The Malaga sky dresses up for the celebration: the 2025 Fair kicks off with the drone show and fireworks display.

Looking toward the sky—and also checking the time on their phones—thousands of people have gathered to witness the show that, year after year, marks the true beginning of the Málaga Fair. From beaches, promenades, terraces, or even the Gibralfaro viewpoint, any spot with a clear horizon has become a stage where the entire city waits patiently. If anything symbolizes the eve of the great week of August, it is this magical moment: midnight when lights, music, and gunpowder officially announce the start of eight days of celebration, joy, and tradition.

The Málaga Fair 2025 has raised its curtain. At 23:50, the dark sky began to fill with bright dots. The 300 drones, like a perfectly orchestrated swarm, have ascended to start the most luminous prologue of the festivities. Spread across two stages—150 over La Malagueta beach and another 150 over Huelin beach—they began to form three-dimensional images that floated suspended above the city’s coast. Nods to tradition alternated with modern compositions—guitars, maracas, butterflies—capable of projecting up to 16 million shades.

For ten minutes, the figures followed one another like a narration without the need for words, merging technology and art in a universal language. On the ground, it was impossible not to be carried away by surprise: no one knew what would come next, and that mystery kept everyone's eyes fixed on the sky, as if any blink could make them miss an unrepeatable moment. The images could be seen up to 500 meters away, but for those nearby, the sensation was "magical."

When the drones bid farewell, the murmurs gave way to spontaneous applause, which also did not last long, but served as a prelude to what was to come. At midnight, from the access road to the cruise terminal, the next essential awaited: the grand pyromusical show. At twelve o'clock sharp, the first shot broke the night, lighting up the bay in golden color. And with it, the first chords of Gimme Gimme! by Cher, setting the pace for a meticulously choreographed dance between music and gunpowder.

In total, 6,308 firing units, over a ton of weight, and 500 kilos of gunpowder transformed into cascades, palms, chrysanthemums, and fans of colors. For 20 minutes, the songs followed one another like festive chapters to start the Fair: from Waterloo by Cher to the optimism of Corazón contento by Marisol; from the melancholy of Se nos rompió el amor by Vanesa Martín and Raphael, to the romanticism of Miedo by Pablo Alborán, with the sea breeze accompanying each note.

There was also a particularly exciting moment when Carita triste by Ana Mena and Emilia played: in the sky, various colors mixed in a shower of sparks that slowly fell over the horizon. Then, the show turned into a burst of energy with Saturday night by Whigfield. Even several attendees danced to the famous choreography. It was followed by Cheri, cheri lady by Modern Talking, and it was impossible to stay still, but without taking one's eyes off the sky.

The final stretch came with Brother Louie and Rasputin by Boney M, explosions that painted the sky in intense red, electric blue, and flashes of white and gold that lit up the faces of all those watching for a moment. Smiles, emotional glances, mobiles recording and also those who, knowing that the images would be etched in their memory, preferred to enjoy with their eyes and not through the screen.

With a final explosion that lingered in the air, darkness returned to the sky. The smell of gunpowder, however, lingered a few seconds longer, as if it too did not want to leave. On the shore, couples, families, and groups of friends applauded and, seconds later, began to slowly move away. The Málaga Fair has begun with a prologue that, like every year, manages to unite thousands of people with their eyes toward the sky to celebrate the arrival of the great week of August.