Feria de Málaga takes over the city for a week every August, built around 19 August, Málaga's local holiday. The 2026 fair ran from Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 August and opened at midnight on Friday 14 August with a drone show and pyromusical fireworks over La Malagueta beach. From Marbella it is an easy day out: the two cities are about 60 kilometres apart by road, and the Avanza coach from Marbella bus station reaches Málaga in 45 to 60 minutes, leaving roughly every half hour from early morning until late at night. We add the 2027 dates as soon as the Ayuntamiento de Málaga confirms them.
What happens during Feria de Málaga?
It is two fairs in one day, in two different places.
The Feria de Día takes over the historic centre from noon until around 6pm. Calle Larios fills with verdiales dancers, and there is free live music in Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de las Flores, Plaza de la Merced and Plaza Mitjana.
After sunset everything moves west to the Real del Cortijo de Torres, the fairground, where the Feria de Noche runs until dawn. Over 200 casetas are open to the public, alongside funfair rides, food stalls and free nightly concerts, flamenco and horse shows.
19 August is the fair's big day, a local public holiday in Málaga city marking 1487, the year the city became part of the Crown of Castile. Expect the centre to be at its fullest.
How do you get to Feria de Málaga from Marbella?
The coach is the simplest option and drops you at Málaga bus station, a short walk from the centre and the Feria de Día. For the night fair, the special Line F bus runs out to the fairground; in 2026 it ran 24 hours a day from noon on 16 August until the early hours of 23 August, at 2 euros a ticket. Official taxi ranks sit on Avenida de las Malagueñas and Avenida Ortega y Gasset, which is also the pickup point for Uber, Bolt and Cabify.
One planning note. The night fair carries on long after the last coach back to Marbella, so either make the Feria de Día your day out, or budget for a taxi home. Driving in and parking near the Real is not worth attempting during fair week.
Is the feria worth the trip if you are staying on the coast?
Feria week is the one time all year the whole province turns up in the same place, and it is free to attend. If you are here for the beach rather than the casetas, the coast is quieter than usual on 19 August, which makes it a good day to stay put. See our guide to the best areas to stay in Marbella and our Marbella summer events calendar, and if you are booking beyond the summer, Marbella in September is the calmer, still warm month.
Every Premavista guest is met in person on arrival by a host, never a lockbox, so local questions like which coach to take get answered by someone who has taken it. Tell us your dates and who is travelling through our contact page or on WhatsApp at +34 600 543 173, and we will suggest a home that fits.
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