What’s on in Malaga in April 2026
As usual, there’s plenty going on in April in Malaga, especially as events include Easter in 2026. Read on to discover free concerts, children’s theatre, interesting markets and world-class exhibitions in our round-up of what’s on in Malaga in April.
Note too that this post is (as always) a work in progress and we’ll be adding events as we hear about them.
Bookmark the page and check back every so often. We also list events in our fortnightly Newsletter – sign up free here.
Looking for some inspirational things to do in Malaga in April? Read our 10 suggestions.
Public holidays in April in Malaga
This month has two public holidays: Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April, both during Holy Week. Banks and businesses close on both days. Most large stores open on the Thursday and Friday, but smaller shops may not open on either day. Bars and restaurants will open as usual.
See other public holidays in Malaga.
Busy days for cruise ships in April
This month is high season and the busiest days are:
| Busiest days | No of passengers in town |
|---|---|
| 7 April | 7,644 |
| 13 April | 4,618 |
| 16 April | 4,577 |
| 22 April | 5,856 |
| 24 April | 7,573 |
| 26 April | 3,132 |
| 27 April | 3,800 |
If you’d like some ideas on where to go to avoid the crowds, check out our self-guided Walking Tours and our Museum Guide.
Read our month-by-month cruise ship calendar
Easter
Easter arrives early this year, with the week of processions taking place from Palm Sunday (29 March) until Easter Sunday (5 April). Holy Week is one of the biggest events of the year in Malaga and one well worth seeing.
We have an entire section dedicated to Easter in Malaga, including FAQs, a guide to who’s who in the processions during Holy Week and 10 things to do at Easter.
Wonderful wisteria
One of the highlights during the spring in Malaga is the wisteria pergola at the Botanical Gardens. The wrought-iron pergola literally groans with scented purple blooms for around 3 weeks between mid-March and mid-April.
This year, the blooms are at their best for the first 10 days of the month. However, even if you miss them, these gardens are a great place to visit all year round – the wisteria is an added extra!
Read all about the Malaga Botanical Gardens.
To book any of the tours below, call 951 92 61 80 or 639 91 40 55 or send an email to infojbotanicomalaga@gmail.com
Private guided tour of the wisteria in English
If you want to guarantee the tour in English, there must be at least 3 people in your group. The tour will take place on a date to be confirmed and cost €18.95 pax for 3-4 people, €11.30 pax for 5-9 people or €9.10 pax for 10-14 people. Reduced rates are available for retirees. Booking contact above.
If your Spanish is up to it, there’s a guided tour on Saturday 4 April at 11am, €8.40 per person.
Children’s fun tour of the Botanics
Join other families for interactive games, challenges, puppet shows and arts and crafts in these lovely gardens on Sunday 12 and Sunday 26 April (dates to be confirmed) from 11am to 2pm. The activity costs €9 for adults and €6.90 for children under 17 and includes entry to the gardens. Booking contact above.
Note that the activity is in Spanish, but we imagine the imagination and fun will go a long way to translating. And puppets and arts and crafts are universal!
Noctural visits to the garden
Join a 90-minute tour of the gardens (in Spanish) to discover nature, art and heritage on Saturday 18 and Saturday 25 April at 9pm. Tickets cost €8.40 per person. See above for booking contact.
TIP TOE – Soho International Dance Festival
Four international dance companies perform at the Soho Theatre between 11 and 19 April, showcasing ballet and modern dance forms.
There are also associated dance events and masterclasses. More information here.
Open-air ballet performance
This event is billed as the highlight of the festival, when 500 students, teachers and professional ballet dancers come together in Muelle Uno in Malaga Port to dance together. See them on Sunday 12 April at noon.
Festival de Artes Vivas
The second edition of this festival of performing arts takes place from 13 to 25 April, at the Casa Natal Picasso, the Pompidou Centre, Russian Museum/ MEET and MUCAC La Coracha. It includes free performances of theatre and dance.
Highlights include:
Pompidou Centre
- Monday 13 April – flamenco song and dance performance at 6.30pm. Free tickets available from the museum ticket office from 4pm.
- Friday 17 April – dance performance by Alessandra GarcÃa throughout the museum all day. Included in ticket price.
- Saturday 18 April – dance performance by Alessandra GarcÃa at 6pm. Free tickets available from the ticket office 30 minutes beforehand.
- Monday 20 April – dance performance by Alessandra GarcÃa from 10am to 3pm. tickets available from the museum ticket office.
- Friday 24 April – dance performance by Alessandra GarcÃa at 6.30pm. Tickets available from the museum ticket office.
Russian Museum/MEET
- Sunday 19 April – performance at 12.30pm. Free tickets from the ticket office from 9.30am onwards.
- Saturday 25 April – performance at 5.30pm. Free tickets from the ticket office from 3pm onwards.
MuCAC La Coracha
- Saturday 18 April – performance at 1pm. Free entry.
Read the full programme here.
Hydrox Malaga
The global fitness competition arrives in the city from 16 to 19 April, with athletic and fitness feats individuals, pairs and teams. It consists of 8 x 1km runs, with a functional training circuit at the end.
If this sounds like your thing, get more information and the link to sign up here.
Need a hotel in Malaga in April?
We have a long list of tried and trusted hotels, and if you’re not sure about location, read our definitive guide to where to stay in Malaga.
Hotel Bro
A surprising oasis of greenery and calm in the midst of a busy street, Hotel Bro provides modern accommodation in Malaga for adults only. T …
Be Mate Malaga Soho
These serviced apartments offer self-catering accommodation in the heart of the Soho district. There’s a wide range of apartment types to c …
Only YOU Malaga
Housed in the Port side of the Equitativa building, Only You is a 5-star hotel and all about views and luxury touches. The entire establish …
Ancá La Térmica
This cultural centre hosts another family-fun day on Saturday 18 April from noon to 7pm, with live music, performances and games. Spanish singer, Christina Rosenvinge, will play and performances include Grotte by Sirio Rubio, and Carroza Kinki Kids. Free entry.
Get to La Térmica via the western seafront or on the No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal (south side).
Children’s Theatre
There are three free performances this month, at different parks in the city. The shows are in Spanish and for younger children, so expect lots of fun, puppets and slapstick comedy (all a universal language!).
Friday 24 April at 7.30pm – Intrusos (clowns) at Parque de la AlegrÃa in the Ciudad JardÃn district. Google map link here – get there on the No 20 bus from the Alameda Principal or hire bikes for all the family and cycle there (designated cycle lanes almost all the way).
Saturday 25 April at 7.30pm – Intrusos (clowns) at the Eduardo Ocón auditorium in the Paseo del Parque.
Sunday 26 April at 7.30pm – El sueño de los tÃteres (puppets) at Parque de Martiricos (near La Rosaleda football stadium). Google map link here – get there on the No 17 bus from the Alameda Principal or walk along the river (30 mins).
Global Book Crawl
Malaga is one of just four Spanish cities joining this international initiative from 20 to 26 April. 10 independent bookshops in Malaga have signed up and will be offering literary and cultural events for all ages during the Book Crawl week. More information (programme to follow) here.
Flamenco in Malaga in April
April is a good month for exceptional flamenco, with the following to enjoy:
Flamenco Lo Serás Tú
This festival returns for another year to the Cervantes Theatre, with flamenco performances from 15 to 19 April.
As usual, there’s a good mix of all genres of flamenco.
- Wednesday 15 April at 8pm – RocÃo Molina (dance)
- Thursday 16 April at 8pm – Pedro El GranaÃno (song)
- Friday 17 April at 8pm – Israel Fernández (singer songwriter)
- Saturday 18 April at 8pm – Farru (dance)
- Sunday 19 April at 7pm – Mayte MartÃn (song)
There are also two concerts in the MIMMA Music Museum, featuring Antonio Agujetas Chico and Lela Soto, both singers, on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 at 1pm, respectively.
Tickets cost from €14. More information and links to book tickets here.
Free flamenco concert
This month’s free concert takes place on Monday 27 April at 7.30pm in the MVA Cultural Centre on Calle OllerÃas. The performer is Elena Pino La Cuqui, a favourite local singer. 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 to 1.30pm – you can get here on the No 20 bus from the Alameda Principal).
Musical Events in Malaga in April
As usual, there’s an eclectic choice of concerts and musical performances this month. Bookmark this section because we’ll add details as they are confirmed.
III Jazz Circuit
This event continues in April, with The Farataos Jazz Band on stage in the lovely Maria Cristina Concert Hall on Saturday 11 April at 8pm. Their performance goes back to the 1920s in New Orleans for some of the most classic jazz tunes.
Tickets cost €19. More information and link to buy them here.
Soles de Malaga
The annual charity concert, now in its 7th edition, takes place on Saturday 18 April in La Malagueta bullring from noon to midnight. The pop-rock programme includes several famous Spanish artists such as Seguridad Social and Broken Peach, as well as Lady Shakes, Dr No, Red Vintage Band and DJ Juan MarÃn.
As well as hours of live music, there are food trucks and drink stalls. Tickets cost just €25 (available from this link) and all proceeds go to local charities.
Free concerts
There are several free concerts this month:
Basilica de la Victoria
This church (home to an extraordinary crypt and Lady Chapel, well worth a visit) hosts an organ concert on Friday 10 April at 8.15pm. Carlos Paterson is the organist and the concert is part of the Organ & Alia Festival. Free entry.
Botanical Gardens
The Municipal Band plays in this lovely setting on Sunday 19 April at noon. The programme includes a mixture of fanfares, ballet music and, of course, the pasodoble at the end. Free entry, but you need a ticket from this link, available from 11am on Thursday 17 April (don’t bother trying beforehand because the link won’t work). The ticket includes entrance to the gardens and you’ll catch the end of the wisteria.
Museum of Malaga
This lovely patio at this museum has its freebie on:
- Sunday 19 April at noon when Sacrum Ministriles play music and song from the Spain during the Catholic monarchs’ reign (15th-16th centuries).
Entry is free, but get there early to be sure of a seat. We recommend being in the queue at least an hour before the concert is due to start.
International Jazz Day
Celebrate this landmark day with a free concert on a date to be confirmed on Muelle Uno. The Crooner Swing Band will perform in the square next to the chemists. A perfect way to end April as you watch the sun go down and enjoy some great music!
ANZAC Charity Event
The Kiwi House of Beer (Google map link here) is celebrating ANZAC Remembrance Day on 25 April from 6pm to midnight, with music and charity raffles. All proceeds in aid of Fundación Cudeca, a local hospice and palliative care charity.
Learn to make paella
April seems like a good month to be making this traditional rice dish. You can find out how at 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 €65 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.
Art exhibitions in Malaga this April
As usual, Malaga is showcasing some excellent art this month. Here’s our pick of the best.
Bishop’s Palace
The Journey to Light: from Guido Remi to Murillo showcases Spanish and European paintings from the 16th to 18th 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
To be confirmed.
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 art collection at the Pompidou Centre.
AM CB
This exhibition celebrates the work of Annette Messager and Christian Boltanski, two of the most renowned French artists since the 1970s. Around 30 of their works – photography, paintings and installations – illustrate their styles and how each influenced the other. Until 6 April.
Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am to 8pm. €7 for the permanent exhibition, €9 for both. Free Sundays after 4pm.
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 in you, just a small commission to us through the affiliate program – gracias!).
What’s on
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.
In addition, you can see these temporary exhibitions:
Picasso: Memory and Desire
This major exhibition explores how Picasso saw the passing of time and history, and applied his interpretation to his work. This collection takes Study with Plaster Head (Picasso painted it in 1925) as its springboard and juxtapositions his work with other significant 20th century artists.
The exhibition showcases the work of numerous artists, all influenced by some aspect of Picasso’s creativity. The specially curated collection includes paintings, sculptures and installations, carrying the signatures of talents such as Léger, Cocteau, Magritte and Man Ray.
Until 14 April.
Antigone – Elena Asins
The museum hosts the iconic installation by one of Spain’s most prominent conceptual artists. Antigone was Asins’ final creation before she died a decade ago. See it until 3 May.
Open daily 10am to 7pm. Tickets €13, free Sundays after 5pm. While you’re there, do visit the Picasso Museum café with its lovely patio.
Note that the Picasso Museum gets very busy and long queues form outside. If you haven’t got a ticket in advance, expect to wait at least 30-60 minutes to get in.
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 РA life sans fronti̬res
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.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm. €8. Free on Sundays after 4pm.
Buy your ticket for this museum now
Carmen Thyssen Museum
The museum continues to showcase Spanish art from the 18th and 19th centuries seen in the permanent collection.
The museum also has two temporary exhibitions:
Manuel Fortuny – Drawings
A selection of over 30 drawings and engravings by one of Spain’s greatest 19th-century artists. These works complement his paintings on display in the museum’s permanent collection. See it until 3 May.
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 cultural centre has two exhibitions this month:
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.
Until 24 May. Free entry. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 8.30pm; weekends and public holidays 10am to 2pm.
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 April
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.
Merced Market is on Plaza de la Merced on Sunday 5 April from 11am to 7pm.
Soho Market on Calle Tomás Heredia, takes place on Sunday 26 April 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 11 April from 10am to 2pm.
Huelin Park Saturday 25 April 9am to 2pm.
Red Friday
The first alternative cultural market of the year at La Térmica cultural centre is on Friday 17 April from 6pm to midnight. As well as stalls selling retro and vintage items, there’s live music, microtheatre and performances. You can also enjoy DJ sessions and buy food and drinks from food trucks.
You need a ticket to enter, available from La Térmica website on Wednesday 15 April from noon.
Sporting events in Malaga in April
Events on the sporting scene this month include:
El Palo Fun Run
A veteran event (2026 is the 46th year) and a classic on the local running circuit, this 2k, 5k or 10k run takes place on Sunday 19 April in El Palo. Sign up costs €5 and you can do so here (before 10 April).
Discover our 5 favourite running routes in Malaga
Running Makes Friends
This fun run is back again for its third edition and takes place on Sunday 26 April from 10am. There are two options – 5k and 10k – and all proceeds go to the Aldeas Infantiles SOS children’s home charity. Full details and link to sign up here.
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