Free leisure activities for young people: everything you need to know about the 1,800 spots for activities until August

The municipal program for youth, Alterna en tu Ocio 2026, offers more than 1,800 spots in free recreational activities over 19 weekends, from March to August 1st. The first phase of this program, organized annually by the Youth Department, will begin next March 6th and includes sports activities, artistic and culinary workshops, cultural visits, group games, excursions, among others.

The councilor for Youth, Mercedes Martín, presented today the schedule for the first phase of Alterna en tu Ocio, a program whose main goal is to promote healthy habits among young people aged 15 to 35 during their free time.

The program will continue in September and will last until the end of the year, accounting for a total of 31 weekends with free activities throughout 2026.

This new edition of Alterna en tu Ocio, supported by the National Drug Plan from the Ministry of Health, will once again include the most popular activities such as culinary ones, where young people learn to prepare dishes from different countries. Also, the most demanded cultural activities from previous editions are scheduled again, such as visits to museums and guided tours of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, which now include virtual reality glasses during the tour. Other new features are 3D modeling activities, graphic design, virtual and augmented reality strategy games, and new equipment for youth activities on Martínez Falero street in the Eastern district. There will also be technological activities, artistic workshops, crafts, and a wide variety of recreational activities.

Additionally, for the summer season, activities to enjoy the coast such as diving initiation, kayaking, paddle-surfing, or beach volleyball, and other outdoor activities like 'Alterna and the Stars' astronomical observations have been planned again.

Any young person between 15 and 35 years old who was born, resides, studies, or works in Málaga can participate in the program, after registering in the Youth Area database on the website www.juventud.malaga.eu, where all the information about each activity is available, as well as the forms, registration deadlines, and dates of the activities. Registration and additional information can also be obtained at La Caja Blanca, located on Avenida Editor Ángel Caffarena, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm.

Alterna en tu Ocio 2026 Schedule

March

- Friday 6. History of Málaga in virtual reality.

- Saturday 7. Alterna and gaming culture; Alterna and magic.

- Friday 13. Workshops at La Caja Blanca: artisanal soaps; making sushi; cyanotype, 19th-century photography; learn to make your own podcast.

- Saturday 14. Our origins from the Alcazaba; cooking fresh pasta.

April

- Friday 10. Alterna with cinema; Alterna climbing.

- Saturday 11. Third fire youth space; 3D modeling youth space.

- Friday 17. Workshops at La Caja Blanca: scrap techniques, midori in fabric; polymer clay; create your candles; board games.

- Saturday 18. Escapism; cooking with chocolate.

- Friday 24. Graphic design, manga; rings youth space; Alterna and the stars.

- Saturday 25. Gastronomy: doughs; dive into the Alcazaba in virtual reality.

May

- Friday 1. Alterna and gaming culture; climbing initiation.

- Saturday 2. Escapism.

- Friday 8. Workshops at La Caja Blanca: polymer clay, creating jewelry; learn lettering on fabric; dubbing cinematography; escapism: Stranger Things.

- Saturday 9. Alterna and magic; our history from Gibralfaro; Indian cooking.

- Friday 15. Alterna and the museums: Thyssen; Alterna climbing.

- Friday 22. Alterna and the stars; escapism.

- Saturday 23. Climbing; gastronomy: desserts; Alterna with cinema.

- Friday 29. Mexican cooking; from the Iberians to today.

- Saturday 30. Theater and self-awareness; third fire; visit San Miguel cemetery.

June

- Friday 5. Workshops at La Caja Blanca: making sushi; rings; create natural cosmetics; board games.

- Saturday 6. Vegetarian cooking; Alterna with cinema; discover the La Araña deposits; visit San Miguel cemetery.

- Friday 12. Alterna and the stars; gastronomy: cold cooking.

- Saturday 13. Beach volleyball at Misericordia; our history from Gibralfaro; Roman Malaca.

- Friday 19. Alterna climbing; our origins from the Alcazaba.

- Saturday 20. Water sports; cooking: juices, smoothies, and ice creams; theatrical visit: legends and mysteries.

- Friday 26. Paddle-surf route; gastronomy: Peruvian cooking; escapism.

- Saturday 27. Diving baptism; Alterna with cinema.

July

- Friday 3. Our origins from the Alcazaba; RVA strategy games.

- Saturday 4. Kayak route; Alterna and magic; Alterna with cinema.

- Friday 10. Alterna climbing; Asian cooking.

- Saturday 11. Alterna with cinema; Our history from Gibralfaro; discover the La Araña deposits.

- Friday 17. Diving baptism; dive into the Alcazaba in virtual reality.

- Saturday 18. 'Pickeball'; Latin American gastronomy; visit to San Miguel cemetery.

- Friday 24. Beach volleyball at Misericordia; Alterna and the museums: Glass Museum.

- Saturday 25. Gastronomy: Moroccan cooking; Alterna with cinema.

- Friday 31. Water sports; from the Iberians to today.

August

- Saturday 1. Beach volleyball at Misericordia; RVA strategy games.