Málaga celebrates Stephen King with a free exhibition and four film screenings: dates, times and full programme

Horror film fans have a new free cultural event to enjoy in Málaga during the first week of November. From November 3 to 9, 2026, the María Victoria Atencia Provincial Cultural Centre (MVA) is hosting a tribute to American author Stephen King, bringing together illustration, literature and cinema through some of the best-known film adaptations of his work.

The programme begins on Tuesday, November 3, at 8 pm, with the opening of Carrie White Burns in Hell (Carrie White se quema en el infierno), an exhibition by Málaga illustrator Andrés Antúnez, and the presentation of Stephen King, The Art of Horror, a book combining his illustrations with texts by writer Julio Peces Ruiz.

One hour later, at 9 pm, the venue will screen Carrie, the 1976 horror classic directed by Brian De Palma. Over the following two days, audiences will also be able to watch The Dark Tower, Christine and Stand by Me.

All activities are free, with admission available until the venue reaches capacity, according to the organisers.

A free Stephen King exhibition in the heart of Málaga

The exhibition Carrie White Burns in Hell will be held at the María Victoria Atencia Cultural Centre, located at Calle Ollerías, 34, in Málaga city centre.

It brings together a selection of illustrations created by Andrés Antúnez, inspired by different films based on Stephen King's stories.

The artist offers his own graphic interpretations of characters, scenes and fictional worlds that have left their mark on horror cinema.

Rather than focusing exclusively on the original novels, the illustrations draw inspiration from the film adaptations and the ways different directors have brought King's stories to the screen.

Illustrations featuring memorable film dialogue

One of the distinctive aspects of Antúnez's work is his use of recognisable lines and dialogue from the films within the illustrations themselves.

The images combine visual elements with text to recreate moments that audiences remember from the screen.

This approach connects three different forms of storytelling: Stephen King's original literature, its cinematic interpretation and contemporary illustration.

Visitors will be able to explore that creative relationship through artwork inspired by different titles from the writer's filmography.

Exhibition dates and opening hours

The exhibition will run from Tuesday, November 3, until Monday, November 9, 2026.

The venue's announced regular opening hours are Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 9 pm, with closures on public holidays.

Although the exhibition will remain installed throughout the week, the published programme does not confirm regular weekend opening.

Visitors hoping to attend on Saturday, November 7, or Sunday, November 8, should therefore check whether any special opening arrangements have been announced.

Stephen King, The Art of Horror: a book bringing cinema and illustration together

The exhibition opening will also feature the presentation of Stephen King, The Art of Horror, a publication combining texts by Julio Peces Ruiz with illustrations by Andrés Antúnez.

The book explores the American writer's life and cinematic legacy, paying particular attention to some of the best-known adaptations of his work.

The illustrations reinterpret King's fictional worlds from the artist's own perspective, while the accompanying texts provide context about the films and their stories.

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, November 3, at 8 pm, coinciding with the exhibition opening.

The tribute is organised by the Unicornio Cultural and Film Association of the Costa del Sol, in collaboration with the MVA Cultural Centre, which is managed by Málaga Provincial Council.

The 50th anniversary of Carrie takes centre stage

The main reason for the tribute is the 50th anniversary of the release of Carrie, the film directed by Brian De Palma in 1976.

The film premiered in Spanish cinemas on November 3 of that year, exactly fifty years before the opening of the Málaga exhibition.

It is based on Stephen King's first published novel, released in 1974, and was also the first film adaptation of his work.

Why Carrie became a horror classic

The story follows Carrie White, a teenage girl who experiences bullying at school and lives under the control of an intensely authoritarian mother.

As she struggles to find acceptance among her classmates, Carrie discovers that she possesses telekinetic powers, an ability that ultimately changes her life.

The film explores themes such as social rejection, psychological abuse, isolation and repression, combining them with supernatural elements.

Its famous prom-night sequence has become one of the most recognisable images in 1970s horror cinema.

Fifty years after its release, the film remains an important example of the relationship between Stephen King's literature and cinema.

Four free Stephen King films to watch in Málaga

Alongside the exhibition, the MVA will screen four feature films based on the author's work.

The screenings will take place between Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5, with a selection representing different sides of King's storytelling.

The programme includes supernatural horror, fantasy, suspense and a coming-of-age story about friendship.

Tuesday, November 3: Carrie, directed by Brian De Palma

Time: 9 pm.

Film: Carrie (1976).

Director: Brian De Palma.

The opening screening is dedicated to the film adaptation that made Carrie White one of Stephen King's most recognisable characters.

The screening will begin one hour after the book presentation and exhibition opening.

It will be the central cinematic event of a day marking fifty years since the film's Spanish release.

Wednesday, November 4: The Dark Tower, directed by Nikolaj Arcel

Time: 8:30 pm.

Film: The Dark Tower (2017).

Director: Nikolaj Arcel.

Wednesday's screening will feature an adaptation inspired by Stephen King's well-known literary series.

The story combines fantasy, adventure, western and horror elements in a fictional universe where different worlds are connected.

The film offers a different perspective on King's work, moving away from the psychological horror associated with Carrie.

Thursday, November 5: Christine, directed by John Carpenter

Time: 7 pm.

Film: Christine (1983).

Director: John Carpenter.

Thursday's first screening focuses on a car with a sinister presence.

The film follows a teenager who buys a 1958 Plymouth Fury and begins undergoing a personal transformation as he develops an increasingly obsessive relationship with the vehicle.

Directed by John Carpenter, Christine is one of the best-known horror adaptations of a Stephen King novel.

Thursday, November 5: Stand by Me, directed by Rob Reiner

Time: 8:40 pm.

Film: Stand by Me (1986).

Director: Rob Reiner.

The tribute will conclude with a film that reveals a different side of King's storytelling.

Based on his novella The Body, it follows four friends who embark on a journey during the summer of 1959.

Through their adventure, the film explores friendship, childhood and the transition into adolescence.

Its inclusion in the programme serves as a reminder that Stephen King's writing extends far beyond horror.

Stephen King tribute in Málaga: full programme

Admission: Free, subject to venue capacity.

Venue: María Victoria Atencia Provincial Cultural Centre (MVA), Calle Ollerías, 34, Málaga.

Who is Andrés Antúnez, the artist behind the exhibition?

Andrés Antúnez is a Málaga-born graphic designer and illustrator, born in 1969, whose artistic career has strong connections to cinema and poster design.

His interest in filmmaking developed during the 1980s, an era associated with video rental shops and cinema-going.

That connection to visual storytelling has become an important part of his work as an illustrator.

For this exhibition, Antúnez draws on Stephen King's cinematic adaptations to create images that revisit recognisable characters and memorable scenes through his own artistic interpretation.

The exhibition provides an opportunity to discover part of his work and see how a story can be transformed as it moves from literature to cinema and, eventually, illustration.

Where is Málaga's María Victoria Atencia Cultural Centre?

The María Victoria Atencia Provincial Cultural Centre is located at Calle Ollerías, 34, in central Málaga.

Managed by Málaga Provincial Council, the venue regularly hosts exhibitions, concerts, literary events, cultural meetings and film screenings.

Its central location makes it accessible on foot from various parts of Málaga's historic centre.

How to attend the free film screenings

According to the organisers, admission is free until all available seats have been filled.

No general requirement for advance booking has been announced for the screenings.

For this reason, arriving early is recommended, especially for the opening screening of Carrie, which coincides with the anniversary of its Spanish release.

The exhibition will follow the venue's regular opening hours and any specific access arrangements established for the event.

A tribute connecting literature, illustration and cinema

The programme organised by Unicornio and the MVA offers an opportunity to explore Stephen King's work from several perspectives.

The film screenings demonstrate how different directors have interpreted his stories, while Andrés Antúnez's illustrations revisit those cinematic worlds and bring them back onto paper.

The book presentation completes the experience by bringing the artwork and written commentary together in a publication that can be explored long after the exhibition closes.

The film selection also highlights the variety of King's storytelling, ranging from the supernatural horror of Carrie and Christine to the fantasy of The Dark Tower and the emotional coming-of-age story of Stand by Me.

From November 3 to 9, Málaga will celebrate one of the most influential writers in contemporary popular literature, with a free exhibition and four film screenings marking fifty years since Stephen King's first major cinematic adaptation.