It hardly seems possible that it’s already time for the events in Malaga in November post – where has the year gone? The latest in our monthly series brings you a round-up of what’s on in Malaga in November.
The month comes with several highlights. Top of the list is the second half of Malaga Jazz Festival, celebrating its 33rd anniversary this year with some big-name concerts. There’s also some great dance and art plus the usual monthly markets. And the event lots of people have been waiting for – the official switch-on of Malaga Christmas Lights. Read on to discover the best things to do in Malaga in November.
Please note that the information in this post refers to events in Malaga in November 2020. We will updating the details towards the end of October – bookmark the page to be the first to know.
Start the month with a day off!
The autumn’s a busy time for public holidays in Malaga. The month starts with a day off and then there are 2 at the beginning of December:
Monday 2 November – is a public holiday (the official date is 1 November, but because it’s a Sunday the holiday is moved to Monday) so businesses and banks will be closed. Most shops, bars, cafés and restaurants will, however, be open for business as usual.
Heads-up for December – Monday 7 December (the official holiday is 6 December but because it falls on a Sunday this year it’s shifted to Monday 7 December) and Tuesday 8 December are both public holidays.
Read more about public holidays in Malaga.
Malaga Jazz Festival
One of the biggest annual events in Malaga and this year the Festival celebrates 34 years. The main concerts take place in the Cervantes Theatre from 6 to 11 November. Read who’s playing when in our dedicated post about Malaga Jazz Festival.
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Fantasy Film Festival
Fancine is back in Malaga and celebrating its 30th edition this year. Running from 11 to 19 November, the Festival is showing a long list of weird and wonderful films including shorts at different venues around the city. Mostly at the Albeniz Cinema (in Calle Alcazabilla) but some at Malaga University. Films are shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles. For full information and to book tickets, check out the website. There is an English-language option on the website, but it doesn’t work for all pages…
What’s on in Malaga in November – Christmas lights
It’s officially confirmed – 6.30pm on Friday 27 November is switch-on day for the Christmas lights in Malaga city centre. Calle Larios has the same display as last year (see picture above), but there will not be a light and sound display for obvious reasons. There will, however, be festive music and the lights will be twinkling! The giant ficus trees on the Alameda Principal are already in their Christmas suits and will also be twinkling away. Other Christmas attractions have yet to be revealed. Subscribers of our free fortnightly newsletter will be first to know – sign up here.
READ ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN MALAGA
Dance events in Malaga in November
The 2020 Danza Malaga Festival continues into the beginning of November. As usual, there’s an eclectic line-up with all genres of dance featuring companies from all over the world. The performances take place at the Echegaray Museum and tickets cost €15 each. For a full programme of these dance events in Malaga click here.
Silent Russian Movies in November
In conjunction with the temporary exhibition on the silent movie industry in Russia, the Russian Museum is showing a series of films. You can see 2 on the following Sundays at the auditorium in the Museum: 1 November, 8 November, 15 November and 22 November at 6pm. There are only 40 tickets available for each showing and to get yours send an email to info.coleccionmuseoruso@malaga.eu the day before.
What’s on in Malaga in November – music
November welcomes a long list of musical and dance events in Malaga and as usual, there’s something for all tastes and budgets:
Elena Setién
Singer-songwriter Setién will perform tracks from her latest album, Another Kind of Revolution at the MVA Cultural Centre (on Calle Ollerías). She includes jazz and pop influences and reportedly creates ‘dreamlike music’. Thursday 5 November at 8pm. Free entry, but you need to get a ticket first from here – booking opens 29 October from 10am.
Sunday lunch time concert
The Museum of Malaga welcomes Giralda Brass on Sunday 8 November at noon. Free entry, but you need to prebook your tickets (max. 2 per person) via this link. Booking opens on the Monday before the concert at 9am (Monday 2 November in this case).
Mainake Quartet
A chance for to hear Haydn, Mozart and Tchaikovsky at the Picasso Museum Auditorium on Tuesday 17 November at 8pm. Tickets are €12 and you buy them at the Museum ticket office or online here.
Young musicians orchestra
JOPMA, the Andalusian young musicians orchestra, performs at the Real Club Mediterráneo (next to the lighthouse) on Friday 20 November at 8pm. Free entry, but as is always the case and even more so in covid-19 times, space is limited so get there early.
Musuem concert
The Lírica Teatro del Arte perform in the lovely patio at the Carmen Thyssen Museum on Saturday 21 November at 7pm. Free entry, but again, get there early to be sure of a seat.
What’s on in Malaga in November – art exhibitions
As always, events in Malaga in November include lots of great art (whatever your favourite genre). You can read more about art exhibitions in Malaga this autumn here.
Picasso Museum
The most-visited museum in southern Spain has new additions to its permanent collection, now called Conversations with Picasso 2020-2023. The exhibition explores 8 decades of artistic creativity from the 20th century’s greatest artist. The Museum has just opened a new 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. Note that the Picasso Museum café is currently closed 😞
Carmen Thyssen Museum
As well as its permanent collection – discover it here – this art museum in Malaga is showing a timely exhibition. Masks reflects on the transformation of the human figure through masks in modern art. Works on display are by artists such as Goya, Picasso, Gargallo and Modigliani.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, 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.
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CAC Malaga
The Dark Side by Philippe Pasqua – in the large space at the museum entrance, the French artist exhibits 40 of his paintings (portraits, faces and nudes) created since 1990. Until 29 November.
Ergo Sum by Bosco Sodi – 30 giant paintings (in monochrome black) line the walls and golden nuggets dot the floor. See these unusual works by the Mexican artist until 6 December.
While you’re at CAC, don’t miss the permanent and Neighbours exhibitions. They’re both packed with interesting and thought-provoking art work and installations.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm. Free entry.
Russian Museum
This art museum in Malaga has a permanent exhibition and 2 temporary ones.
Realism: Past & Present – the central exhibition showcases realism in Russian art from the 18th century to today. The paintings and objects run through over three centuries of Russian art exploring how artists portrayed their surroundings and the relationship between art and truth. Until April 2021. Read our guide to this art exhibition in Malaga.
Breaking silence: silent movies in Russian – a look at this genre of cinema, which used the most advanced techniques of its time. A selection of Italian and American films complement the exhibition. Until April 2021.
Andrèi Tarkosvky: Master of Space – film buffs have another treat in this photographic look at one of the greatest film directors in the 20th century. Until April 2021.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 6pm. Permanent exhibition €6, temporary exhibitions €4, €8 combined ticket. Free on Sundays after 4pm.
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Pompidou Centre
The multi-coloured cube includes A Century of Spanish Art from Miró to Barceló exhibition. As usual, you can expect to see an eclectic collection of paintings, videos, installations and sculptures. Read about the latest art.exhibition in Malaga here.
Russian-born but French-adopted artist, Nicolas de Staël takes centre stage at the latest temporary exhibition. The extraordinary painter was known for his abstract and figurative paintings. On show are 25 of his works, 9 paintings and 16 sketches, illustrating the highlights of his short career. Until 8 November.
Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 6pm. €7 for the permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free Sundays after 4pm.
Top tip – art museums in Malaga have free entry on Sunday afternoons.
La Térmica Cultural Centre
La Termica Cultural Centre starts its season of exhibitions with a display of photos of rock star icon Marilyn Manson taken by one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers, Perou. “21 years in Hell” showcases Manson in (as you’d expect) various guises.
See it from 23 October until 22 January 2021. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. Free entry.
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).
What’s on in Malaga in November – markets
With Christmas on the horizon, Malaga markets are a great place to start your Christmas shopping. As well as the usual Sunday arts and crafts markets on Muelle Uno and on the western seafront promenade:
El Zoco – the arts and crafts market takes place on Muelle Uno every Sunday in November from 11am to 6pm.
Organic and local produce markets, all grown locally in the Guadalhorce River valley – Saturday 14 November on Calle Cervantes and Paseo de Reding (near La Malagueta) and Saturday 28 November in Huelin Park. 10am to 2pm.
Next month’s post will of course be about events in Malaga in December so stay tuned for all the information you need about Christmas in Malaga.