The Benalmádena Procession returns to El Retamar on Holy Thursday and Good Friday for its 76th edition.

Benalmádena is already facing the countdown for one of the most recognizable events of its Holy Week. El Paso, the historic representation of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, will be staged again on April 2 and 3, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, in the rustic park of El Retamar, where it will celebrate its 76th edition. The performance, which over the decades has become one of the main cultural and religious symbols of the municipality, will start at 11:00 AM on both days and will remain free of charge. The stage will once again be the natural setting of El Retamar, a space of about 5,000 square meters that allows the play to be performed outdoors and enhances its visual impact. The scale of El Paso de Benalmádena is once again reflected in the neighborhood mobilization that makes each edition possible. More than 150 residents participate in the setup, a number that the organization and the City Council raise to more than 170 people if collaborators and technical staff are included. This popular involvement continues to be one of the keys to a performance that has been held continuously since 1950. Far from being limited to the local scope, the event has also consolidated itself as one of the attractions of the Malaga Holy Week. Notably, El Paso is recognized as a Festival of Provincial Touristic Singularity and gathers an average of 3,000 spectators daily, according to the data released during the presentation of the 2026 edition. The interest this staging arouses is not explained solely by its religious nature. The combination of popular theater, tradition, neighborhood participation, and outdoor staging has allowed the performance to maintain its relevance and continue to attract audiences over the years. In addition, the tourist pull generated by these types of events during Holy Week is increasingly significant in various municipalities in the province. This year's edition also comes after the momentum provided by the 75th anniversary celebrated in 2025, a commemoration that gave a new boost to the projection of El Paso de Benalmádena. This momentum has contributed to increasing the anticipation for a new installment of a performance that is part of the fixed calendar of the locality. With all preparations now in their final stages, Benalmádena is thus ready to relive one of its most deeply rooted traditions. El Paso will once again turn El Retamar into the stage for the last moments of Christ's life and one of the points of greatest interest during Holy Week on the Costa del Sol.