Christmas lights in Málaga. A market in Fuengirola. A soprano, a flamenco Christmas and Barcelona at La Rosaleda. Family shows, a Boxing Day run in Ojén and two New Year’s Eve galas. Here are the dates worth planning for, checked against the organisers.
By The Marbella Directory Team · Published 2 November 2026 · Updated 2 November 2026 · No paid links
Every event checked on organiser, venue and official listing pages on 30 and 31 October 2026.
December on the coast is all about Christmas. Fuengirola’s market opens on 26 November. Málaga’s lights and the Jardín de Oz light trail start on 27 November. Mid month brings Ainhoa Arteta, Málaga v Barcelona and Candlelight by the coast. The year ends with two hotel galas in Marbella. Book the light trail and the galas now.
In Spain, Christmas Eve is the big family night. Three Kings on 5 and 6 January comes after New Year. In between there is plenty to do, and Christmas Day is often sunny on the coast.
This guide covers Marbella and the towns around it, from Benahavís to Ojén, Fuengirola and Málaga. Book Christmas meals in November or early December, as the best tables go first. Plans change, so check the event page before you go. For every listing, see our events calendar.
Fourteen events in date order. Each card shows the price, who it suits, where it is, how to get there and the official link.
Thu 26 November to Sun 20 December · 10:30 to 21:00
Switch on Fri 27 November · show times not out yet
Fri 27 November to Wed 6 January · entry 18:30 to 21:30
Fri 11 December · 21:00, doors 19:30
Sat 12 December · 20:00 · 1 hour 40, with an interval
Sun 13 December · kick-off not set yet
Fri 18 December · 18:00
Sat 19 December · 19:00, doors 18:00 · 90 min
Sat 19 December · 20:30 · 1 hour 15, no interval
Sun 20 December · 21:00 · 60 min
Fri 25 to Sun 27 December · 19:00
Sat 26 December · evening race
Thu 31 December · cocktail from 19:30
Thu 31 December · cocktail 20:00, dinner 21:00
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| Event | Date | Town | Price | Best for | Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuengirola Christmas Market | 26 Nov to 20 Dec | Fuengirola | Free | Gift shopping | Jump to section → |
| Málaga Christmas lights | From 27 Nov | Málaga | Free | A free evening out | Jump to section → |
| Jardín de Oz light trail | 27 Nov to 6 Jan | Málaga | €15.50 adults, €11.50 children | Families | Jump to section → |
| Así Canta Jerez en Navidad | 11 Dec | Málaga | See ticket page | Flamenco fans | Jump to section → |
| Ainhoa Arteta | 12 Dec | Málaga | See theatre page | Classical music | Jump to section → |
| Málaga CF v FC Barcelona | 13 Dec | Málaga | Not published yet | Football fans | Jump to section → |
| Luli Pampín | 18 Dec | Málaga | From €33 | Young children | Jump to section → |
| FabulaPlay: World Energy | 19 Dec | Marbella | From €32 | Families | Jump to section → |
| María Peláe | 19 Dec | Málaga | See theatre page | Flamenco fans | Jump to section → |
| Candlelight Christmas Classics | 20 Dec | Benahavís | From €34.50 | Couples | Jump to section → |
| Navidad en el Soho | 25 to 27 Dec | Málaga | See theatre page | All ages | Jump to section → |
| San Silvestre de Ojén | 26 Dec | Ojén | See entry page | Runners | Jump to section → |
| Don Carlos NYE Gala | 31 Dec | Marbella | €495 adults, €295 children | Families and groups | Jump to section → |
| Marbella Club NYE Gala | 31 Dec | Marbella | Not published | Couples | Jump to section → |
Prices as shown by the organisers on 30 and 31 October 2026. Where a price is not shown yet, check the event page. Check before you go.
Pick: The Málaga Christmas lights on Calle Larios, from Friday 27 November. See the lights.
Pick: The Jardín de Oz light trail. Pick a half-price day to save. See the light trail.
Pick: Candlelight Christmas Classics on 20 December, from €34.50. See Candlelight.
Pick: The Don Carlos gala, or Marbella Club on the Golden Mile. See the galas.
Every event we list, by date, across Marbella and the coast.
Lights, markets and festive plans, from late November to Three Kings.
COMING SOON
How we chose these events. We pick events with broad appeal that are confirmed for 2026 on the organiser’s or venue’s own page, all within easy reach of Marbella. Markets and lights in Marbella, Puerto Banús, Estepona and Mijas join this guide when their 2026 dates are out. Dates and prices can change, so check the official link before you go.
Highlights include the Fuengirola Christmas market from 26 November, Málaga’s lights and the Jardín de Oz light trail from 27 November, Ainhoa Arteta on 12 December, Candlelight Christmas Classics on 20 December and two New Year’s Eve galas in Marbella.
Yes. The Málaga Christmas lights on Calle Larios are free, from Friday 27 November. The Fuengirola Christmas market is free to browse until 20 December. Marbella, Puerto Banús and Estepona had not published their 2026 market dates when we checked.
The town hall had not announced the 2026 date when we checked on 31 October 2026. In 2025 the switch on was on Saturday 29 November at 20:00, on Avenida Ramón y Cajal. We will add the date in our 1 December update.
Two hotel galas are confirmed. Don Carlos starts with a cocktail at 19:30, at €495 for adults and €295 for children. Marbella Club starts at 20:00, with a five course dinner, the grapes and live music. Book early.
Yes. Navidad en el Soho plays at Teatro del Soho in Málaga at 19:00 on 25, 26 and 27 December. The Jardín de Oz light trail and the Málaga lights run through the holidays too. On Boxing Day there is a run in Ojén.
Sources: fuengirola.es (market, 26 October 2026); lucesdelaconcepcion.es (light trail); El Español and La Opinión de Málaga, October 2026 (Málaga switch on); teatrocervantes.com (Arteta, Peláe); laliga.com (football); grupomundo.es (Luli Pampín); enterticket.es (Así Canta Jerez); elcorteingles.es (FabulaPlay); feverup.com (Candlelight); teatrodelsoho.com (Soho); dorsalchip.es (Ojén run); doncarlosresort.com and marbellaclub.com (galas). Drive times from OpenStreetMap routing, rounded. All checked on 30 and 31 October 2026.
Coming soon: Christmas in Marbella and Málaga Christmas lights from Marbella.
Photo credits. Images marked AI are AI generated and are not photos of the events.
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