Carnival in Malaga 2026 – Everything you need to know

• Posted on January 28, 2026
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• Posted in Leisure
• Reading time: 6 minutes

The 2026 Malaga Carnival will take place from February 7th to 15th. Will you be on the Costa del Sol during those dates? Then don’t miss the colourful street celebrations in the city centre.

The Malaga Carnival is a tradition that was revived in 1982 after the Franco regime. It has become one of the most colourful and vibrant events on the Costa del Sol throughout the year, attracting more than 600,000 visitors. Here’s everything you need to know!

Do people in Malaga dress up for carnival?

Yes, in Málaga, people dress up en masse during Carnival, turning the streets into a vibrant celebration of color, costumes, parades, and music, especially in the historic centre and Plaza de la Constitución.

Great times to show off your costume include the first Saturday of Carnival, the costume contests, parades, the Battle of Flowers, and the “Night of the Costume.”

Costume shops in the city centre

If you want to fully immerse yourself in the fun, here you’ll find specialized shops in the centre of Malaga where you can get your own costume. You still have time!

Very typical things about Carnival in Malaga

Christmas lights for carnival

In case you didn’t know: The spectacular Christmas lights in Calle Larios remain on during the Carnival celebrations. Some additional, more festive decorations are added.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to see some of the most beautiful Christmas lights in Europe in a completely different setting.

Murgas

If you walk through Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Larios during these days, you’ll inevitably encounter groups of people dressed in the same costume. These groups, known as Murgas, are musicians and singers who perform satirical songs and critiques of current events.

The Murgas are so integral to the Malaga Carnival that an official competition is held in various theatres throughout the city.

Carnival in your district

A popular Malaga tradition is the “Carnival in Your District,” which this year will take place from January 31st to February 14th in the traditional neighborhoods of El Perchel and El Palo.

If you want to experience life in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, come and enjoy the local dishes, savoring them alongside the locals while listening to carnival songs.

Flower Battle

The Flower Battle is one of the highlights of the Málaga Carnival, taking place along Calle Larios.

It’s based on a historical event when the working class threw flowers at the bourgeoisie as they paraded ostentatiously in their carriages. Nowadays, instead of flowers, tons of confetti are thrown. Don’t miss it – fun is guaranteed!

“Great Boqueroná” and the Burial of the Anchovy

First, it should be mentioned that the anchovy is a typical delicacy of the Alboran Sea off the coast of Málaga.  It’s so much a part of the local culture that the people of Malaga call themselves “Boquerones” (Anchovies) as a symbol of their identity.

The Great Boqueroná and the Burial of the Anchovy are the traditional closing events of the Malaga Carnival.

In the central Plaza de la Constitución, fried anchovies are distributed free of charge. Afterwards, a giant effigy of an anchovy is paraded from there to Malagueta Beach.

The Malaga Carnival officially closes with the burning of this effigy, accompanied by hundreds of people.

Dates & activities Malaga Carnival 2026

• From January 23 to 30: Official Singing Groups Competition at the ESAD Theatre.
• Saturday, January 31, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm: ‘Carnival in Your District’: Traditional stew (Potaje Perchelero) at Plaza de la Libertad.
• Sunday, February 1, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm: Youth Carnival Gala at the Cervantes Theatre.
  At 8:00 pm: Song Contest at the Cervantes Theatre.
• Friday, February 6, at 8:00 pm: Grand Final of the Official Singing Groups Competition at the Cervantes Theatre.
• Saturday, February 7, from 8:00 pm at Plaza de la Constitución: Official Carnival Opening Ceremony. Election of King Momo and Queen of Carnival.
• Sunday, February 8, from 12:00 pm at Plaza de la Constitución: Children’s Opening Ceremony. Election of Prince and Princess, Children’s King Momo and Children’s Queen.
  From 5:30 pm: Grand Carnival Parade of Malaga, departing from Paseo del Parque.
• Saturday, February 14: “Carnival in your district”: Fideos a la parte (El Palo), 1:00 pm.
  Costume Saturday: At 8:00 pm: Flower Battle in Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Larios.
  At 10:00 pm: Mr. Proper Concert at Plaza de la Constitución.
• Sunday, February 15, at 12:00 pm: Grand Boqueroná (Anchovy Feast) at Plaza de la Constitución. Parade of Gods and Entertainment.
  Starting at 5:00 pm the Burial of the Anchovy. The final parade from Plaza de la Constitución to La Malagueta beach, where the effigy is burned.

How to get downtown

As you can see in these videos, the centre of Malaga receives a massive influx of people ready to celebrate. This is something to keep in mind if you want to get around the city comfortably.

By suburban train

To get to the city centre, you can take the C1 suburban train, which connects Malaga with the Costa del Sol towns of Torremolinos, Benalmádena, and Fuengirola, with several stops in each. The train runs every 20 minutes in both directions. Here are the timetables.

By car

On this map you can see all the public parking lots in the centre of Malaga.

In case you weren’t aware, Malaga city centre is now a Low Emission Zone. This means that access for polluting vehicles is restricted and subject to a fine. If you rent a car with us, Malagacar.com, you can rest assured that our vehicles comply with the new regulations.

Taxi

Finding an available taxi at these kinds of events can be extremely difficult. If you prefer to be taken to and from your destination in maximum comfort, you can also opt for a private taxi.

In case you didn’t know, we also offer this service. Not only are our prices very competitive, but we also provide the usual Malagacar.com quality and bilingual drivers.

We have economy, standard and executive vehicles, as well as minibuses of various sizes if you want to go to Malaga with a larger group of friends.

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