What to do today, Friday 21 August, at Málaga Fair 2026: Antonio Carmona, horses, verdiales and family activities

The Málaga Fair 2026 reaches one of its final big days this Friday 21 August before coming to an end tomorrow. From midday onwards, celebrations will once again be split between the Historic Centre and the Cortijo de Torres fairground, with activities taking place throughout the day and into the early hours.

Verdiales return to Calle Larios, Plaza de la Merced continues its family programme, horses and carriages will parade through the fairground and La Malagueta will host another bullfight. At night, one of the main highlights will be Antonio Carmona, who performs at the Municipal Auditorium at 10:30pm.

Here is everything you need to know about what to do today at Málaga Fair.

Live music from 1pm in Plaza de la Constitución

Those starting the day at the city-centre Fair can head to Plaza de la Constitución, one of the main daytime stages.

Carlos Bravo will perform from 1pm to 4pm, followed by Lázaro Cruz from 4pm until 6pm.

There will also be live entertainment in Plaza de las Flores, Plaza del Obispo and Plaza de San Pedro Alcántara between 3pm and 6pm.

After 6pm, much of the Fair’s activity begins to move towards Cortijo de Torres.

Verdiales return to Calle Larios

Few scenes are more closely associated with the daytime Málaga Fair than a group of verdiales musicians performing on Calle Marqués de Larios.

This Friday, two groups representing the Montes style will take part.

Panda Los Cabales will perform from 1pm to 4pm, while Panda La Torre will play from 2pm to 5pm.

For visitors experiencing the Fair for the first time, this is one of the best opportunities to discover verdiales, one of Málaga province’s most distinctive traditional musical styles.

Choirs, dance and traditional Málaga folklore

Traditional culture also has its own dedicated programme.

From 12pm to 2pm, the choirs Málaga y Olé and Ecos del Perchel will perform alongside the Montse Bravo Dance Academy.

Later, from 4pm to 5pm, the programme continues with the choirs Mi Gente and Rebujito.

These performances offer a different side of the Fair, focused on local music, dance and traditions rather than rides and nightlife.

Flamenco at Peña Juan Breva

The historic Peña Juan Breva, at Calle Ramón Franquelo, 4, also continues its special Fair programme.

At 3pm, Isabel Guerrero will perform vocals accompanied by Ismael Rueda on guitar.

At 4:30pm, the Grupo Flamenco Saeta, featuring Rocío Portillo, will take over.

It is a good option for visitors looking to step away from the busiest streets for a while and experience flamenco in one of Málaga’s best-known traditional venues.

Things to do with children: the Magical Fair in Plaza de la Merced

Families continue to have one of their main meeting points at Plaza de la Merced.

From 12pm to 3:30pm, La Feria Mágica: De la Tierra a la Luna. 30 Aniversario offers a full programme aimed at younger visitors.

Activities include games, workshops, theatre, puppetry, street entertainment, magic, music and an eco-friendly carousel.

Participating artists and companies include Acuario Teatro, La Pili, Vibra Alto, Mago Luigi, La Carpa Teatro, Artrasto, Crystal Zircus, Manolo Supertramp, La Tremenda Compañía, Sésamo Teatro, Grupo Tenguerengue and Acuario Musical, among others.

It remains one of the best options for enjoying Málaga Fair with children during the daytime.

Victorino Martín bulls at La Malagueta

The afternoon also brings another major event at La Malagueta bullring.

At 7pm, Manuel Escribano, Emilio de Justo and Fortes will face bulls from Victorino Martín.

The event forms part of the closing stages of the Málaga Bullfighting Fair, which ends tomorrow with a special bullfight marking the 150th anniversary of La Malagueta.

Horses and carriages for eight hours at Cortijo de Torres

While much of the daytime activity is concentrated in the Historic Centre, the Cortijo de Torres fairground starts its programme from midday.

The traditional Horse and Carriage Parade will run from 12pm to 8pm along the official route through the fairground.

At 2pm, the Municipal Flamenco and Copla Marquee will feature Grupo Flamenco Sevillanas, with Gema Garcés.

‘Caballo, Toro y Tradición Malagueña’ with two performances

The equestrian programme continues at the Equestrian Exhibition Centre, located at Calle Antonio Rodríguez Sánchez, 39.

There will be two performances of ‘Caballo, Toro y Tradición Malagueña’ this Friday.

The first begins at 4pm, with a second performance at 10pm.

The show forms part of a wider programme in which horses and Andalusian equestrian traditions remain central throughout the Fair.

‘Operación chicle’, the evening show for children

Families arriving at Cortijo de Torres in the evening will find another alternative to the fairground rides.

At 9:30pm, the Municipal Children’s Marquee will host La Carpa Teatro with ‘Operación chicle’.

Families can therefore begin the day with the Magical Fair in Plaza de la Merced and continue with children’s theatre at the Real in the evening.

Antonio Carmona headlines Friday night

One of the most anticipated moments of the day arrives at 10:30pm at the Municipal Auditorium.

Antonio Carmona will headline Friday’s Grand Gala and is one of the main musical names of the final days of Málaga Fair.

The former Ketama member has built a career closely linked to the evolution of contemporary flamenco and its fusion with styles including pop, Latin music and jazz.

His performance will be one of the final major concerts of this year’s Fair before Paloma San Basilio takes over on Saturday for the closing night.

Verdiales continue until 3am

Traditional music does not stop after sunset.

At the Verdiales Marquee, Panda Santo Pítar, performing in the Montes style, will play from 10pm to 1am.

From midnight, Panda Coto Tres Hermanas, representing the Almogía style, will continue until 3am.

It offers another chance to experience verdiales in a very different atmosphere from the daytime performances on Calle Larios.

DJ Manuel Pallarés and the Spanish Song Competition final

Night-time entertainment continues simultaneously across several venues.

From 10pm, the Youth Area will host a set by DJ Manuel Pallarés.

At 10:30pm, the Municipal Flamenco and Copla Marquee will also host the final of the 19th ‘Ciudad de Málaga’ Spanish Song Competition, organised by the Amigos de la Copla Cultural Association.

The evening will also feature Toñi Ronquillo as a guest artist.

Friday 21 August: programme at a glance

• 12pm-2pm: traditional Málaga folklore.
• 12pm-3:30pm: Magical Fair in Plaza de la Merced.
• 12pm-8pm: Horse and Carriage Parade.
• 1pm-4pm: Carlos Bravo in Plaza de la Constitución.
• 1pm-5pm: verdiales on Calle Larios.
• 2pm: Grupo Flamenco Sevillanas at the fairground.
• 3pm: Isabel Guerrero at Peña Juan Breva.
• 3pm-6pm: live entertainment in several city-centre squares.
• 4pm-6pm: Lázaro Cruz in Plaza de la Constitución.
• 4pm and 10pm: Caballo, Toro y Tradición Malagueña.
• 4:30pm: Grupo Flamenco Saeta.
• 7pm: bullfight at La Malagueta.
• 9:30pm: Operación chicle at the Municipal Children’s Marquee.
• 10pm: DJ Manuel Pallarés.
• 10pm-3am: Málaga Verdiales Festival.
• 10:30pm: Antonio Carmona at the Municipal Auditorium.
• 10:30pm: final of the ‘Ciudad de Málaga’ Spanish Song Competition.

The penultimate day of Málaga Fair 2026

Friday also has a special significance: it is the penultimate day of Málaga Fair, which officially ends tomorrow, Saturday 22 August.

That makes today a good opportunity to experience both sides of the celebrations: start in the Historic Centre with music, verdiales or family activities, then head to Cortijo de Torres for horses, marquees, shows and concerts.

With Antonio Carmona as the main evening attraction, Friday’s programme brings together many of the elements that define Málaga Fair: flamenco, tradition, family entertainment and nightlife into the early hours.

Full times, performers, venues and any last-minute changes can be checked in the official Málaga Fair 2026 programme published by Málaga City Council.