Marbella marks Local Democracy Week with neighbourhood meetings and guided visits

Marbella is opening up a series of spaces for public participation as part of European Local Democracy Week. The programme includes meetings between residents and municipal representatives, activities for schoolchildren and guided visits to public facilities, all aimed at bringing local government closer to the community.

One of the main elements of the initiative is the “Get to Know Your District” programme, which will take place successively in Distrito Oeste, Las Chapas, San Pedro Alcántara, Distrito Este and Nueva Andalucía until 28 October.

The meetings will give residents the chance to learn more about projects carried out over the past year and raise questions, concerns or suggestions directly with municipal representatives.

Five neighbourhood meetings across Marbella

The “Get to Know Your District” programme is designed to bring public participation directly into local neighbourhoods.

Each meeting will include municipal representatives who will explain how the district board works, review recent projects and present current plans and investments.

Residents will then be able to ask questions and raise issues affecting their area.

According to the latest municipal programme, all meetings begin at 6:30 pm.

Distrito Oeste opens the programme on 20 October

The first meeting takes place on Tuesday 20 October in Distrito Oeste.

It will be held at Aula del Mar, El Faro de Marbella, from 6:30 pm.

This will mark the beginning of a series of meetings covering all five districts over just over a week.

Admission is free until capacity is reached.

Las Chapas hosts the second meeting

The next session will take place on Thursday 22 October in the Las Chapas district.

Residents will be able to attend the meeting at the Las Chapas municipal offices, again from 6:30 pm.

The format will remain the same, combining information on municipal projects and completed works with an open discussion involving local residents.

San Pedro Alcántara on 26 October

After the weekend, Local Democracy Week continues in San Pedro Alcántara.

The meeting will take place on Monday 26 October at 6:30 pm at the La Alcoholera Cultural Centre.

San Pedro has its own administrative structure within the municipality, so the meeting will focus on projects and matters specifically affecting this area.

Distrito Este meets on 27 October

The Distrito Este meeting will take place on Tuesday 27 October.

It will be held at the district offices at 12 Calle Antonio de Nebrija, starting at 6:30 pm.

Residents will be able to hear about ongoing projects in the eastern part of Marbella and raise questions directly with the relevant representatives.

Nueva Andalucía closes the district meetings

The final “Get to Know Your District” session will be held on Wednesday 28 October in Nueva Andalucía.

It will begin at 6:30 pm at the Centro Polivalente.

This meeting will complete the 2026 programme across Marbella’s five districts.

“Get to Know Your District” timetable

The scheduled meetings are:

• 20 October: Distrito Oeste, Aula del Mar-El Faro, 6:30 pm.
• 22 October: Las Chapas, municipal offices, 6:30 pm.
• 26 October: San Pedro Alcántara, La Alcoholera Cultural Centre, 6:30 pm.
• 27 October: Distrito Este, 12 Calle Antonio de Nebrija, 6:30 pm.
• 28 October: Nueva Andalucía, Centro Polivalente, 6:30 pm.

Admission is free until capacity is reached.

A behind-the-scenes tour of Teatro Ciudad de Marbella

The programme also includes activities offering a different look at public facilities.

On Tuesday 27 October, guided tours will be organised at Teatro Ciudad de Marbella.

There will be two sessions, one at 5:30 pm and another at 6:30 pm.

Each group will be limited to 20 participants.

The tour will provide access to areas that are not usually open to theatre audiences.

These include dressing rooms, technical areas and spaces linked to stage machinery and backstage operations.

How to join the theatre tours

Unlike the neighbourhood meetings, the theatre tours require advance registration because of limited capacity.

Bookings can be made through the channels provided by Marbella Town Hall as part of the official Local Democracy Week programme.

The aim is to show residents not only the auditorium and stage, but also the work that takes place behind the scenes before a performance begins.

A visit to see what happens to local waste

A second major guided visit will take place on Wednesday 28 October.

This time, participants will visit the Costa del Sol Environmental Complex in Casares.

The tour begins at 5:00 pm and will explain how waste from municipalities in the area is received, separated and processed.

Visitors will also be able to ask questions about recycling and waste management.

Transport will be provided

Marbella Town Hall has indicated that a bus service will be available for registered participants travelling to the environmental complex.

Advance registration is also required for this activity.

As well as explaining how the plant operates, the tour aims to show residents what happens to household waste after it is placed in the different recycling containers.

It offers a practical look at one of the public services that normally remains largely invisible.

Councillors will also visit local schools

Local Democracy Week also includes an educational element.

The “Councillors Visit My School” programme is running from 29 September to 29 October in schools across the municipality.

The initiative is mainly aimed at Year 5 primary school pupils.

During sessions lasting around 45 minutes, municipal representatives explain how the Town Hall works, what responsibilities it has and how local decisions affect everyday life.

Pupils can ask questions and make suggestions

These sessions are not designed as purely theoretical presentations.

A significant part is dedicated to discussion.

Children can ask questions, share their views about Marbella and suggest ways their local environment could be improved.

The aim is to introduce ideas related to civic participation, local administration and community life from an early age.

Participation is coordinated directly with individual schools.

Second edition of the school drawing competition

The educational programme also includes a new edition of the school drawing competition.

The activity gives pupils the chance to express creatively how they see the city, community life and public participation.

This is the second edition of the competition linked to Marbella’s Local Democracy Week programme.

Linked to the European Charter of Local Self-Government

Marbella’s programme is connected with European Local Democracy Week, which takes 15 October as its reference date.

On that day in 1985, the European Charter of Local Self-Government was opened for signature in Strasbourg.

Spain later ratified the treaty in 1988.

The Charter sets out principles relating to the autonomy of local authorities and their ability to manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility.

An institutional event is also planned

Marbella Town Hall has also included an official commemorative event linked to the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

It is expected to take place in the plenary chamber at Trapiche de Guadaiza, with representatives from local institutions and neighbourhood organisations.

The original municipal announcement stated that the exact date would be confirmed separately.

What is European Local Democracy Week?

European Local Democracy Week aims to encourage citizens to take a more active role in local public affairs.

Its central idea is to bring local institutions closer to residents and help people better understand how decisions are made.

In Marbella, that objective is reflected mainly through face-to-face district meetings and activities that provide access to municipal services normally operating behind the scenes.

Participation beyond central Marbella

Holding meetings in different districts also prevents the entire programme from being concentrated in central Marbella.

Residents of Las Chapas, Nueva Andalucía, San Pedro Alcántara and the eastern and western districts all have their own sessions.

This allows discussions to focus more closely on projects and issues affecting each particular area.

Free activities until 28 October

The activities included in the programme are free of charge.

Neighbourhood meetings are open to the public until capacity is reached.

Guided visits to Teatro Ciudad de Marbella and the environmental complex require advance registration because of capacity and organisational requirements.

The programme runs until Wednesday 28 October, when the final district meeting in Nueva Andalucía and the visit to the waste management facility are scheduled.

A week to discover how Marbella works from the inside

The programme combines neighbourhood participation, education and a closer look at public services.

One resident might attend a district meeting to ask about a local project, while another can discover how a theatre operates behind the scenes or what happens to waste after it is placed in a recycling bin.

Schoolchildren, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to speak directly with municipal representatives.

Through these activities, Marbella is using Local Democracy Week to give residents a more practical understanding of how the municipality works on a daily basis.