The Málaga Fair, one of Spain's most significant August festivities, is about to begin. While the official celebration runs from August 15th to 22nd, the city will usher in the festive atmosphere on Friday, August 14th, with a prelude day featuring the Historical Parade in the city center and a grand pyromusical show with 440 drones and nearly 6,000 effects.
This year, the Fair will unfold across two main venues: the Real de Cortijo de Torres, increasingly established for both afternoon and evening events, and the City Center, which aims to retain its daytime essence despite evolving trends. The 2026 edition introduces novelties such as a new entrance on Calle Larios, over two million LED light points, new restrooms, and an artificial intelligence assistant for locating services.
The prelude day on Friday, August 14th, will start at 8:00 PM with the Historical Parade, recreating Málaga's incorporation into the Crown of Castile in 1487. At 11:50 PM, 220 drones will launch from two points (Dique de Levante and San Andrés) to form three-dimensional images, followed at 12:00 AM by a 20-minute pyromusical spectacle with 5,694 effects.
On Saturday, August 15th, the XLIII Romería de la Feria (Pilgrimage) will depart at 11:00 AM from the Paseo del Parque towards the Santuario de la Victoria, with actress María Barranco serving as the standard-bearer. In the evening, at 9:00 PM, Málaga CF coach Juan Francisco Funes will deliver the Fair's opening speech at the Real de Cortijo de Torres, preceding the official lighting ceremony at 10:00 PM.
The fairgrounds will host 117 booths and approximately 200 free performances. The Ecogreenlux LED lighting, with 2.3 million light points, and 20 new public restrooms are among the improvements. The amusement area will feature 98 rides and 234 leisure and food stalls, with children's parades on August 17th and 20th, and the traditional "Children's Day" on August 23rd.
Mobility will be enhanced with the 24-hour Line F and 16 special bus lines connecting various neighborhoods to Cortijo de Torres. The Metro will extend its operating hours to 2:30 AM on the night of the opening speech and fireworks, and until 1:30 AM for the rest of the Fair. Cercanías (commuter rail) will also increase its services. Approximately 3,185 car parking spaces and 2,990 motorcycle spaces will be available near the Real, in addition to 5,066 spaces in municipal car parks in the city center.
Hotel occupancy forecasts predict an average of 88.4%, slightly lower than the previous year, though last-minute bookings are expected to improve this figure. Security will be heightened with 2,293 National Police and Guardia Civil officers, and an average of 443 Local Police officers daily, along with 16 additional surveillance cameras and drones at the Real. Visitor information will be accessible via a WhatsApp virtual assistant.
