What’s on in Malaga in May 2026

Welcome to Malaga in May, a month that comes jam-packed with events and things to do. Read on to discover what’s on in the city this month.

Note that this post is, as always, a work in progress and we’ll be adding new events in Malaga as we hear about them. So, bookmark this page and check by every so often to see the latest additions.

Looking for some inspo this month? Check out our list of 10 things to do in Malaga in May.

Public holiday in Malaga

Perhaps best of all, May starts with a public holiday in Malaga. Friday 1 May celebrates Labour Day. Don’t expect to find any banks, offices or businesses open on the day and most shops will be closed too. However, bars and restaurants in Malaga will be open.

Read a full list of public holidays in Malaga in 2026.

Busy cruise ship days in May

This month is high season and thousands of passengers are due to disembark. You might want to avoid the city centre on these days:

Busiest days	No of passengers in town
1 May	6,448
2 May	6,580
4 May	4,728
6 May	5,783
8 May	6,588
12 May	10,999
25 May	3,089

Need a hotel in Malaga in May?

Check out our recommendations for the best hotels in town, from budget to splurge with almost everything in between. And if you don’t know where to stay or need information on the pros and cons of each area, read our definitive guide to where to stay in Malaga.

Malaga Book Fair

The 55th edition of this event is on daily until Sunday 10 May on the Paseo del Parque. Stalls from local bookshops sell new, second-hand and antique books plus there are related events including storytime for children and author signings.

You can read the programme here. We love this year’s poster!

Patio Festival 2026

This year’s celebration of the patios in La Trinidad and El Perchel districts takes place from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 May. You can visit the patios every day during the Festival from 10am to 1pm and 6 to 8pm, and there are themed events too.

Read our guide to the Malaga Patio Festival for more information.

Family theatre

The Cervantes Theatre has organised a series of children’s theatre in May in conjunction with the Theatre Festival. Activities are in different parks around the city and in Spanish, but we think the language of mime, puppets and funny outfits is pretty universal. Free entry, but get there early to be sure of a place:

Friday 1 May – Auditorio Curro Román in El Palo at 7.30pm. El sueño de los titeres (puppets), suitable for all the family. Google map link here.

Sunday 3 May – Parque de Huelin at 7.30pm. Los Makenrou (circuse genre), suitable for all the family. Google map link here.

Saturday 9 May – Parque del Cine in Teatinos at 7.30pm. El sueño de los titeres (puppets), suitable for all the family. Google map link here.

A garden of fantasy ceramics

Delicious Gardinum is a small but exquisite exhibition showcasing Rafael Chacón’s extraordinary ceramics. Hailing from Seville, Chacón creates a fantasy garden, packed with strange creatures, bright colours and shapes, in a dimly-lit space, with a sound track of bird song.

Unfortunately, there are no labels on the works and the downloadable pdf via a QR code is in Spanish only, but we still think it’s worth popping in to see.

Find it at Malaga University Headquarters on the Paseo del Parque (next to the Bank of Spain and behind the Museum of Malaga). Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 5 to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. Free entry. Until 20 June.

While you’re there, pop down into the basement to see the sections of Phoenician, Roman and medieval walls.

International Museum Day

If you’re on a budget holiday in Malaga this month or just like to make a saving, make a note of this date: Monday 18 May. Malaga celebrates International Museum Day with free entry to all the museums. Now that’s what we call a good day out!

Blooming marvellous

May is one of the best months for flowers in Malaga, particularly roses and jacarandas. You can see roses in parks in the city, particularly in the rose gardens next to City Hall (Jardines de Pedro Alonso). And you’ll see the brilliant pop of jacaranda purple on trees everywhere. They’re at their best in Plaza de la Merced.

Join a wine tour

Or you can join Linda from Winderlust for a bespoke wine tour in Malaga, stopping at four stops for fine vino, delicious food and fun stories. The two-hour tour usually starts at noon in central Malaga and costs from €100 per person. Enquire here and get your free guide to ordering wine in Malaga.

Musical events in Malaga this May

As usual, there’s plenty going on musically this month, including:

Rock & Musical Masterpieces

This concert sounds like a foot-tapping, finger-clicking sort of evening, with a medley of rock and muscial classics, played, sung and danced to. Tunes include a selection fromWest Side Story, Michael Jackson’s Man in the mirror and a tribute to Queen, plus a dashof Pink Floyd and Lloyd Webber. Wednesday 6 May at 7.30pm in the Cervantes Theatre. Tickets cost just €12! More information and link to buy yours here.

Piano recital at St George’s Church

Antonio Ortiz plays “Recuerdos de Viaje” at this church in the English Cemetery (opposite La Malagueta bullring) on Saturday 9 May at 8pm. Tickets cost €20 and are available online via this link.

XIV International Festival of Chamber Music

The 14th edition of this event runs from 25 to 31 May, with all concerts in the Echegaray Theatre (tickets cost €15) except the final on 31 May, which is in the Cervantes Theatre (tickets cost €20). This year’s theme is Metropolis, and most concerts take a well-known city as their theme, with opera and Broadway music included in the programme. Full details and links to book tickets here.

Tootsie

The Dustin Hoffman classic needs no introduction and the musical version is just as good. See it at Soho Theatre from 21 May to 7 June, Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm, Friday and Saturday at 5 and 8.30pm, and Sunday at 6pm.

Tickets cost from €25 and are available online here or at the box office on Calle Cordoba 13. Note that the libretto is in Spanish.

Free concerts in Malaga in May

As usual, this month brings a choice of free concerts. They include:

Museum of Malaga

The gorgeous patio at this museum has the following free monthly concerts this month:

Sunday 17 May at noon: A flute, violin and viola trio play music by Reger and Beethoven. Free entry, but get there early to be sure of a seat. We’d recommend 11am.

Municipal Band

This excellent band has three free concerts in lovely outdoor spaces in May:

Sunday 3 May – in the Museum of Malaga at noon, with pieces by composers such as Erenesto Auvignac and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Free entry, but get there early to be sure of a seat.

Saturday 16 May – in Plaza Hoyo de Esparteros (adjacent to H10 Croma Hotel) at 8.15pm. This concert forms part of the Noche en Blanco programme and consists of music and dance.

Noche en Blanco

This evening of free cultural events returns to its usual May slot this year and takes place on Saturday 16 May from 8pm to 1am. Dozens of venues participate in the city, with events and performances based on the theme stating, “The future is written in music”.

For full details on this event in Malaga, read our Noche en Blanco post.

Note that all museums have free entry for La Noche en Blanco.

Flamenco in Malaga in May

As usual, there are some great flamenco events in town this month. They include:

Free flamenco concert

This month’s free concert takes place on Monday 25 May at 7.30pm in the MVA Cultural Centre on Calle Ollerías. Singer Jose de Chaparro will be performing – the video below gives you an idea of what to expect.

Tickets are free, but you need to get yours from the box office on the day (available from 7pm onwards) or from the Municipal Fiestas Department in Camino de San Rafael 99 (available from 9am onwards – you can get here on the No 20 bus from the Alameda Principal).

Learn to make paella

How about adding a proper paella recipe to your weekly menu at home? Elbasi Taller de Cocina in the Soho district. Chef Laura (Le Cordon Bleu trained) is offering a 3-hour cooking course during which you learn how to cook two local dishes and a real paella. Tickets cost €66.50 per person and include two drinks and a surprise dessert.

Best of all? You get to eat the yummy results afterwards. Book your cooking experience now.

Tours and family fun in the Botanics

The lovely Botanical gardens have several events this month:

To book any of the activities below, call +34 951 92 61 80 or +34 639 91 40 55 (also WhatsApp)  or send an email to infojbotanicomalaga@gmail.com

Family visits

To celebrate World Bee Day, the gardens have two family-fun mornings on Sunday 17 and Sunday 31 May from 11am to 2pm. The activities include workshops, a tour of the gardens and crafts, all themed around bees. In Spanish, but we sure it’ll be easy to understand. €9 for adults, €6.90 for kids up to 16 years old.

Guided tours

Join a tour of the gardens on Saturday 9 May at 11am, Sunday 10 May at 11.30am, Saturday 23 May at 11.30am or Saturday 30 May at 11.30am. Price per adult €8.05. These tours are in Spanish, but private tours are available in English or French (minimum 3 people). For times and prices, enquire above.

Night tour

See the gardens at their magical best on Friday 29 May from 9pm. Tickets cost €8.10 per person.

KRVZE – rituals of global sound

La Térmica Cultural Centre celebrates “rituals of global sound” at a free event combining music, sound art, performance and visual creation on Friday 22 May. Free entry, but you need a ticket – where to get it isn’t confirmed yet, but bookmark this webpage to stay up to date with the information.

Get to La Térmica by walking west along the seafront (the cultural centre is behind the modern glass Diputación building) or on the No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal (south side).

Art exhibitions in Malaga this May

As usual, Malaga is showcasing some excellent art this month, with several great new exhibitions. Note that some art museums get very busy, particularly the Picasso Museum. We’d recommend buying tickets in advance. Here’s our pick of the best.

Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País

To be confirmed

Free entry and open Monday to Friday 11am to 2pm and 6 to 9pm, Saturday 11am to 2pm.

Picasso Museum

Note on tickets

The Picasso Museum is the most-visited in southern Spain and an extremely popular attraction. As a result, sometimes no walk-in tickets are available, only those booked ahead online.
To avoid disappointment, we recommend buying your ticket in advance. You can do so via the museum’s website or through GetYourGuide (no difference in price for you, just a small commission to us through the affiliate program – gracias!).

The most-visited museum in southern Spain has a permanent collection, called Picasso: Structures of Invention. The exhibition shows the 20th century’s greatest artist’s creative process through 150 works. You can also see 22 works from his La Californie sketchbook, which he drew in Cannes in 1956.

Joana Vasconcelos Transfiguration

A new temporary exhibition arrives on 29 May, showcasing the work of this contemporary Portuguese artist from the early 90s to today. Vasconcelos’ sculptures and installations examine the relationship between Portuguese traditions and contemporary art, using tiles, textiles and ceramics. The result is an extraordinary collection, guaranteed not to leave you indifferent!

Open daily 11am to 7pm. Tickets €12, free Sundays after 5pm. While you’re there, do visit the Picasso Museum café with its lovely patio.

Bishop’s Palace

The Journey to Light: from Guido Remi to Murillo showcases Spanish and European paintings from the 16^th to 18^th centuries, when the use of light became an essential part of artistic expression.

Over 80 paintings depict portraits, religious and mythological figures, still life and landscapes by key artists at the time. Signatures on the canvases include Martin de Vos, Luca Giordano, José de Ribera and Claudio Coello, as well as Remi and Murillo. There’s also a Last Supper from the Tintoretto School.

Guided tours in English on Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 12.30pm. Book your place by emailing mediacionculturalmalaga@fundacionunicaja.com or calling 952 624 862

Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 2pm. €3 (this fee goes to two local charities for the homeless).

Until 5 July.

Casa Natal de Picasso

Picasso’s birthplace has an interesting temporary exhibition on this month: Neither Muses nor Models: Female Artists in the Casa Natal Picasso Collection. It includes works by local, Spanish and international artists such as Helen Frankenthaler, María Helena Vieira da Silva, Alice Baber and Elena Laverón. From 7 May until 13 September.

Open daily 9.30am to 8pm. €3 for the exhibition, €4 combined ticket to see Picasso’s house.

Pompidou Centre

The latest exhibition, To Open Eyes, looks at how artists view their surroundings and interact with those looking at their art. The six sections include a wide range of installations, paintings, sculptures and videos. And as usual, they all provide plenty of food for thought.

Read about the latest collection at the Pompidou Centre

Gesture & Matter – International Abstractions (1945-1965)

This new exhibition showcases the new artistic movement that emerged in Paris after the Second World War. It explored new ways of depicting art and techniques on canvas, and the exhibition brings together an impressive selection of artists and their paintings. From 13 May to 7 September.

Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 8pm. €7 for the permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free Sundays after 4pm. 

Russian Museum & MEET

The Russian Museum and MEET (Malaga Espacio Expositivo Tabacalera) has several exhibitions, many of which comes from private collections of art and some have a Russian theme.

Time for Looking (1970-2000)

One of Spain’s most prominent photojournalists, Marisa Flórez, has a retrospective of her award-winning photography. The large photos, mostly black and white, and portraits, illustrate Spanish history, politics, daily life and celebrities from the last 30 years of the 20th century.

Anna Pavlova – A life sans frontières

This exhibition pays homage to one of the world’s greatest ballarinas, Anna Pavlova who spread ballet throughout the world in the 1910s and 1920s. Consisting of original photos, programmes and posters plus some audiovisual material, the exhibition tells the story of Pavlova’s extraordinary talent and life. Until May.

Art from the Spanish Golden Age

Some 80 works from Alejandro Sanz Peinado’s private collection are on display. They showcase 16th and 17th masterpieces, with the emphasis on Dutch paintings and Italian works. Signatures on the canvases include Rubens, Tenier, van Dyck, Velázquez and Zubarán. Until 30 September.

Romantic realism by Valery Katsuba

This exhibition celebrates 25 years of photographer and videographer Katsuba, with over 40 works illustrating the artist’s dialogue between the traditional and contemporary. Her key themes include sculpture, dance and architecture, with particular emphasis on capturing light and everyday gestures. Until 30 May.

Buy your ticket for this museum now

Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm. €8. Free on Sundays after 4pm.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

The museum continues to showcase Spanish art from the 18th and 19th centuries seen in the permanent collection.

Archipielago

Taking Warburg’s Atlas Mnemosyne as its inspiration, this exhibition showcases the depiction of cartography in some of the most influential 20th-century artists. Signatures include Picasso, Miró, Warhol, Braque, Arp and Zush. See it until 6 September.

Tickets cost €12. Free entry on Sundays after 4pm. Note that if you’re resident in Malaga province (you need to show proof), the entry fee is €8.)

Roman remains

The extraordinary remains of a residential and commercial complex underneath the museum are now open. If you like a good dose of history and/or an insight into Malaga’s rich heritage, we highly recommend including a visit.

You can book your ticket in advance – €15 including the museum and remains (€10 if you’re resident in Malaga province) – or join one of the hourly visits when you’re there.

Read more about these unique Roman ruins

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La Térmica Cultural Centre

This lovely venue on the western seafront has two exhibitions this month, both on show until 24 May.

If recollecting were forgetting by Irene González – taking its title from the Emily Dickinson poem, local visual artist presents a collection of drawings.

The journey matters by Violeta Lópiz – this exhibition is a retrospective of the Spanish ilustrator’s work, some of it winning national awards. Lópiz showcases her main works and explains their concept and workings. You can also view a copy of each finished book.

Free entry. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 2pm and 5 to 8.30pm. 

Get to La Térmica by walking west along the seafront (the cultural centre is behind the modern glass Diputación building) or on the No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal (south side).

Markets in Malaga in May

We’ll be adding dates for markets as soon as they’re confirmed.

Arts & crafts markets

El Zoco market on Muelle Uno sells arts and crafts every Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Combine your browsing with a stroll in the sunshine under the Pergola.

The Poppy Market is also on Muelle Uno, daily from 10am to 10pm.

Merced Market is on Plaza de la Merced on Sunday 17 and Sunday 31 May from 11am to 7pm. 

Soho Market on Calle Tomás Heredia, takes place on Sunday 10 and Sunday 24 May from 11am to 7pm.

Organic food markets

Fresh produce grown organically in the Guadalhorce Valley to the north of Malaga. As well as fruit and veg, local producers sell bread and cakes, honey, olive oil, dried fruit and nuts, and organic soaps and creams.

La Malagueta (between Paseo de Reding and Calle Cervantes) on Saturday 9 May from 10am to 2pm.

Huelin Park Saturday 23 May 9am to 2pm.

Sporting events in Malaga in May

In the world of sport, you can enjoy the following this month:

48th Mar de Alborán Regatta

This iconic sailing race takes place between 15 and 17 May, with boats leaving and arriving in El Candado Puerto at the far east end of the city, near El Palo. The yachts sail between Malaga and Alborán Island, some 50km southeast of the city in the Mediterranean. Obviously, you can’t see a lot of the regatta but you can see the action when boats leave at 11am on Friday 15 and when they return on Sunday 17 before noon.

Sacaba Summer Games

Save the day for this fun sporting event on Saturday 30 May. More details to follow.

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