Malaga Christmas Lights 2026: a practical guide

When is the Calle Larios switch-on in 2026?

There is no official date yet. The last two editions:

• 2025: Friday 28 November. The event started at 18:30, with a DJ from 17:30 and a gospel concert afterwards (City Council).
• 2024: Friday 29 November, from 18:30. The button was pressed at about 19:00 (City Council).

Both times it was the last Friday of November. The 2025 lights were presented on 7 November, so the 2026 date should be out in early November. We will update this guide then.

Calle Larios light and sound show times

The 2026 times are still pending. In 2025:

• Shows every day at 18:30, 20:30 and 22:00, from the switch-on until 4 January.
• On 24 and 31 December and 5 January, the lights were on but without music.
• The design, 'Natividad de luz', featured large medallions with Nativity scenes synchronised to the music.

Lighting hours (2025): 18:30 to midnight Sunday to Wednesday; until 2:00 Thursday to Saturday and on the eve of public holidays; on 24 and 31 December, until 6:00 (City Council).

Projection mapping on the Cathedral

In 2025, 'El pescador de sueños' was projected onto the Cathedral's south tower on Calle Molina Lario: an 8 to 9 minute tale inspired by Malaga's old fish sellers. Shows at 19:00, 20:30 and 22:00 from 29 November to 4 January, except 24 and 31 December. The City Hall facade had continuous Christmas projections (City Council).

With those times, you could catch Larios at 18:30 and walk to the Cathedral for 19:00.

A walk through the lit-up centre

West to east, with the 2025 decorations:

• Alameda Principal: lights wrapped around the fig trees like a forest.
• Plaza de la Marina: a 7-metre fir tree, arches and lit trees.
• Calle Larios: the main show. The side streets carry matching pieces that also look good by day.
• Calle San Juan: its own three-part decoration, with chandeliers and garlands between balconies.
• Cathedral: the projection mapping.
• Paseo del Parque: 14 arches, 36 lit trees and the Christmas market.
• City Hall: projections and the municipal nativity scene.

Christmas market on Paseo del Parque

In 2025 the council issued 102 permits: 86 stalls on Paseo del Parque and the rest around the historic centre. It stayed open until 7 January (City Council). The official source gives no opening date or hours; we will add them once the 2026 details are out.

Nativity scenes worth seeing

• Belén Municipal, in the City Hall courtyard. Free, with more than 400 figures over 150 m². In 2025 it was open from 5 December to 6 January, 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. It is step-free: in through the main door, out via Calle Roma (City Council).
• Nativity trail: in 2025 the council's guide listed 73 nativity scenes set up by brotherhoods, associations and shops, mapped at belenes.malaga.eu. The printed guide, with opening hours, is available at tourist offices and at the Belén Municipal.

Road closures over Christmas

• Switch-on day (2025): Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque were closed to private traffic from about 16:00 to 22:00. EMT buses skipped the eastbound stops on the south side of the Alameda (City Council).
• During the shows: local police may briefly close the same roads if crowds build up (City Council).
• Three Kings parade: on 5 January 2026 it started at 18:00, with closures on the same axis and restrictions at the city-centre car parks (City Council).

Getting there: metro, local trains, bus and parking

• Metro: Line 1 runs straight to Atarazanas, on Alameda Principal next to Larios. From Line 2, change at Guadalmedina (Junta de Andalucía).
• Cercanías local trains: the C-1 (Fuengirola, stopping at the Airport) and the C-2 (Álora) end at Málaga-Centro Alameda; from there, walk across the Guadalmedina river (Renfe).
• Bus: many EMT lines stop on the Alameda and Paseo del Parque, right where the closures are. Check diversions in the EMT app.
• Parking: city-run car parks in and around the centre: Plaza de la Marina, Alcazaba, Camas, Tejón y Rodríguez, Cervantes and Avenida de Andalucía. SMASSA shows live free spaces.

Beating the crowds and accessibility

• The council steps up policing at weekends and on public holidays, the busiest days. If you can, go Monday to Wednesday.
• Avoid switch-on day and the December long weekend: in Andalusia, Monday 7 December (Constitution Day, moved from Sunday) and Tuesday 8 December 2026 are public holidays.
• Calle Larios is pedestrianised and every metro station and train is accessible (Metro de Málaga). With a wheelchair or pushchair, go on a weekday or stay near either end of the street.
• In 2025, Civil Protection handed out QR-code wristbands to identify children and adults who might get disoriented.