‘Aires de barrio’: Málaga will hand out 3,000 fans to support local businesses during the Fair

The 2026 Málaga Fair will not only fill the city with music, tradition and celebrations. It will also serve as a showcase for local businesses thanks to ‘Aires de barrio’, a new campaign launched by Málaga Comercio and Málaga City Council to strengthen the visibility of neighbourhood shops during one of the periods with the highest number of visitors.

The initiative will distribute 3,000 reusable and sustainable hand fans across different parts of the city. Besides being particularly useful during Málaga’s hot August temperatures, the fan is also closely associated with the traditional image of the Fair.

The fan as a symbol of neighbourhood businesses

The campaign was presented beside the Fair entrance installed on Calle Marqués de Larios. Its concept connects one of Málaga’s most characteristic festive accessories with the importance of the small businesses that form part of everyday life in the city’s neighbourhoods.

Under the slogan Aires de barrio, the fan becomes a way of reminding residents and visitors that local businesses generate employment, support families, provide personalised service and contribute to keeping Málaga’s different districts active.

The president of Málaga Comercio, Lorena García, highlighted the role played by local businesses and explained that the campaign aims to bring this message directly to people enjoying the Fair at one of the busiest times of the year.

Distribution across Málaga’s main shopping areas

The fans will be distributed by accredited staff in Málaga’s main commercial districts, particularly in areas experiencing high footfall during the celebrations.

Some will also be available directly from participating businesses, encouraging visitors to discover local shops and extending the campaign beyond the areas most closely associated with the Fair.

Because the fans are reusable, the initiative is also expected to remain visible after the festivities have ended, extending the message of support for local commerce beyond the Fair itself.

The Fair as an opportunity for local businesses

The Málaga Fair is traditionally one of the busiest tourism and commercial periods of the year. The arrival of visitors and the movement of residents around the city create an opportunity for smaller businesses to gain greater visibility.

The campaign aims to take advantage of this period to remind people that experiencing Málaga also means visiting its shops, bars and neighbourhood businesses.

Málaga Comercio stresses that support for local businesses should not be limited to festive periods. The wider goal is for those receiving a fan during the Fair to take away a message that remains relevant throughout the year: shopping locally directly contributes to maintaining the economic activity and identity of Málaga’s neighbourhoods.

An ongoing partnership throughout 2026

‘Aires de barrio’ forms part of the ongoing collaboration between Málaga Comercio and Málaga City Council to promote commercial activity and support the city’s local business network.

For this campaign, tradition and economic promotion come together through a simple object closely associated with Málaga’s celebrations. During the Fair, the 3,000 fans will carry a message of support for the businesses that form part of the city’s everyday life.

Campaign: ‘Aires de barrio’
Number of fans: 3,000 reusable and sustainable units
Distribution: Main shopping areas and participating businesses
Objective: To promote and increase the visibility of local businesses during the 2026 Málaga Fair

Information sources: Al Sol de la Costa, Málaga Comercio and Málaga City Council.