Feria de Málaga 2027: expected dates, day and night fair, tips

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Dates in 2027

The Feria de Málaga 2027 is expected to run from Saturday 14 to Saturday 21 August 2027. These dates aren’t official yet. The city usually sets them in the spring, and it did so in March for 2026. The Feria must include Thursday 19 August, which is a local holiday, so we’d expect the dates to hold, but we wouldn’t book anything you can’t cancel until they are confirmed.

The opening night is based on the pattern of 2026, when the Feria ran from 15 to 22 August. The city publishes the programme in the weeks before, on malaga.eu.

What it is

The Feria is Málaga’s biggest party: a full week in mid-August of music, dancing, flamenco dresses and sweet Málaga wine. It marks 19 August 1487, when the city became part of the Crown of Castile.

It comes in two halves. By day, the party is in the streets of the old town. At night, it moves to a large fairground at Cortijo de Torres, on the western side of the city. They have a very different feel, and we’d try to see both.

Entry is free. You pay for your food and drink, the rides and some concerts.

Schedule and key days

The opening night

In 2026, the night before the official start began with the Cabalgata Histórica, a historical parade from the Plaza de la Merced at 20:00, and the symbolic handing over of the keys of the city in the Plaza de la Aduana at 20:30. A drone show in the port followed at 23:50, and then fireworks at midnight. Crowds gather along La Malagueta and the port to watch, so we’d arrive early. Expect the times to change in 2027.

The day fair in the old town

From about midday, the streets around Calle Larios, the Plaza de la Constitución and the old town fill with music, flamenco dresses and groups dancing sevillanas. You will also hear verdiales, Málaga’s own folk music. In 2026, the city kept its rule that the day fair in the centre closes at 18:00.

It is hot, crowded and very sociable. The classic order is a glass of sweet Málaga wine, or a cold beer.

The night fair at Cortijo de Torres

The Real de la Feria gets going in the evening and carries on into the early hours, every night of the week. It has two parts:

• The casetas: large open marquees with music, dancing, food and drink.
• The funfair: a long strip of rides and stalls, which is popular with families and teenagers.

There are also concerts at the fairground auditorium, some of them paid.

Málaga’s casetas are mostly open

This is the big difference from the Feria de Abril in Seville, where most casetas are private. According to one local guide, Málaga’s casetas are overwhelmingly public, so you can walk into most of them and join in.

Where to watch / how to take part

A plan for one day

We’d do what locals do, and split the day in two:

1. Early afternoon: the old town, for the dresses, music and a glass of wine.
2. Mid-afternoon: rest, out of the heat, and have a proper meal.
3. Late evening: go to Cortijo de Torres for the casetas and the lights, and stay as long as you like.

Trying to do both without a break in the August heat will wear you out.

With children

The funfair is the obvious choice, and we’d go early in the evening. The old town can be very crowded around midday.

Getting to Cortijo de Torres

The fairground is several kilometres from the centre, and the city runs special bus lines during the Feria, including late at night. These are the easiest way there and back. Queues for the bus home can be long in the early hours, so check your line before you go.

Driving isn’t worth it: parking fills early, and the roads around the fairground get very busy. Taxis work, but you can expect long waits at the busiest times.

Where to stay and when to book

August is already the busiest season on the coast, and prices rise further during Feria week, so we’d book early with free cancellation until the dates are official. Choose a hotel with air conditioning. Nights stay warm and humid.

• In the old town, for the day fair: Hotel del Pintor or Catalonia Molina Lario, which has a rooftop pool. Expect noise until late.
• Near the beach: Hotel MS Maestranza is between the beach and the centre, and Gran Hotel Miramar is on the seafront, with gardens and a pool.
• For a quieter base: Torremolinos is 20 minutes away by train, but check the last train back.

See where to stay in Málaga.

Etiquette and tips

• Plan for the heat. August averages 32 °C by day, and the day fair is in full sun. Drink water, and stay in the shade between bursts of activity. See Málaga weather by month.
• What to wear: many local women wear flamenco dresses, but there’s no dress code. Wear something light and comfortable, with shoes you can walk and dance in.
• Check opening times. Many businesses close or shorten their hours during the week, above all around 15 August and on 19 August.
• Watch your bag. Pickpockets work in dense crowds.
• Take a break at the beach. La Malagueta is a short walk from the old town.
• Stay for the rest. See things to do in Málaga and our one-day plan for Málaga.

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