{"id":3115,"date":"2026-02-05T12:49:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sunsetbeachclub.com\/blog\/?p=3115"},"modified":"2026-02-09T11:22:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T10:22:49","slug":"carnival-madness-in-malaga-and-the-rest-of-the-costa-del-sol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sunsetbeachclub.com\/blog\/whats-on\/carnival-madness-in-malaga-and-the-rest-of-the-costa-del-sol\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnival \u2018Madness\u2019 in Malaga (and the rest of the Costa del Sol)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Carnival Season<\/strong> is well underway and most towns and cities on the Costa del Sol (Including Benalmadena) are submersed in fun programs to celebrate this colourful festivity. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Poster for the 2026 Malaga Carnival<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Although the Carnival is celebrated all over Andalucia\u2014the Cadiz Carnival is probably the most famous\u2014for this article, we\u2019ll focus on the M\u00e1laga Carnival.<\/strong> Only<\/span> 25 minutes from our hotel and easily accessible, it\u2019s a \u2018must visit\u2019 if you’re planning a trip to the Costa del Sol in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re lucky enough to enjoy mild winters. This luxury allows the city of M\u00e1laga to live one of its most colourful, multicultural and spontaneous festivities of the year: The Carnival<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

With hundreds of activities and events during the week-long (sometimes a little longer) festivities, you\u2019re guaranteed to have a ball!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that Spain has deeply rooted Catholic traditions; as a result, Carnival is celebrated before the 40 days of Lent. It\u2019s the perfect way to \u201clet your hair down\u201d before the rigours of the religious holidays, with all their abstentions and prohibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what happens during Carnival in Malaga?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The fun actually starts a few weeks before the official Carnival dates with what is referred to as \u201cLa Previa\u201d. This consists of gastronomic gatherings where you can sample traditional local dishes<\/strong> and where song and dance take centre stage. This is also when different choirs and singing groups compete to win the coveted prize of best group. There are various categories \u2013 murgas, <\/strong>comparsas, <\/strong>cuartetos and <\/strong>coros \u2013 and all take to the stage at the Cervantes Theatres in the weeks leading up to the official start of Carnival Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These performances are great fun to watch as they mix humour, great costumes, artistic flair and great voices to create a unique musical experience. The lyrics of the songs the groups perform are based on local, regional and national events and news and although sometimes a little cheeky \u2013 they make fun of politicians, celebrities, etc \u2013 they are harmless and great fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once these musical competitions are over and the winners proudly show off their trophies, it’s time for the Street Carnival (Carnaval de Calle)<\/strong> to begin. This year, the festivities begin on the 7th February 2026 and end on the 15th February 2026, with the famous \u2018Entierro del Boqueron\u2019 on Malagueta Beach. Remember that the carnival is all about having fun and letting go of your inhibitions so everyone is encouraged to dress up and wear masks; take a walk down Malaga\u2019s Calle Larios during carnival week and you\u2019ll witness some great fancy dress costumes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Activities & Events during the Malaga Carnival<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There’s lots going on during Carnival week in Malaga; however, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the most popular and entertaining events <\/strong>you should try to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday 7th February<\/strong> \u2013  At 8:00pm, local carnival participants Rafael Estades ‘Morta’ and Miguel \u00c1ngel Vegas ‘El Chorly’ will give the speech at the opening ceremony \u2013 known as the \u2018Preg\u00f3n\u2019- in the Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n. At 9:00pm you’ll be able to watch the election of the Carnival Gods, the key figures of the Carnival festivities, at the Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n<\/em> (at the top of Calle Larios).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 8th February<\/strong> \u2013 12:00pm: Election of child gods for the Carnival with special activities for kids in the ‘Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 5:30pm the streets of central M\u00e1laga come alive with the Grand Carnival Parade<\/strong>. The best place to watch it is probably Calle Larios or the Alameda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday 13th February<\/strong> \u2013 12:00pm: Children’s Parade<\/strong>. Starts in Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n and ends in the same place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 8:00pm you can enjoy the famous Drag Queen Gala<\/strong> in Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday 14th February – <\/strong>6:00pm: the Parade of the Gods<\/strong> takes to the streets of Malaga’s Historic Centre. (Starts in Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 8:00pm there is the Battle of the Flowers<\/strong> (Batalla de las Flores) in Calle Larios<\/em>, a stunning parade filled with colourful confetti and streamers and a grand finale where the crowds are showered with thousands of flower petals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 15th February<\/strong> \u2013 12:00pm: Parade of the Gods through the streets of Malaga’s Historic Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 2:00pm, the ‘Gran Boqueron\u00e1<\/strong>‘ where you can get a free portion of fried ‘boquerones’ (anchovies) in the Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 5:00pm to 8:00pm you can take part in the \u2018Entierro del Boquer\u00f3n\u2019<\/strong> (Burial of the anchovy) Procession at the Malagueta Beach, a parade marking the official end of the Carnival with mourners dressed in black accompanying a large ‘boquer\u00f3n’ which gets burned on a large bonfire on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the official video for this year’s Carnival which will give you a good idea of what to expect \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n