following usually take place during December in Malaga:

Sabor a Malaga

📍 Paseo del Parque Google map link
⏱ 11am to 9pm in early December (probably 4 to 9)

A 5-day market showcasing typical produce from Malaga province (cheese, olive oil, cold cuts, pastries, chocolate, liqueurs, honey…) on Paseo del Parque. This market takes place in early December (dates to be confirmed – based on previous years, we expect it from Friday 4 to Wednesday 9 December) between 11am and 9pm.

The Eduardo Ocón Auditorium will host showcooking, food trucks and live music, and the Paseo del Parque, the stalls. You can download the programme of events here.

Merced Market

📍 Plaza de la Merced Google map link
⏱ 11am to 7pm on dates to be confirmed

Lots of stalls selling handmade items on Plaza de la Merced.

Soho Market

📍 Calle Tomás Heredia Google map link
⏱ 11am to 7pm on dates to be confirmed

More stalls selling arts and crafts on Calle Tomas Heredia in the Soho district on from 11am to 7pm.

Muelle Uno Christmas market

📍 Muelle Uno Google map link

Lots of ideas for gifts – food, arts and crafts and accessories. On the square near the Pompidou Centre entrance daily 10am to 6pm until 10 January. 

Muelle Uno El Zoco

📍 Muelle Uno Google map link

The arts and crafts market takes place every Sunday during December on the port side. Stalls open 11am to 6pm.

Paseo del Parque Christmas Market

📍 Paseo del Parque Google map link

Lots of stalls selling Christmas gifts, fireworks and food from noon to 8pm during the Christmas period.

Can’t come to Malaga this winter and missing the food?

Why not create great Malaga food in your own kitchen? Our foodie ebook, Malaga Fine Wining & Dining, includes 11 exclusive recipes served in Malaga’s best restaurants, 2 with Michelin stars. Easy to create and make plus a chef’s top tip for each one and a Malaga wine pairing suggestion.

Our cookbook has received the thumbs-up from some real foodies too – see their reviews here. All for just €8.95. 

Sporting events in Malaga in December

If you fancy doing or watching a bit of competitive exercise during December, here are some suggestions.

San Silvestre Palma-Palmilla — 2026 details unconfirmed

A San Silvestre run is a possible end-of-year activity to look out for. The 2026 date, distance, route and registration details have not been verified for this guide; check the organiser’s announcement before planning to take part.

Art exhibitions in Malaga in December

As always, events in Malaga in December include lots of great art, with something for everyone, whatever your favourite genre:

La Térmica

📍 Avda de los Guindos 48 Google map link
⏱ Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 8.30pm, weekends 10am to 2pm.
💶 Free

Fulgor y Delirio: Cartografía de lo humano (Radiance & Delirium: Mapping the Human) arrives at the beginning of the month and showcases new work by photographer Eugenio Recuenco. Two rooms offer immersive experiences related to the body, identity and human condition. From 1 October.

Free entry, open Monday to Friday 11am to 2pm and 5 to 8.30pm and Saturday 11am to 2pm.

La Térmica is on the western seafront and you can get to it on foot (walk west from the Port and about 0.5km after the tall chimney, you’ll see a modern glass building on the right – La Térmica is behind it) or by bus on the No 7 from the Alameda Principal (south side; get off at the Santa Paula stop and walk down to the seafront).

Bishop’s Palace

📍 Plaza Obispo 6 Google map link
⏱ Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 2pm.
💶 €3

Exhibition to be confirmed.

Free guided tours available in English on Fridays at 5.30pm and Saturdays at noon. Book your place ahead by emailing mediacionculturalmalaga@fundacionunicaja.com or calling +34 952 624 862.

Archive listing: the exhibition described above ended on 11 January 2026. It is not a confirmed exhibition for December 2026. Check the Bishop’s Palace programme for the current exhibition, opening hours and admission.

Pompidou Centre

📍 Muelle Uno Google map link
⏱ Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 8pm
💶 €7 for permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free on Sunday after 4pm.

The latest exhibition, To Open Eyes, looks at how artists view their surroundings and interact with those looking at their art. The six sections include a wide range of installations, paintings, sculptures and videos. And as usual, they all provide plenty of food for thought.

Expect to see the usual thought-provoking collection of paintings, sculptures, videos, photos and installations.

Read about the latest collection at the Pompidou Centre

Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 8pm. €7 for the permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free Sundays after 4pm. 

Buy tickets in advance for the Pompidou Centre.

Picasso Museum

📍 Calle San Agustín 8 Google map link
⏱ Open daily 10am to 7pm
💶 €13. Free on Sunday after 5pm

Note that the Picasso Museum is super busy this year, so we’d recommend getting a ticket in advance to avoid long queues.

The most-visited museum in southern Spain has a permanent collection, called Picasso: Structures of Invention. The exhibition shows the 20th century’s greatest artist’s creative process through 150 works. You can also see 22 works from his La Californie sketchbook, which he drew in Cannes in 1956.

Munch-Picasso

One of Malaga’s major cultural events of the year opens at the end of October. For the first time, the work of Edvard Munch and Pablo Picasso comes together in an exhibition of more than 100 paintings and other works exploring the influences and affinities between the two artists. Advance booking is highly recommended. Until 28 February 2027.

Open daily 10am to 6pm. Tickets €13, free Sundays after 4pm.

Buy your Picasso Museum ticket in advance

Jorge Rando Museum

📍 Calle Cruz del Molinillo 12 Google map link
⏱ Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm
💶 Free

Jorge Rando, who was born in Malaga in 1941, is one of Spain’s most important contemporary artists. This museum is dedicated to his work and includes a permanent exhibition and several temporary ones. In December, these are Butterflies, Soldiers and Descendit al Infernos.

Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. Free entry. The museum is on Calle Cruz del Molinillo 12, on the northern edge of the old quarter. Don’t miss the Mercado de Salamanca market opposite.

We’ve included this art museum in our North of Malaga old quarter walking tour.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

📍 Calle Compañía Google map link
⏱ Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm
💶 €12 (€8 for residents in Malaga province). Free on Sunday after 4pm.

The museum continues to showcase Spanish art from the 18th and 19th centuries seen in the permanent collection.

¡Olé! The Myth of Spain in Andalusia

This exhibition explores the “typically Spanish” cliches that came out of Andalusia from the early 19th century onwards. Through art created by Spanish and international artists, it looks at how the stereotypical view of Spain came about. Until 21 February 2027.

Julio González: Painter and Drawer

González, who lived from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, is mostly known for his sculptures. However, this exhibition focuses on his lesser known talents as a painter and sketcher. Expect to see paintings in traditional Cubist and Surrealist style. Until 17 January 2027.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. Entry costs €12 (€8 if you’re resident in Malaga province). Free entry on Sundays after 4pm.

Roman remains

The extraordinary remains of a residential and commercial complex underneath the museum are now open. If you like a good dose of history and/or an insight into Malaga’s rich heritage, we highly recommend including a visit.

You can book your ticket in advance – €15 including the museum and remains (€10 if you’re resident in Malaga province) – or join one of the hourly visits when you’re there.

Read more about these unique Roman ruins

Picasso’s Birthplace

📍 Plaza de la Merced 15 Google map link
⏱ Open daily 9.30am to 8pm
💶 €3, €4 combined ticket to see Picasso’s birthplace (well worth the extra). Free on Sunday from 4pm.

To be confirmed.

Open daily 9.30am to 8pm. €3, €4 combined ticket with visit to the house where Picasso was born.

Russian Museum & MEET

📍 Avda de Sor Teresa Prat 15 Google map link
⏱ Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm.
💶 €8. Free on Sunday after 4pm

The Russian Museum and MEET (Malaga Espacio Expositivo Tabacalera) has several exhibitions, many of which comes from private collections of art and some have a Russian theme.

Mijail Glinka. The Romantic Traveller

Glinka was one of Russia’s most prominent composers in the 19th century, when cultural, artistic and scientific changes influenced his life and work. This exhibition explores his life and links to music, including his stay in Spain when he discovered flamenco and other traditional types of music. The over 100 works on show include travel classics such as Alexandre Dumas’ Impressions de voyage and Richard Ford’s Handbook for Travellers in Spain, as well as antique maps, paintings, photos and instruments.

The Adventure of a Collector

Some of Jose María Castañé’s magnificent collection of Russian art is on display, including masterpieces from the late 19th century to the mid-20th. Like the main exhibition in the museum, this selection focuses on the Avant-Garde.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm. €4. Free on Sundays after 4pm.

Heads up for what’s on in January

Looking ahead to January 2027, check the confirmed programme before planning around the Three Kings Parade and Malaga Theatre Festival. Stay up to date with what’s on with our free fortnightly newsletter. You’ll be the first to know!

Preparing your December trip? See what to pack for Malaga in December, then build and share your personalised checklist.