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 35th 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.
Note that the events in this post refer to November 2021. We’ll be updating them towards the end of October so bookmark the page to stay bang up-to-date.
Note too that (as always) this post is a work in progress and we’ll be adding events as the organisers publish them. So, bookmark this page and check back every so often.
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:
Tuesday 1 November – is a public holiday 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 – Tuesday 6 December and Thursday 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 35 years. The main concerts take place in the Cervantes Theatre from 4 to 10 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 31st edition this year. Running from 10 to 18 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 26 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 the light and sound display hasn’t been confirmed. There will, however, definitely 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
Godspell, the musical (confirmed for 2022)
Antonio Bandera’s theatre welcomes its annual musical from 3 November. This year’s treat is Godspell, the 1970s Broadway classic that has been reimagined for 2022. Mr Banderas isn’t performing in this one, although he’s the producer. However, there’s a star-studded and very talented cast: Victor Ullate, one of Spain’s best dancers, takes a lead role as Judas and St John the Baptist, while Pepe Nufrio, trained in NYC and an old hand in Godspell, plays Jesus.
Performances take place from 3 November to 8 January, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 5.30 and 9pm, and Sundays at 6pm. Tickets cost from €20 and are available via this link. Note that the performance is in Spanish and that the link to book takes you to El Corte Inglés booking platform.
Malaga Book Fair
This literary event in Malaga celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with book stalls and events taking place on Plaza de la Marina from 5 to 14 November. The Fair opens Monday to Friday 11am to 2pm and 5 to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 3pm and 4 to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 3pm and 4 to 8pm.
Flamenco events in Malaga in November
International Flamenco Day is on 16 November and to celebrate, Malaga has a number of free concerts (all at 8.30pm) showcasing the best local flamenco singers and guitarists:
- Tuesday 16 November, 8.30pm – contest to find the best signer of Cantes de Málaga (a Malaga type of flamenco singing) in the patio at the Museum of Malaga.
- Wednesday 17 November, 8.30pm – Rosi Campos sings at the Peña Juan Breva in the Museum of Flamenco (Calle Ramón Franquelo, off Calle Beatas).
- Thursday 18 November, 8.30pm – Jose Chaparro, Pepe de Campillos and Antonia Contreras perform at the Peña Juan Breva.
- Friday 19 November, 8.30pm – Checlo Soto and Chato de Vélez perform at the Peña Juan Breva.
- Saturday 20 November, 8.30pm – Amparo Heredia and Alejandro Estrada perform at the Peña Juan Breva.
Luisa Palicio and her ensemble dance at the MVA Auditorium on Calle Ollerías on Monday 29 November at 7pm (provisional time – check with the venue). Tickets are free, but you need to get yours from the box office on the day from 9.30am.
Botanical Puzzles
The lovely botanical gardens have a family activity every Sunday in November from 11am. Search the gardens for 12 large pieces to complete your puzzle as you enjoy the autumnal surroundings. There’s also a puppet show for younger children. Tickets cost €7.50 per person (free for the under 3s) and must be pre-booked by calling 951 92 61 80 or 647 58 54 57.
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:
International Festival of Chamber Music
In its 9th edition, this year’s Festival celebrates the violin with a series of concerts at the Echegaray Theatre from 1 to 6 November. All performances start at 8pm and tickets cost €15. More information and full programme here.
Free jazz concerts
There are several outside the city centre, but we’ve picked these two as the easiest to reach:
Saturday 6 November at 5pm in Huelin Park and Sunday 7 November at 1pm in the Auditorio Playa Virginia (links to Google Maps).
Spanish copla at St George’s Church
Soprano Elena Ramos sings Spanish copla and boleros at this lovely spot in Malaga on Saturday 13 November at 8pm. Tickets cost €12 and are available online here (click on Events and then on Book Now). St George’s Church is in the English Cemetery grounds on the Avenida de Pries 1 (slightly further east from the Malagueta bullring).
Company
Antonio Banderas and his troupe of dancers and singers perform the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical from 17 November to 30 December in Teatro Soho. Banderas takes the leading role in another classic Broadway show, adapted into Spanish. Performances are Wednesday to Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday at 5 and 9.30pm and Sunday at 6pm. Tickets cost from €25 and are available online here.
And to get you in the mood, here are Anika Nami Rose, Christina Hendricks and Chryssie Whitehead performing You Could Drive a Person Crazy in the English language version of the musical.
Sunday lunchtime concert
The Museum of Malaga has its usual noon concert on Sunday 21 November, but details of who’s performing have yet to be released. Bookmark this page for updates. 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 (15 November in this case).
Museum concert
This month’s concert (programme to be confirmed) in the lovely patio at the Carmen Thyssen Museum takes place on Saturday 27 November at 7pm. Free entry, but 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 a permanent collection, called Conversations with Picasso 2020-2023. The exhibition explores 8 decades of artistic creativity from the 20th century’s greatest artist. You can also visit 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.
In addition, there’s the temporary exhibition, Photos of the City Picasso Loved, showcasing photos of Paris taken by Brassai in the 30s and 40s. Picasso and Brassai had a long and close personal and professional relationship while they lived in the City of Light and this exhibition pays homage to that. As well as photos, on display are also Brassai’s book cover designs and sculptures. From 19 October.
Open daily 11am to 6pm. Tickets €9, free Sundays after 5pm. Note that the Picasso Museum café is currently closed 😞
Carmen Thyssen Museum
The museum has just celebrated its tenth anniversary and continues to showcase Spanish art from the 18th and 19th centuries seen in the permanent collection.
Sorolla in Javea is the latest temporary exhibition at the museum and showcases over 20 works by one of Spain’s best-loved artists. All share the common theme of Javea, on the Costa Blanca, a favourite spot with Sorolla whose paintings of the sea, cliffs, children and beaches are world-famous.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. €10 (including main collection).
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.
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CAC Malaga
Michelangelo Pistoletto – One plus one equals three. A retrospective with more than 30 works by the Italian artist whose creations include photos, installations, sculptures and paintings. Until 5 December.
Mark Whalen – I am just here. Wall reliefs and 3D prints come into their own at Whalen’s new exhibition. Works on display include some exclusively created for this exhibition at the artist’s studio in LA. Until 29 November.
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 9.30pm. Free entry.
Russian Museum
This art museum in Malaga has a permanent exhibition and 2 temporary ones.
This year’s exhibition takes War and Peace as its central theme with 183 works by Russian masters and French and German artists with ties with Russia. Expect to see references to epic battles, the October Revolution and World War I. The works include, as always, paintings and sculptures and provide unique insight into Russian life and culture. Read our guide to this exhibition.
Avant-garde in Russian Art – one of the most important artistic movements in early 20th-century Europe and this exhibition celebrates its expression in Russian artists. They include Kandinsky and Chagall as well as numerous others. Expect to see works in the style of abstraction, constructivism, futurism and neo-primitivism.
Mayakovsky, Poet and Artist – a prominent artist in the Futurist movement, Mayakovsky is known for his revolutionary ‘calling’.
Bi-centenary of Dostoevsky – a small exhibition honours one of the greatest Russian authors in the year of the bi-centenary of his birth. On show are portraits as well as illustrations from his books and recreations of the rooms where he wrote.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm. Permanent exhibition €6, temporary exhibitions €4, €8 combined ticket. Free on Sundays after 5pm.
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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.
Sophie Calle, one of France’s best contemporary photographers and video artists, arrives on 19 November with a temporary exhibition that takes in her 40-year career behind and in front of the lens. From 19 November to 17 April 2022.
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 welcomes American photographer Dennis Manarchy and Metal, an exhibition of photos of silver-sprayed models. As well as shining brightly, the models are wearing whacky objects from Radio Guy’s (aka Steve Erenberg) collection.
See it until 15 January 2022. Open Tuesday to Friday 3 to 8.30pm and weekends, 11am to 2pm and 5 to 8.30pm. 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.
Merced Market – takes place on Sunday 7 November on Plaza de la Merced from 11am to 7pm.
Soho Market – more arts and crafts on Calle Tomas Heredia in Soho on Saturday 20 and Sunday 27 November from 11am to 7pm.
Organic and local produce markets, all grown locally in the Guadalhorce River valley – Saturday 13 November on Calle Cervantes and Paseo de Reding (near La Malagueta) and Saturday 27 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.