Málaga hosts a major national gathering of Catholic laypeople this weekend

Málaga will become a meeting point this weekend for hundreds of Catholics arriving from different parts of Spain. From Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July, the city will host the Parish Laypeople Meeting Málaga 2026, a national event organised by Acción Católica General and open to children, young people and adults.

The meeting will bring together more than 1,200 participants, representatives from 50 Spanish dioceses and around ten bishops. Those expected to attend include the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Luis Argüello, and the mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre.

A meeting focused on accompaniment

The event will be held under the motto “Sharing paths, accompanying hopes”, an idea that reflects the central purpose of the programme: to reflect on the role of laypeople in parish life and on the importance of accompanying people through the Christian community.

Acción Católica General presents this meeting as a space to share experiences, strengthen parish life and renew the commitment of laypeople in a social context marked by uncertainty, the need for listening and the search for community spaces.

Málaga at the centre of a national event

Although the meeting has a national scope, Málaga’s participation will be especially significant. Of the more than 1,200 registered participants, more than 370 are from Málaga province, representing 45 parishes in the diocese.

The city will also play an active role in different parts of the programme, which will take place in venues such as the Ciudad Jardín Sports Pavilion, the Faculty of Marketing and Management at the University of Málaga, Plaza de la Victoria and Málaga Cathedral.

Weekend programme

The opening day will begin on Friday 24 at the Ciudad Jardín Sports Pavilion, with the welcome session, the opening ceremony and the first Eucharist. Participants will then move to the University of Málaga, where working sessions will be held by age group for children, young people and adults.

On Saturday 25, workshops and reflection spaces will continue. In the afternoon, the programme will include cultural and leisure activities around the city, before the prayer vigil and concert scheduled in Plaza de la Victoria.

The meeting will conclude on Sunday 26 at Málaga Cathedral, with the final ceremony and the sending-off Eucharist, presided over by the Bishop of Málaga, José Antonio Satué.

An opportunity to strengthen parish life

The Parish Laypeople Meeting aims to encourage the active participation of the faithful in their communities and reinforce the idea of the parish as a place of listening, accompaniment and commitment.

For three days, Málaga will become a setting for prayer, training, fellowship and shared reflection. The event will not only have an impact on the internal life of the Church, but also on the city’s social calendar, bringing together more than a thousand participants across different urban spaces.

📍 Location: Málaga.
📅 Dates: 24 to 26 July 2026.
⛪ Event: Parish Laypeople Meeting Málaga 2026.
👥 Participants: more than 1,200 registered attendees.
🗺️ Origin: 50 Spanish dioceses.
🏛️ Venues: Ciudad Jardín, University of Málaga, Plaza de la Victoria and Málaga Cathedral.
🎯 Motto: “Sharing paths, accompanying hopes”.

The information comes from the article published by Málaga Hoy and the official programme released by Acción Católica General.