The Feria de Málaga is the city's biggest party – around nine days every August when Málaga dresses up, dances in the street and doesn't sleep. It started in 1487 to mark the city's reconquest and has run ever since. It's free, it has two completely different halves, and if you're on the Costa del Sol in mid-August it's impossible to ignore.
For everything else to see in town, our Málaga city guide has it.
- 01It runs 15–22 August 2026, marking the 1487 reconquest of Málaga.
- 02It's two fairs in one: a daytime fair in the old town and a night fair at the Cortijo de Torres fairground.
- 03It's free to join – unlike Seville's mostly private tents, Málaga's casetas are largely public.
- 04Cartojal, the sweet pink fair wine, and cold fino sherry are the drinks of the week.
- 05Pace yourself in 30–35°C heat: day fair, an afternoon break, then the fairground in the evening.
The Two Ferias
The single most important thing to understand is that Málaga runs two separate fairs at the same time, in different places, with different atmospheres.
The Feria de Día (day fair) takes over the historic centre – Calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitución and the surrounding streets – from around midday to early evening. Bars spill into the street, people wear traditional flamenco dresses (trajes de gitana), live bands play, and everyone drinks Cartojal, the sweet pink fair wine, or cold fino sherry.
It's the more accessible, photogenic half: you wander, you drink, you watch impromptu sevillanas break out, and it winds down in the early evening as the city moves on.
The Feria de Noche (night fair) shifts to the Real del Cortijo de Torres, a huge fairground southwest of the centre – over 100 casetas, amusement rides, food stalls, concert stages and flamenco, running from evening until 5 or 6am.
Crucially, unlike Seville's feria where most casetas are private, Málaga's are largely public, so anyone can walk in, order a drink and dance. Special buses run from the centre, as driving and parking near the fairground is difficult during peak hours.
What to Wear, Eat and Drink
There's no dress requirement – many locals wear flamenco dresses for the day fair, but you'll fit in perfectly in normal summer clothes. The drinks are Cartojal, the iconic sweet pink fair wine, and cold fino or manzanilla sherry alongside it. For food, the casetas and stalls run the full range of Andalusian fair fare: espetos (sardines grilled on skewers), fried fish, jamón and more.
Practical Tips
The Feria is a marathon, not a sprint – locals do the day fair, rest through the afternoon heat, then head to the fairground, and trying to do both back to back in 35°C without a break is a mistake. Mid-August in Málaga is 30–35°C and the day fair is in full sun, so hydrate and find shade.
The Cortijo de Torres isn't walking distance from the centre, so use the special Feria buses; from the coast, take the Cercanías train to Málaga Centro for the day fair. If you miss the Feria, Málaga has flamenco shows running year-round in dedicated venues, and the festivals guide covers the rest of the calendar.
Is It Worth Experiencing?
When to Go
If you can choose, the first day or two and the middle weekend are the liveliest, but any day captures the atmosphere. Build the day around the heat – morning or early-afternoon for the day fair, a siesta, then the fairground after dark – and you'll get the best of both halves without burning out.
FAQ – Feria de Málaga
Images: Beatriz90 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
