Comares Fair 2026: four days of verdiales, live music, tradition and celebrations in honour of San Hilario de Poitiers

Comares is preparing for one of the biggest weekends on its festive calendar. From Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August 2026, this hilltop village in Málaga’s Axarquía will host four days of celebrations combining local traditions, live music and religious events.

The verdiales, one of the municipality’s strongest cultural symbols, will feature throughout the programme. They will be joined by a choir gathering, ribbon races on bicycles, motorbikes and horseback, concerts and events dedicated to San Hilario de Poitiers, the patron saint of Comares.

The fair is also a good opportunity to discover one of inland Málaga’s most distinctive white villages, known as the “Balcony of the Axarquía” because of its elevated position and panoramic views across the surrounding countryside.

Thursday 27 August: choirs open the fair

The celebrations begin on Thursday 27 August at 10pm with a choir gathering featuring groups from several towns across the Axarquía.

Performers will include the Árchez Municipal Rociero Choir, La Blanca Paloma from Corumbela, the Cútar Municipal Choir from El Salto del Negro, the Sayalonga Municipal Rondalla and Comares’ own Balcón de la Axarquía Choir.

The opening night will continue at midnight with a performance by Aire Flamenco.

Friday 28 August: verdiales, ribbon races and a tribute to El Barrio

Friday brings one of the most varied programmes of the weekend.

Traditional bicycle ribbon races will take place during the day, while the El Borge Verdiales Group will perform in Plaza de los Verdiales.

The evening programme includes the Moonlight Orchestra, Legado, with a tribute show dedicated to El Barrio, and DJ Toulalan.

The day will also feature the election of the children’s and youth fair queen and mister.

Saturday 29 August: Nolasco and local traditions take centre stage

Saturday begins early, with a diana floreada at 9.30am accompanied by the Benamocarra Music Band.

At midday, a rociero mass in honour of San Hilario de Poitiers will be held with the participation of the Balcón de la Axarquía Choir.

The daytime fair will continue with music from El Mole, Maragatas Comares y Pedanías and Arrejuntaos.

Later in the afternoon, the traditional motorbike ribbon races will take place.

At night, the Panda 1ª de Comares will bring the sound of verdiales back to the fair before another performance by the Moonlight Orchestra and a concert by Nolasco, one of the headline artists of the 2026 programme.

DJ Toulalan will complete the evening.

Sunday 30 August: horseback ribbon races and the San Hilario procession

The final day keeps the focus firmly on local traditions.

Sunday will feature horseback ribbon races, another long-established activity associated with traditional fairs in Andalusia.

The Arroyo Conca Verdiales Group will also perform during the day.

One of the most important moments of the entire fair will be the procession in honour of San Hilario de Poitiers, bringing residents together to pay tribute to the patron saint of Comares.

The celebrations will then come to a close with music from the Moonlight Orchestra and Leyenda Eterna.

Comares and its strong connection with verdiales

A visit to the fair is also a chance to discover one of Málaga province’s most characteristic musical traditions.

Comares has a particularly strong connection with verdiales, a traditional local style performed by groups known as pandas using instruments such as violin, guitars, cymbals and tambourine.

The municipality even gives its name to the Comares style of verdiales, one of the recognised forms of this musical tradition.

That heritage remains very much alive during the fair, when performances can be heard in squares and different parts of the village.

A weekend to discover the Balcony of the Axarquía

The fair can also serve as an excuse to explore Comares beyond the festivities.

Located at more than 700 metres above sea level, the village is known for its narrow streets, whitewashed houses and viewpoints overlooking large parts of the Axarquía.

Between concerts, processions and traditional activities, visitors can explore the old town, sample local food and enjoy a landscape very different from the nearby Costa del Sol.

From 27 to 30 August, Comares will therefore combine music, heritage and tradition in four days featuring verdiales, flamenco, live concerts, horses, bicycles and celebrations in honour of its patron saint.

Full details of the celebration and its connection with the local verdiales tradition can be found in the official Comares Fair information published by Comares Town Hall.