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
31 events in 8 towns
Teatro Las Lagunas, Mijas
The Imperial Heritage Ballet dances Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker at Mijas's Teatro Las Lagunas — a classic Christmas-season ballet. 19:00.
Plaza de la Constitución, Mijas Pueblo
The white village's Christmas market in the Plaza de la Constitución — handmade sweets, crafts, decorations and toys, with the views down to the coast thrown in. Open daily from 11:00 to 19:00, from late November to 5 January (last season's run, per Mijas Tourism; this year's dates are confirmed nearer the time). Pair it with the village's solidarity Christmas-tree trail.
Plaza Virgen de la Peña, Mijas Pueblo
The white village lit up for Christmas — lights through the streets, a nativity scene and family activities around Plaza Virgen de la Peña, with programmes in La Cala and Las Lagunas too. Opening night confirmed nearer the date.
Teatro Manuel España, Camino del Albero 16, Las Lagunas, Mijas Costa
Flamenco singer Raúl el Balilla brings a zambomba, the Andalusian Christmas tradition of flamenco carols, to the Teatro Manuel España in Las Lagunas. Tickets from €16 in advance, €18 later.
Biblioteca de Arroyo de la Miel
Mercadillo Navideño de los Libros Solidarios at Biblioteca de Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, on Saturday 21 November at 10:00. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena
Benalmádena's three-day festival of Christmas around the world: stalls run by the town's international communities from more than 15 countries, with their festive food, drink and crafts, and music and dance from each. Usually the last weekend of November or the first of December, 12:00 to midnight (earlier close on the Sunday). This year's dates and square are confirmed nearer the time.
Museo Arqueológico y Precolombino
Descubre el Museo en Familia. Edición Navidad at Museo Arqueológico y Precolombino, Benalmádena, on Saturday 28 November at 17:30. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Casa de la Cultura
Festival de Navidad. Tango, Bailes Latinos y Danza Moderna at Casa de la Cultura, Benalmádena, on Tuesday 1 December at 19:00. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Casa de la Cultura
Festival de Navidad Música y Movimiento de Música at Casa de la Cultura, Benalmádena, on Wednesday 2 December at 18:00. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena
Benalmádena's Christmas programme across its three centres — lights and a market in Arroyo de la Miel, a nativity trail in the Pueblo and illuminations around Puerto Marina, running through to Epiphany. The switch-on date is confirmed nearer the time.
Casa de la Cultura, Benalmádena
The guitar groups of Benalmádena's municipal music and dance school give a Christmas concert at the Casa de la Cultura. Listed as free; the town hall doesn't give a price, so call 952 56 65 49 if you want to check.
Biblioteca de Arroyo de la Miel
Cuentos Antes de Navidad at Biblioteca de Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena, on Saturday 12 December at 12:00. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción, Benalmádena
The Coral Ciudad de Benalmádena hosts its Christmas choir gathering, singing carols and Christmas songs in the Inmaculada Concepción parish church. Listed as free; the town hall doesn't give a price.
Casa de la Cultura
Festival de Navidad. Danza Española Arroyo de la Miel at Casa de la Cultura, Benalmádena, on Monday 14 December. Times and details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Castillo de Bil Bil
Festival de Navidad at Castillo de Bil Bil, Benalmádena, on Tuesday 15 December at 18:30. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Castillo de Bil Bil
Festival de Navidad at Castillo de Bil Bil, Benalmádena, on Wednesday 16 December at 18:30. Details from Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena.
Plaza de La Constitución
Mercado Navideño at Plaza de La Constitución, Fuengirola, from 26 November to 20 December. Details from Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola.
Plaza de la Constitución, Fuengirola
Fuengirola's Christmas market fills the Plaza de la Constitución, by the town hall, with festive stalls and lights — and artificial snow for the kids on Saturday evenings, around 19:30. Open mornings and evenings (last year 10:30–14:30 and 17:00–21:00) and, unlike most on the coast, it closes just before Christmas. Free to wander.
Plaza de la Constitución, Fuengirola
Fuengirola's Christmas lights switch-on around Plaza de la Constitución and the town hall, with light-and-music shows on winter evenings, a Christmas market and family activities through to Epiphany. The switch-on is usually in late November; this year's date is confirmed nearer the time.
IPV Palace & Spa, Fuengirola
An English-language choir-and-orchestra Christmas concert by Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol at the IPV Palace & Spa — festive classics and carols.
Plaza Antonia Guerrero & old town, Estepona
Estepona's Christmas programme — the lights switch-on in Plaza Antonia Guerrero opens 50+ mostly-free family activities, a Christmas market and the botanical-garden light trail, running to Three Kings. Opening night is confirmed nearer the date.
Puerto Deportivo de Estepona (marina)
Father Christmas (San Nicolás) sails into Estepona's marina around midday to greet children — a free, festive family moment at the port.
Teatro-Auditorio Felipe VI, Estepona
The Nutcracker at the Teatro-Auditorio Felipe VI — Tchaikovsky's Christmas ballet danced live, a seasonal favourite for families. 19:00.
Alameda Park & town centre, Marbella
Marbella's Christmas season — the grand lights switch-on and the Christmas market in Alameda Park, with shows and family activities through to Three Kings. Opening night is confirmed nearer the date.
Avenida del Mar & Alameda Park, Marbella
More than 30 wooden stalls of crafts, decorations, gifts and Christmas sweets along Avenida del Mar — the Dalí sculpture boulevard between Alameda Park and the seafront — with free shows on the market stage through the holidays. Last season it opened daily from 12:00 to 22:00 until 5 January; this year's opening date is confirmed nearer the time.
Palacio de Congresos Adolfo Suárez, Marbella
Marbella's long-running charity Christmas bazaar (its 20th edition was in 2025) fills the Palacio de Congresos with Christmas decorations, jewellery, clothing and homeware, plus a food section and entertainment — every purchase goes to Cáritas. It runs over four days in mid-December (11–14 December last year); this year's dates are confirmed nearer the time.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, Marbella Old Town
The Collegium Musicum Costa del Sol choir and orchestra perform a Christmas programme — including Rutter's Magnificat and Hummel's Te Deum — in Marbella's old-town church. Entry by donation.
Avenida Palma de Mallorca, Torremolinos
A row of wooden chalets on Avenida Palma de Mallorca selling Christmas crafts, decorations and gifts, in the heart of town. Last season it opened 11:00–15:00 and 17:00–22:00 and ran until 2 January; it opens around the lights switch-on in early December — dates confirmed nearer the time.
Plaza Costa del Sol, Torremolinos
Torremolinos opens Christmas with a parade from Plaza San Miguel, the lights switch-on and a free concert in the centre, followed by weeks of markets, storytelling and family events through to Epiphany. The switch-on is usually in the first week of December; this year's date is confirmed nearer the time.
San Pedro Alcántara centre
San Pedro Alcántara lights up for Christmas — the switch-on, a festive market and family activities around the Boulevard and Plaza de la Iglesia through to Epiphany.
Muelle de Ribera & Plaza Antonio Banderas, Puerto Banús
The marina's Christmas market on Muelle de Ribera by Plaza Antonio Banderas — wooden chalets of gourmet, craft and gift stalls, an ice rink, children's workshops and visits from Santa and the Three Kings, all under the harbour lights. Runs daily through to Three Kings, with extended hours closer to Christmas. Opening date confirmed nearer the time.
On the Costa del Sol, Christmas lights and markets light up Marbella, Puerto Banús, San Pedro, Estepona, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos and Mijas Pueblo, with ballet, choral concerts and family shows through December — and Málaga's famous Calle Larios lights a short drive away. 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.