Christmas markets, lights switch-ons, Nutcrackers, carol concerts and festive family days — the whole season, town by town.
Season: 15 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027
10 events in 5 towns
Paseo Marítimo & town centre, Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares' Christmas season — the lights switch-on, a Christmas market and family activities along the promenade and centre, running through to Three Kings. Opening night confirmed nearer the date.
La Manga del Mar Menor
The Christmas lights switch-on and festive market brighten the strip through December — a quiet, family affair in La Manga's off-season.
Puerto de Mazarrón
The Christmas lights switch-on, a festive market and family activities along the port promenade through to Epiphany. Opening night confirmed nearer the date.
Plaza de España, Águilas
The Christmas lights switch-on, a festive market and family activities around Plaza de España and the seafront through to Epiphany. Opening night confirmed nearer the date.
Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos "Infanta Elena"
Concierto de Navidad at Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos "Infanta Elena", Águilas, on Saturday 26 December at 20:00. Free entry. Details from Región de Murcia Turismo.
Calle Mayor & town centre, Cartagena
Cartagena's Christmas season — the lights switch-on, a Christmas market and family activities around Calle Mayor and the port, running through to Three Kings. Opening night confirmed nearer the date.
City centre, Cartagena
The city's Christmas arts-and-crafts market, open 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00 from mid-December to 5 January. Its square changes from year to year (Plaza Juan XXIII last season), so check the venue nearer the time.
Parque de la Rambla (next to the Cartagonova stadium), Cartagena
A Christmas music festival in a 2,500-capacity tent in Parque de la Rambla, next to the Cartagonova stadium. Highlights include Despistaos (18 Dec), La M.O.D.A. with Pájaro Guía (19 Dec), Demarco Flamenco (26 Dec), two days of Rock in Carthago (20 and 27 Dec), a New Year's Eve party and themed nights until 10 January. Start times aren't published yet; concert tickets are sold online, and the festival is for over-16s.
Port seafront promenade, Cartagena
A Christmas food market on the port's seafront promenade, with free lunchtime concerts (around 13:00 on weekends and holidays), a children's area and workshops, from just before Christmas to Three Kings. Last season ran 18 December to 6 January; this year's line-up is confirmed nearer the time.
Auditorio El Batel, Cartagena
The Joven Orquesta Sinfónica de Cartagena (JOSCT) plays its traditional Christmas concert at the Auditorio El Batel — a festive end-of-year programme. 20:00.
On the Costa Cálida, Cartagena leads with its Christmas lights, market and concerts, while the Mar Menor towns of Los Alcázares and La Manga, Puerto de Mazarrón and Águilas hold their own lights switch-ons and markets. Every event we know of is below, grouped by town and in date order.
Christmas on the coast runs longer than most visitors expect. The lights go up in late November, each town switches them on with a market, music and often fireworks, and the season doesn't really end until the Three Kings arrive on 5–6 January. In between there's a busy run of Christmas markets, nativity scenes (belenes), ballet and choral concerts, and festive family days.
A few things work differently from back home: the big family meal is on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) rather than Christmas Day; 25 December, 1 January and 6 January are public holidays; and the presents traditionally come from the Three Kings on the morning of 6 January — though in towns with large international communities, Father Christmas does the rounds too.
Most towns switch on their Christmas lights between the last weekend of November and the first week of December, usually with a market, music and entertainment. The dates for each town are listed above.
Christmas markets typically open with the lights switch-on in late November or early December and run until early January. Opening days and hours vary by town, so check each listing above.
25 December (Christmas Day), 1 January (New Year's Day) and 6 January (Three Kings' Day) are national holidays. 8 December (Immaculate Conception) is also a holiday. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are normal working days, though many places close early.
Traditionally on the morning of 6 January, brought by the Three Kings, who parade through every town on the evening of 5 January (the Cabalgata de Reyes). Many families now celebrate on 25 December as well.
List it free. Once it's checked it appears on this guide and on the town's What's On page, with a link to your tickets.