Marbella in October 2026 has three fixed dates worth planning around. Marbella 4Days Walking runs from 1 to 4 October, the 21st Marbella International Film Festival runs from 7 to 12 October, and the beach clubs close in the same fortnight, with Ocean Club Marbella on 3 October and Nikki Beach Marbella on 11 October. If you want a bed in town, aim for the first half of the month, because that is when Marbella is fullest.
Marbella 4Days Walking, 1 to 4 October
This is the 15th anniversary edition and the largest four-day walking event in Spain. Routes of 10, 20 and 30 kilometres start in Marbella and run through the old town, the hills behind it and along the beach. Only 4,000 tickets are released, and Dutch and Belgian walkers take a large share of them. A White Party opens the event on the Wednesday and a Neon Disco closes it on the Saturday. If you are walking 30 kilometres a day, stay within reach of the start line rather than out in Elviria.
Is October still warm enough for the beach?
Yes. Sea temperatures along this stretch of coast sit around 22 degrees through the month, and daytime highs hold in the mid twenties well into the final week. What changes is the crowd, not the weather. The chiringuitos stay open, the Paseo MarĂtimo is calm again, and you can get a table in Puerto BanĂşs at places that were fully booked in August. That combination is why October has become the coast's most useful shoulder month, and why it keeps appearing in our guide to the best time to visit Marbella.
Film Festival and the end of the beach club season
The 21st Marbella International Film Festival runs from 7 to 12 October, with red carpet screenings, industry workshops and the Pitch Your Vision competition. It brings a different visitor to the August crowd: weekday arrivals, longer stays, little interest in day beds. The clubs wind down around it. Ocean Club Marbella holds its closing party at the saltwater pool in Puerto BanĂşs on 3 October, and Nikki Beach Marbella closes the 2026 season on 11 October with a beachfront farewell.
What October means for owners
October rewards owners who price by the fortnight rather than the month. Premavista manages 15 properties on this coast, nine of them in Marbella itself, and October needs two prices, not one. The first fortnight carries the walking event and the festival. The second half suits longer stays and early winter lets. Leave August rates in place all month and you lose the walkers. Drop to winter rates on 1 October and you give away festival week.
If you own a property here and want the first half of October priced properly, see our Marbella rental management service or our full holiday rental management package, then message us on WhatsApp through premavista.com.
