What’s on in Malaga in February 2023

Another month and another round-up of Malaga events. In this post we look at what’s on in Malaga in February. Like January, this is usually a quiet month for tourism and those lucky enough to visit get most of the attractions in Malaga almost to themselves.

Please note that the events on this page refer to those in February 2023. We will be updating them for 2024 as soon as we have the information.

But just because it’s low tourist season doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do and if you are in Malaga, read on for a good mix of film, music, theatre, art and some great markets. Plus, it’s Carnival season!

Read on to discover what’s on in Malaga in February.

Public holidays in Malaga in February

Malaga celebrates the Day of Andalucia on Wednesday 28 February, a public holiday in the city, province and region. Bars and restaurants should be open as usual along with museums and monuments. Note that all museums have free entry on 28 February. 

For a guide to public holidays in Malaga in 2024, read this.

Bar Experience Malaga

If spirits and cocktails are your thing, this is your event. Taking place at FYCMA Congress Palace on Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February, 4 to 9pm on both days, Bar Experience brings together over 40 stands with gins, whiskys,  rum, mixers and cocktail equipment.

Entrance costs €12 and includes 3 drinks. Tickets available on the door.

Get to FYCMA on the No 20 bus from the south side of the Alameda Principal. Get off at the Camino de San Rafael-Recinto Ferial stop and then walk north for about 5 minutes. The journey takes 30 minutes. There’s also plenty of parking, but we’re guessing that this event is public transport only… 

Sunday family fun

If you’re looking for a fun activity in lovely surroundings, head for the botanical gardens on Sundays in February to join the “Egg Hunt” and guided tour. Suitable for children of all ages, the activity starts at 11am and lasts two hours. €6.50 for children, €9 for adults. Pre-booking required on (+34) 951 926 180

Sunday 12, Sunday 19 and Sunday 26 February.

Valentine’s Day 

February also includes the most romantic night of the year, 14 February. We think Malaga is the perfect city to celebrate love in all its shapes and forms and if you need some inspiration, read our ideas for Saint Valentine’s in Malaga.

Carnival 

This colourful event brightens up February and although the fun in Malaga isn’t quite on the same scale at that in Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Rio de Janeiro, it’s still a great chance to see singing, dancing and wild costumes.

This year, the fun starts on Saturday 3 February and continues until Sunday 11 February. 

You can read all the details about Malaga Carnival in our dedicated post. 

Dance events in Malaga in February

International dance star Sergio Bernal comes to Soho Theatre with performances on 3, 4 and 5 February. His show combines flamenco, contemporary dance and ballet, with music accompaniment. The video below gives you an idea of what to expect.

Tickets cost from €25 – more information and links to buy tickets here.

Performance and dance in Atarazanas Market

VPF #TheLonelyPeople – El Circulo Breaking will dance and perform at Atarazanas Market on Saturday 25 February at 12.30pm. Look out for the couples as they dance their way around the stalls.

This event forms part of the cultural activities for Malaga Film Festival next month.

Musical events in Malaga in February

Municipal Band concerts

The excellent band has three free concerts this month:

• Sunday 5 February at noon – Museum of Malaga, playing music by the Boulanger sisters. Free entry, but get there early to be sure of a seat.
• Sunday 12 February at noon – Cervantes Theatre, with a programme of mainly Spanish music. Free entry, but you need a ticket, available from the Theatre ticket office, from 8 to 10 February 11am to 2pm, 6 to 8.30pm, Saturday 11 February 6 to 8.30pm and Sunday 12 February from 11am.
• Sunday 19 February at noon – at the port end of the western seafront (Google map link here) playing “And the Oscar goes to”, soundtracks from Academy Award winning films.

Estrella Morente

One of Spain’s greatest flamenco and copla singers performs at Soho Theatre on Thursday 9 February at 8pm. Her concert forms the inaugural event for the 3rd Flamenco en el Soho Festival. Tickets cost from €25 and are available online here.

Remember Queen

The Remember Queen group recreate music from the legendary rock band, complete with screenings of the real thing. Sing along to all the biggest hits on Saturday 11 February at 8.30pm at the FYCMA Congress Palace. Tickets cost €36 and are available online here.

Opera Stars Concert

With pianist Polina Osetinskaya, performing classical soundtracks from films such as Solaris, The Godfather, Breaking the Waves and Autumn Sonata. Listen to her magical performance on Sunday 12 February at 5pm at the FYCMA Congress Palace. Tickets from €15, available here.

Opera at the Albeniz 

This month’s showing at the Albeniz Cinema (on Calle Alcazabilla) is appropriately Romeo and Juliet, in the version screened at the Vienna State Opera House in 2017. Feast your eyes and ears on this on 14 February at 7pm. Tickets cost €15 and are available at the box office.

Concerts in the museum 

This month’s free concert at the Museum of Malaga take place on Sunday 19 February at noon. The Andalusian Guitar Quartet will be playing Visions of Spain.

Entrance is free and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis so get in the queue early to be sure of a place. 

Philharmonic Opera

Rossini’s The Barber of Seville comes to the Cervantes Theatre on Friday 24 February (8pm) and Sunday 26 February (7pm). Music performed by the Malaga Philharmonic and singing by the Malaga Opera Choir. A must for opera buffs.

More information and link to buy tickets (from €25) here.

Art exhibitions in Malaga in February

As usual, there’s a feast of great art in Malaga this month including:

CAC Malaga

CAC Malaga has 2 exhibitions in February:

• You are another me – American born artist Eduardo Sarabia’s first exhibition at a museum in Europe including a giant mural and 30 drawings. Between them, they reflect on how change acts as a source of vital energy and opens the door to the future. Until 12 February.
• Dominance and Dream – a retrospective of Valencia-born artist Miquel Navarro, showcasing nearly 40 of his works that include sculptures, watercolours and sketches. Until 5 March.

While you’re at CAC, don’t miss the permanent and Neighbours exhibitions. They’re both packed with interesting and thought-provoking artwork and installations.

Tuesday to Sunday 9am-9.30pm. Free entry. 

Carmen Thyssen Museum

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

You can also see Masterpieces in Belgian Art, an exhibition with the essence of Belgian art from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th. René Magritte is just one of the artists. You can see this exhibition until 5 March. 

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm, €10 (€6 for entry between 2.30 and 4pm), free on Sundays.

The Carmen Thyssen Museum has a lovely café serving coffee, light snacks and lunch. There’s a daily lunchtime menu, which is excellent value for €11.90 and it includes entry to the museum. 

Stay bang up to date with Malaga – 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.

Picasso Museum

The most-visited museum in southern Spain has a permanent collection, called Conversations with Picasso 2020-2023. The exhibition explores 8 decades of artistic creativity from the 20th century’s greatest artist. The Museum also has a room (Sala XII) showing 19 ceramics and 3 paintings created by Picasso between 1931 and 1962. You can also see 22 works from his La Californie sketchbook, which he drew in Cannes in 1956.

Open daily 11am to 6pm. Tickets €9, free Sundays after 5pm. While you’re there, do visit the Picasso Museum café with its lovely patio.

Russian Museum

It’s been all change at this art museum in Malaga since (understandably) no new artworks from the Russian State Museum have arrived. But the latest exhibitions are excellent and both draw on the alternative collections. 

Russian Art Through English Eyes – works by Russian artists such as Venetsianov, Kandinsky and Goncharova from the private collection belonging to Jenny Green. She owns one of the largest collection of paintings and sketches from the 19th and 20th centuries. Until 5 June. 

Sputnik: The Odyssey of the Soyuz 2 – the exhibition includes objects, photos and documents that trace the journey of the Soviet astronaut, Ivan Istochnikov and his dog, Kloka, into space in 1968. Both disappeared into space, but until the fall of Communism, the Soviet authorities maintained the rocket was unmanned. Until 23 April.

For Sale – an installation by Ukranian artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. Until 5 June.

Absent – a photo exhibition by award-winning Spanish photographer Jose Manuel Ballester whose works reflect on scenes with no people and the absence of Russian art at the museum. Until 5 June.

Shadow Dancers – Mallorcan artist Bernardi Roig has two art works at the Russian Museum this month. Shadow Dancers are four bronze sculptures of ballerinas displayed in a room and his drawing Cap Negre.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm. Permanent exhibition €6, temporary exhibitions €4, €8 combined ticket. Free on Sundays after 5pm.

Pompidou Centre

The latest exhibition, Our Own Time, is our favourite so far. It’s divided into six sections (Leisure Time, Holiday Time, InnerTime, Interspatial Time, Introspective Time and Confrontation Time) and showcases work by artists from the early 20th century to the present day. Expect to see the usual thought-provoking collection of paintings, sculptures, videos, photos and installations. Artists on show include Accardi, Léger, Matisse, Picasso and Zangewa.

Read all about the latest art exhibition at the Pompidou Centre

You can also see The Laberynth of Light and the Minotaur by Bernardi Roig, an installation made from 25 blocks of polystyrene. Until May.

Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 8pm. €7 for the permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free Sundays after 5pm. 

Top tip – art museums in Malaga have free entry on Sunday afternoons.

La Térmica Cultural Centre

La Termica Cultural Centre has one exhibition this month, with free entry. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 2pm and 5 to 8.30pm. 

This is my swim lane 

This exhibition showcases work by Slovakian photographer, Maria Svarbova. Half the photos are of her iconic swimming pictures, usually with women swimmers in red or yellow hats, and the other half are contemporary images entitled Retro Future. Until 12 February.

Get to La Térmica by walking west along the seafront (the cultural centre is behind the modern glass Diputación building) or on the No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal (south side).

Markets in Malaga in February

Arts & Crafts

El Zoco market on Muelle Uno sells arts and crafts every Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Combine your browsing with a stroll in the sunshine under the Pergola.

Merced Market is on Sunday 5 February on Plaza de la Merced from 11am to 7pm. 

El Paseo Market takes place in the morning on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February on La Malagueta seafront promenade. 

Soho Market on Calle Tomás Heredia with stalls selling arts and crafts and vintage items. Sunday 12 February from 11am to 7pm.

Organic food markets

Fresh produce grown organically in the Guadalhorce Valley to the north of Malaga. As well as fruit and veg, local producers sell bread and cakes, honey, olive oil, dried fruit and nuts, and organic soaps and creams.

La Malagueta (between Paseo de Reding and Calle Cervantes) on Saturday 11 February from 10am to 2pm.

Huelin Park Saturday 25 February 9am to 2pm.

Keep your finger on the Malaga buzzer by signing up to our free Newsletter. News about Malaga, upcoming events and what’s new on the Guide to Malaga website, in your inbox every other Friday.