What’s On in Malaga in October 2026

What’s on in Malaga in October 2026? Start with San Diego Comic-Con on 1–4 October, the French Film Festival on 16–23 October, flamenco and dance throughout the month, and Halloween on Saturday 31 October. October also brings new exhibitions, sporting events and Picasso’s birthday on the 25th. This guide helps you choose the right day, venue and booking link for your visit.

• Best for: culture lovers, couples, families and visitors looking for things to do beyond the beach.
• Book ahead: Comic-Con, theatre shows, football and the botanical garden’s guided activities.
• Budget picks: free concerts, La Térmica and special museum opening days.
• Holiday: Monday 12 October is a public holiday. Check each attraction’s opening arrangements.

October 2026 agenda: choose your week

Open a week to see a selection of confirmed events. The detailed sections below explain prices, access and bookings. Exhibitions running throughout the month are in the art section.

San Diego Comic-Con Malaga: 1–4 October

Where: FYCMA, Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga. When: Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 October 2026.

Comics, film, television, anime, gaming, cosplay and Artists Alley fill four days of panels and experiences. Choose the day that suits your favourite guests and bookable sessions: the programme matters more than simply buying a badge.

Day tickets are €84.80 for adults and ages 13–15, or €37.10 in the children’s category. Four-day passes are €339.20 for adults and ages 13–15, or €148.40 in the children’s category. Ages 0–3 enter free subject to availability. Check the exact age conditions and any payment charges at checkout. Tickets are mobile-only; selected photos and autograph sessions may cost extra. Under-16s require the organiser’s parental authorisation even when accompanied.

Read our full Comic-Con Malaga guide: guests, highlights, tickets and transport →

Buy through official Ticketmaster listings and check the organiser’s access and ticket FAQ. FYCMA is west of the centre: use the official event transport information for current shuttles, routes and parking. Allow extra time for entry and busy sessions.

Halloween and botanical garden activities

Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October 2026. La Concepción has confirmed both family daytime events and an evening experience. See our dedicated Halloween in Malaga guide for more ideas.

La Concepción: October dates, prices and reservations

The botanical garden is at Camino del Jardín Botánico 3, north of the city. Book guided activities separately and confirm the language, reduced-rate eligibility and suitability for your group.

• Daytime guided tours: Saturday 10 and 17 October at noon. Around 90 minutes; €8.05 general / €5.95 reduced, including garden entry.
• Evening guided tours: Friday 2 and 16 October at 8pm. Around 90 minutes; €8.40 general / €6.30 reduced.
• Autumn family activity: Sunday 11 October, 11am–2pm. €9 general / €6.90 reduced.
• Family Halloween activities: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, 10.30am–1.30pm. €9 general / €6.90 reduced.
• Theatrical Halloween evening: Saturday 31 October, sessions from 7pm. €17; telephone booking only. Ask which sessions suit children.

Reservations: +34 951 926 180 or +34 639 914 055. For the daytime and regular guided activities, the garden also lists WhatsApp on the second number and infojbotanicomalaga@gmail.com. Use the telephone for the Halloween evening. Standard daytime opening in October is Tuesday–Sunday, 9.30am–5.30pm; evening events have separate access arrangements.

Film, music, dance and flamenco in October

French Film Festival: 16–23 October

The 32nd Festival de Cine Francés de Málaga brings new films, documentaries, shorts, a film concert and family activities to Cine Albéniz and other venues. Screenings are in the original language with Spanish subtitles; English subtitles should not be assumed.

Official-section and documentary tickets are €7 / €5 reduced. Galas are €12 / €10 reduced, and the film concert is €15 / €12 reduced. Some activities are free, with registration conditions where applicable. Check the official programme, screening times and ticket categories. Cine Albéniz is at Calle Alcazabilla 4, beside the Roman Theatre.

Ciné Mômes: school film mornings, 19–30 October

Ciné Mômes, the French Film Festival’s school programme, runs on weekday mornings from 19 to 30 October. It is mainly designed for schools rather than casual visitors, but it is useful if you are travelling with children, staying longer in Málaga or organising an educational visit. Screenings are scheduled at Cine Albéniz from 19 to 23 October and at Yelmo Vialia from 27 to 30 October. Check the official Ciné Mômes dates and reservation conditions.

Camino a Fancine: free October screenings before the November festival

FANCINE, Málaga’s fantasy film festival, takes place in November, but its Camino a Fancine warm-up starts in October at the UMA Contenedor Cultural. The cycle is useful if you like cult, fantasy or offbeat cinema and want a free evening plan away from the main tourist streets. Announced October screenings include The Lobster on 6 October, Bring Her Back on 13 October, Her on 20 October and A Ghost Story on 27 October, usually at 6pm and subject to capacity. The November festival itself runs from 11 to 17 November; see our November in Malaga guide for the main festival window.

Concerts worth planning around

• The Animesy: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October, 9pm, SOHRLIN in western Málaga. Anime music performed by an orchestra; standard ticket €65. Official tickets and venue details.
• Moderna: Flamenco #01: Tuesday 6 October, 8pm, Cervantes Theatre, Calle Ramos Marín. Flamenco, symphonic music and big-band jazz, directed by Tete Leal. Ticket €27. Official performance and booking.
• Free Municipal Band concerts: Sunday 11 October, 6.30pm, Plaza del Santuario de la Victoria; Sunday 25 October, noon, IES Vicente Espinel, Calle Gaona 7. City programme. Arrive early; check access arrangements before setting out.
• Free Fake Jazz concert: Friday 2 October, 8pm, Jorge Rando Museum, Calle Cruz del Molinillo 12. Museum event information.

Free concerts at the Bishop’s Palace and cathedral

The Bishop’s Palace series at Plaza del Obispo 6 starts at 7.30pm, with free entry subject to capacity:

• 1 October: music by Juan Francés de Iribarren, including unpublished works from Málaga Cathedral.
• 8 October: Sax Nova, led by Elisa Urrestarazu.
• 14 October: Conservatoire performers mark the 125th anniversary of Eduardo Ocón’s death.
• 22 October: Spanish guitar recital by Javier García Moreno.

At Málaga Cathedral on Friday 30 October at 7.30pm, Capilla de Música Maestro Iribarren performs Tomás Luis de Victoria’s Officium defunctorum. Free entry, subject to capacity. Fundación Unicaja’s full concert programme.

Danza Málaga: flamenco and more

Danza Málaga starts on 13 October. The programme brings contemporary dance, ballet, tango and flamenco to the city. These flamenco highlights are especially useful for visitors who want an evening performance:

• 14 October: Farruquito, 8pm.
• 15 October: Pastora Galván, TRIBUsssh!, 8pm.
• 24–27 October: Sara Baras, Infinita. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 8pm; Sunday at 7pm.
• 29 October: Alba Heredia, Alba&Lando, 8pm, €24.

Venues and prices vary by show. Use the official theatre programme to choose a performance and book. Plan dinner around the starting time: our restaurant guides can help.

Free flamenco: Chelo Soto on 26 October

Chelo Soto performs at the MVA Auditorium, Calle Ollerías 34, on Monday 26 October at 7.30pm. An invitation is required. Collect it on the day from the Municipal Fiestas Department, Camino de San Rafael 99, between 9am and 1.30pm; remaining invitations are available at MVA from 6pm. Auditorium doors open at 7pm. Official access details.

Picasso and art exhibitions in October

Picasso was born in Málaga on 25 October 1881, making this his 145th birthday month. The Picasso Museum also marks its 23rd anniversary on 27 October. Visit the museums even if your stay falls outside the birthday weekend.

Picasso Museum and Munch–Picasso

At Calle San Agustín 8, Picasso: Structures of Invention explores the artist’s creative process. From 30 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, Munch–Picasso brings together more than 100 works to explore connections between the two artists. Official exhibition details.

October opening: daily 10am–7pm. Standard museum entry is €13 / €11 reduced. Free entry is offered during the last two opening hours on Sundays and on 27 October, the museum anniversary. Capacity and ticket conditions apply. Check official tickets and free-entry conditions before visiting; advance booking is useful for busy exhibitions.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

¡Olé! The Myth of Spain in Andalusia opens on 3 October and runs until 21 February 2027. It explores how art helped create familiar ideas of “typically Spanish” culture. Official exhibition information. Julio González, Painter and Draughtsman runs from 22 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, according to the museum’s updated individual exhibition page.

The Roman remains beneath the museum add another layer to the visit. Standard entry is €12, or €15 including the archaeological site; reduced entry is €8 / €10. The museum normally opens Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–8pm, and offers free museum access on Sundays from 4pm. Monday 12 October is a special opening, 10am–8pm, with free museum access. Official hours, prices and conditions. Do not assume the archaeological site is included in every free-entry arrangement.

Bishop’s Palace: And the Music Began

The exhibition Y sonó la música explores the relationship between music and art, with paintings, sculpture and musical scores. It continues until 2 November. Opening: Monday–Saturday, 10am–2pm and 4–7pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am–2pm. Entry to the centre is a €3 charitable donation. Free guided visits in English are listed for Fridays at 6pm and Saturdays at 12.30pm: reserve via mediacionculturalmalaga@fundacionunicaja.com or +34 952 624 862. Official guided-visit information. The related free concerts are listed above.

Pompidou, Tabacalera and Jorge Rando

At Centre Pompidou Málaga on Muelle Uno, To Open Eyes explores how artists look at their surroundings through installations, paintings, sculpture and video. It runs until 18 January 2027. See the official exhibition information and confirm current opening times and admission before visiting.

MEET, Málaga Espacio Expositivo Tabacalera, at Avenida Sor Teresa Prat 15, presents Vladimir Veličković’s Flight, Vertigo and Fall, focused on the body in motion. The municipal exhibition listing gives Tuesday–Sunday opening, 9.30am–8pm, including public holidays. Check the current Russian Museum and MEET programme for additional exhibitions and ticket conditions.

Jorge Rando Museum, Calle Cruz del Molinillo 12, is a useful free art stop north of the old quarter. Check its current exhibitions and event calendar, and combine the area with our walk north of Málaga’s old quarter.

La Térmica: Eugenio Recuenco

Fulgor y Delirio: Cartografía de lo humano opens on 1 October and runs until 31 January 2027. Eugenio Recuenco’s photography and immersive rooms explore identity and the human condition. Free entry at Avenida de los Guindos 48. Weekday opening follows La Térmica’s usual hours, 10am–2pm and 4–8.30pm; the exhibition specifically lists weekends and public holidays, 9am–3pm. Official exhibition and visiting information.

Picassian October: check the 2026 programme

Casa Natal de Picasso is at Plaza de la Merced 15. Its official agenda is the place to check birthday events and temporary exhibitions. The detailed 2026 birthday programme has not been verified for this guide; last year’s façade installation, guitar project and concert dates are not confirmed 2026 events.

Markets, Red Friday and Architecture Week

Red Friday: 2 October

La Térmica’s vintage, music and performance evening returns on Friday 2 October, 6pm–midnight, with stalls, live entertainment and food. Online ticket sales opened on 30 September at noon, with the physical sale from 1 October at 11am, subject to availability. Use the organiser’s current ticket link and programme for the price and remaining places.

Architecture Week: 2–9 October

The Málaga architects’ association marks Architecture Week with talks and visits from 2 to 9 October. Places on individual activities are limited. Check the organiser’s booking collection for buildings, meeting points and access. Tours are generally in Spanish: confirm the language before booking if that matters for your group. The programme is especially interesting for design-minded visitors because it opens access to guided routes, award-winning buildings, urban-renewal projects and family workshops that are not usually part of a standard Malaga itinerary.

Shopping and food markets

Muelle Uno, La Merced and Soho are useful places to look for crafts, while local organic markets showcase produce from the Guadalhorce valley. Their October dates and opening times should be checked individually. The Muelle Uno October Zoco announcement contains inconsistent dates, so use the organiser’s latest confirmation before planning a market-only trip. Browse our Málaga markets guide for more options.

Sporting events: football, basketball and races

Málaga CF at La Rosaleda

Málaga CF hosts Real Sociedad on Sunday 18 October at 6.30pm at La Rosaleda. Check the official match page before booking or travelling: football dates, kick-offs and ticket availability can change.

Read our football in Málaga guide: live fixtures, official tickets, La Rosaleda and where to watch →

Unicaja basketball at the Carpena

Unicaja plays Tenerife on Saturday 3 October and MoraBanc Andorra on Saturday 10 October, both at 7.30pm at the Martín Carpena arena. Announced starting prices are €18 for adults, €14 for young people and €11 for children; verify age categories and remaining seats with the club. Official October tickets and games.

Swimming, golf and running

• 8th Aliquindoi charity swim: Sunday 4 October at 10am, Misericordia beach. Distances: 1,500m, 3,000m and a 2 × 1,500m relay. Organiser’s race information.
• 30th Malaga City Golf Trophy: 3–4 October from 9am at Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf. Announced entry fees: €85 non-members / €25 members; registration closed on 1 October. Official tournament information.
• 13th El Torcal–La Paz urban race: Sunday 4 October. Race details and registration conditions.
• 46th Ciudad de Málaga urban race: Sunday 25 October. City race details. Check the start time, route, categories and road restrictions before going.

October weather and practical planning

Today’s official forecast

Malaga weather today

Partly cloudy

27° Low 19°

Rain

20%

Wind

SE 10 km/h

UV index

5

Today 27° 19°

Tomorrow 26° 19°

Sun 26° 17°

Forecast for Malaga city. Updated 9 Oct, 19:19. Source: AEMET.

For autumn walks and time outdoors, keep plans flexible around the daily forecast. Explore more autumn ideas or use our museums guide for a wet-day alternative.

Monday 12 October: public holiday

Monday 12 October is a public holiday in Spain and Málaga. Banks, offices and some shops close; restaurant and attraction arrangements vary. Carmen Thyssen has confirmed its special free opening above. Check individual museums and transport services rather than assuming normal hours. See our Málaga public-holidays guide.

Cruise arrivals and getting around

Cruise calls can make the old centre busier. Check the Port of Málaga’s current cruise schedule for your dates and allow more time at major sights. For a quieter visit, consider reserving an early museum slot or exploring a neighbourhood beyond the busiest central streets.

Most central sights are walkable, while FYCMA, La Térmica, the Carpena and La Concepción require a separate journey. Use our local bus guide and the event’s own travel information. Read our accessible Málaga guide and ask each venue about step-free access and reserved seating.

Questions about visiting Malaga in October

Programmes still awaiting verification

The full 2026 Picassian October programme, International Opera Day concert, St George’s Church show, Museum of Málaga chamber concert, swing session at Muelle Uno, Archivo Municipal exhibition and local market dates still need current organiser confirmation. They are not included as confirmed entries in the weekly agenda.

Subscribe to our free fortnightly newsletter for Málaga news and event updates. Choose events around your stay, and check the organiser again before leaving your accommodation.

Planning beyond October?

Continue with November 2026 events → or return to the current month’s Málaga events.

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