ANUAL EVENTS - BENALMÁDENA

All you can want to know about Benalmádena

CARNIVAL

Benalmádena is lighthearted and cheerful when Carnival arrives in February. Every February, numerous satirical "letrillas" and "chirigotas" are sung by groups of friends, or murgas, who gather in the "Casa de la Cultura" to celebrate our "Gran Gala de Carnaval".

The starting gun goes off at the Drag Queen Gala, one of the most important on the peninsula, with the participation of drag performers from all over Spain. The Plaza de la Mezquita is filled that night with magic, light, colour and music.

With a long tradition in Benalmádena, our carnival attracts groups from other parts of Andalusia who contribute to add extra sparkle to a festivity with deep popular roots which explodes on the day of the "Gran Desfile de Carnaval" and ends with the "Entierro de la Lagartija". Carnival in Benalmádena is transgression and at the same time it is tradition, it is ingenuity and it is carefree.

SAINT PATRICK´S DAY

During this traditional Irish celebration, activities and festivities take place in Irish pubs, and generally, the Irish community and anyone who wants to join in dance and have fun near the area of Parque de la Paloma. The official day of the celebration is March 19th and 20th, although in some years it has been held on the 18th of the same month.

EASTER

Religious fervour and passion of the people

At Holy Week the manifestations of popular religiosity in Benalmádena are everywhere. These festivities are able to attract thousands of people eager to get to know our traditions and are experienced in our municipality with extraordinary fervour.

On these special dates the different brotherhoods hold numerous processions both in Arroyo de la Miel and in Benalmádena Pueblo. You can't miss the procession of the Virgen de la Soledad, which goes through the historic quarter of Benalmádena Pueblo on the night of Good Friday and takes place in absolute silence. An experience you will never forget.

EL PASO 

One of the events worth highlighting during Holy Week in Benalmádena is "El Paso", a unique tradition which consists of the theatrical representation of the passion and death of Jesus Christ in the surroundings of the "El Retamar" Periurban Park.

SEAFOOD FAIR

Seafood and fish lovers have an unmissable date in Benalmádena on the occasion of the celebration of its Seafood Fair.

The Seafood Fair is already a reference point on the Costa del Sol, a date marked on the calendar as a prelude to the start of the tourist season, where you can enjoy the good wines of Malaga and the best seafood at the best price, as well as the personal touch that the various participating restaurateurs give to each of their dishes.

The fair takes place in a unique 500 square metre marquee in the spectacular surrouondings of Puerto Marina. A place where the atmosphere is always lively and colourful during the event.

FLAMENCO FESTIVAL

The Benalmádena Flamenco Guitar Fest is a newly created festival, which debuted in 2018, and aims to become the benchmark for flamenco guitar in Málaga and the Costa del Sol. This new flamenco festival changes the traditional format of a single night into a series of several performances between spring and summer.

CORPUS CHRISTI

At the end of May or beginning of June, the Corpus Christi celebrations take place in Benalmádena.

On this special date the people of Benalmádena make a series of carpets of flowers in the streets of the old town, using up to 70,000 flower stalks.

On these carpets of flowers, carefully made by the locals over a period of days, the procession of "La Custodia" takes place on a day when the whole town is an explosion of floral aromas.

One of our most photographed traditions, it attracts visitors from all over the world.

VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

Sailor's fervour and pride

Every July, around the 16th, "La Virgen del Carmen", patron saint of sailors, is rocked on the waters. In the inlet of the Nautical Club of our port, the Benalmádena Divers Association extracts from the bottom of the sea the "small" image of the virgin, who spends the whole year under the waters, to take her out in procession.

She is venerated with fervour by the people of the sea, on board their boats, who worship her with fervour in the church of "La Virgen del Carmen" in Benalmádena Costa and in the Port Captaincy which, during "La Veladilla del Carmen", is the heart of this immemorial celebration, so dear, so ours, so seafaring.

GOLF COMPETTIONS

Throughout the year we organize all kinds of opens and collaborative competitions with different golf associations. 

Amateur golfers with a valid federation license, of any nationality and of both genders.

Players with an exact handicap of up to 36 can participate, with the slope limited to 24 for men and 30 for women.

Foreign players need to submit a current handicap certificate from their country of residence along with their registration.

ROMERIA de San Juan

 Third Sunday in June. The Romería (pilgrimage) departs with its adorned carts and horses from the San Juan neighborhood in Arroyo de la Miel to Benamaina Sur.

SAN JUAN:

 A festival celebrated on the night of June 23rd to 24th. Bonfires are lit on all the beaches of Benalmádena where entire families and friends gather to celebrate until dawn. In Arroyo de la Miel, "Júas" (effigies made of paper and old rags) are burned.

Next to Bil-Bil Castle, there are usually concerts and fireworks at midnight.

This is called the magical night, celebrating the arrival of the summer solstice and the shortest night of the year.

FERIA  de San Juan

In Arroyo de la Miel, from June 24th to 29th. These are the main festivities with lots of fun, music, dancing, musical performances, and popular events that attract a large number of locals and visitors. The daytime fair takes place in Plaza de la Mezquita, and the nighttime fair takes place at the fairgrounds.

THEATRE & MUSICALS

From July 1st to September 6th, the Summer Festival takes place in Benalmádena, where we can enjoy an extensive program of theatre, music, and outdoor cinema for all audiences at the Municipal Auditorium in Parque de la Paloma.

ARAB SOUK

At the end of August Benalmádena Pueblo goes back in time with its Arab Souk.

The event takes place in various locations in the town, such as the Plaza de las Tres Culturas and Plaza de España, Calle Real and the Jardines del Muro. With the aim of promoting trade and recalling the town's historical past, the Zoco illuminates the town with candlelight, decorates the streets with fabrics and has a multitude of stalls and tents offering a wide variety of Arab products such as spices, clothing, ceramics, workshops, calligraphers and sweets. 

Benalmadena residents and visitors can also enjoy a programme full of activities such as interactive parades with music and dance, a variety of belly dance workshops, Arabic mosaic or foot lathe workshops, archery, live music, Arabic calligraphy, traditional games and attractions for the little ones

VIRGEN DE LA CRUZ FAIR

Devotion to the Patroness

In Benalmádena, any time is a good time to enjoy yourself in style, but August is a must. In the middle of the month we enjoy the festivities in honour of the Virgen de la Cruz, Honorary Perpetual Mayoress and Patron Saint of Benalmádena Pueblo. These are days of great devotion, entertainment and cultural events.

Every year more and more people set aside the 15th of August so as not to miss this day, to stroll through the typical streets, to see them decorated, perfumed with incense and the soft smell of nardos that the throne of the Virgin leaves as it passes, nardos offered with great love by all the neighbours.

And to end the day, under the moonlight, the magic takes over the Plaza de España with the singing of the Salve, thousands of flares illuminating it while the bearers raise it to the sky, cheers and waves, sevillanas dances and the fervour of the whole town.

MUSICAL FESTIVAL

BENALFEST

The Benalmádena music festival that brings the essence of Sonorama to the south thanks to El Planeta Sonoro.

The indie spirit that has grown by leaps and bounds, making it possible for renowned artists such as Izal, Amaral, Shinova, Fangoria and Nena Daconte to perform at this festival. As well as local groups such as Ziryab among others.

Benalfest is held in the Recinto Ferial los Nadales de Benalmádena Pueblo, located on a beautiful cliff. Here, the waves of the sea roll in and you can enjoy magnificent views of the typical houses of the white Andalusian village.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 

FICCAB

November of cinema with the Benalmádena International Short Film and Alternative Film Festival

Heir to the mythical Semana Internacional del Cine de Autor, which disappeared at the end of the 80's, every November in our town there is a film festival that has brought to Benalmádena international figures of the Seventh Art such as Guillermo del Toro or Richard Lester, and stars of our cinema from Loles León to José Mota, passing through José Sazatornil, José Luís Cuerda or Emilio Gutiérrez Caba.

For a few days, Benalmádena is at the forefront of international cinema with a not only cultural event in which the whole municipality is involved. During the event, conferences, specialised forums and, naturally, numerous films are shown in the halls of the Casa de la Cultura, making Benalmádena the perfect getaway for film lovers.