What’s new in Malaga in 2026?

Welcome to our ‘traditional’ annual round-up, when we take a look at the new year in the city. This round-up of what’s new in Malaga in 2026 includes special events, the latest developments and tourist news over the next year.

All the information comes from official sources, but that’s no guarantee the listed items will actually happen! And as you’ll see in the last section, several things supposed to take place last year are now on the slate for 2026.

Special anniversaries in Malaga in 2026

2026 marks several landmarks in Malaga. They include:

150th anniversary of La Malagueta bullring

Opened in 1876, Malaga’s bullring celebrates its 150th birthday this year, with several themed bullfights and exhibitions. Events start with a Picassian bullfight (the artist was a keen fan and bullfighting is a key theme in his works) on 4 April and close with a bullfighting festival in November.

While at Guide to Malaga we don’t support bullfighting or promote it, the bullring is an important monument in La Malagueta and forms an essential part of its patrimony. We therefore couldn’t miss adding this anniversary. Hopefully, the celebrations will also include cultural events – it’s a great concert space!

Religious anniversaries in Malaga in 2026

As well as the Holy Week processions (29 March to 5 April this year), the city celebrates the following religious milestones:

75th anniversary of the Santo Traslado

The Holy Transfer commemorates the 75th year of its blessing, with a special procession in the Trinidad district on 7 November.

50th anniversary of the Christ of Passion

This image, housed in Los Mártires Church, celebrates its half-century this year, with lots of events. The main one takes place on 14 November, with a large procession in the city centre.

We will be adding times and itineraries of the processions to our November round-up when they’re available.

New developments in Malaga in 2026

Malaga has several large-scale projects in the pipeline. Expect to see movement on those below over the next 12 months.

Centro Cultural La Chimenea

The landmark chimney in the Molinillo district to the north of the old quarter will get a new lease of life, with the construction of the Centro Cultural La Chimenea. The buildings, once the Fiat Lux thermoelectrical plant, will become a space for cultural events and the performing arts.

Work should have started last year and finished this year, but the Council has yet to finalise plans. Fingers crossed this interesting project finally sees the light in 2026.

Campamento Benítez

This project was also supposed to be completed last year, but… Once a military compound, this vast open space near Malaga Airport is still undergoing a significant and much-needed facelift to the tune of €10 million. The ‘greening’ of the park includes the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, and the reconditioning of areas to create play parks, sports installations and picnic spaces. Expect it to open in the summer.

New amusement park

Malaga should welcome a giant amusement park in late spring/early summer when Sould Park should open. This big space, near Plaza Mayor, will house funfair attractions (think dodgems, rollercoaster, merry-go-rounds…), a large bowling alley and mini-golf complex.

New for tourists in Malaga in 2026

Expect to see Malaga as popular as ever, particularly as Condé Nast Traveler pinpointed the Costa del Sol as a top spot in Spain and Portugal to visit this year.

Alcazaba to open at night

After improvements to its lighting, the Alcazaba Fortress should be ready to open for evening visits this year. Up until now, the monument has rarely been visitable after dark except on special occasions such as Noche en Blanco.

We welcome this new initiative – it’s a very magical space by moonlight, with a unique atmosphere – and look forward to telling you more!

New 5-star hotel

Joining the ever-growing list of 5-star hotels in Malaga will be the Palacio de la Tinta in La Malagueta. This historic building, dating from 1908, is currently being beautifully restored and will be a 5-star Eurostars hotel with 141 rooms. There’ll also be a restaurant and terrace on the fourth floor. Expect this one to open for Easter.

Can’t wait until Easter?

Treat yourself to a 5-star hotel stay at these gems.

Flight connections in 2026

Malaga-New York – United Airlines resumes its daily Newark-Malaga flight from 1 May until the end of September. The company has promised to consider introducing a year-round service.

Malaga-Shanghai – the Andalusian authorities are negotiating with Air China to set up a direct route connecting the regions. Malaga Airport is in the running, but so are Seville and Granada Airports.

Malaga-Granada – travel between the two cities could soon be possible by air taxi. Enaire did some test runs in late 2025, probably implementing the service during 2026.

Updated travel guide

As usual, the Guide to Malaga team has updated Malaga on a Short Break, our best-selling Malaga travel guide, ready for 2026. The bumper ebook includes everything you need to know to make the most of a holiday in Malaga, whether you’re visiting for 2,3, 4 or 5 days.

And it’s yours for just €6.95. Download your copy now.

Great events in Malaga this year

As usual, the city has a calendar packed with events, with something big taking place almost every month. They start in February with Carnival (super early this year) and continue with the Film Festival and Easter in March.

Our Year of the Best Events sums them up, with dates.

New art in Malaga in 2026

As usual, the city’s art museums will showcase world-class creations, with several promising exhibitions this year. They include:

MuCAC Mayoristas

The old CAC Malaga, one of our favourite art museums in the city, has been closed for over a year for refurbishment and a new look. While the rebrand is ready – MuCAC Mayoristas, work has been delayed and, with it, the reopening. We hope to see this revamped space open by the summer.

2026 exhibitions at the Picasso Museum

The most-visited museum in southern Spain has a packed calendar and promising exhibitions this year. They include:

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 from 23 January to 3 May.

Munch-Picasso: Influences and Affinities

This exhibition explores how both artists opened the way to modern art through experimentation. Works on display come from world-class museums such as the Munchmuseet Oslo, Tate Britain and MoMA. The around 100 works include paintings, engravings and sketches. See it from 30 October to 28 February 2027.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

Exhibitions at this museum in 2026 include:

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 from 5 February to 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 from 23 March to 6 September.

What might be new in Malaga in 2026

Who knows, maybe the following will happen this year.

Malaga FC to return to the first division?

In the 2000s, Malaga FC played with the biggies in Spain and Europe, but those glory days have yet to return, with the city’s football team currently playing their ninth season in the second division. They sit in the middle of the table, but a recent flurry of wins has fans excited that 2026 could be the year Malaga FC returns to the first division.

Final permission for the Torre del Puerto?

To be honest, the ins and outs of this giant tower next to the Cruise Terminal in Malaga Port have gone on for so long, we’ve rather lost track! In late 2025, David Chipperfield and his architectural team finally presented their project for the 144m tower. It then looked as if the Spanish Cabinet would approve the licence and work could start.

However, the licitation paperwork was apparently not in order and, as a result, there are two legal processes against it. Plus, there’s considerable local opposition to the project. So, who knows?

Regeneration of the Guadalmedina River bed?

Guide to Malaga users often write to us asking about possible plans for the river bed dividing the old quarter from the west of the city. Malaga Council has also wondered about it, with years of possible projects in the archives.

In mid-2025, the Council presented ambitious plans to convert the lower stretch of the Guadalmedina River into an urban green space, with four bridge-squares over it (see the artist’s impression below). The scheme would cost an estimated (and eye-watering) €300 million and take several years to come about.

This project has a question mark hanging over it, as the Council on one side, and local architects and environmentalists on the other, debate its future. The latter argue that the river should be fully restored to a clean natural space, as has already taken place in the upper reaches near the Rosaleda Stadium.

Expect this debate to resurge every so often over the next year.

What won’t change in 2026

Finally, a few things that will stay the same in 2026.

The Guide to Malaga team will continue to provide reliable, up-to-date information about Malaga for English-speaking tourists and residents.

Our fortnightly Newsletter will continue to provide useful information about the city and upcoming events.

Guide to Malaga will continue to promote sustainable tourism, highlighting local gems and independent businesses and trying to help us all be ‘good tourists‘. Our maxim will remain ‘less is more’.

And Malaga will continue to give you her usual warm welcome. See you in 2026!