The Malaga Carnival will feature a hundred activities from February 6 to March 2

The Málaga Carnival is here, and the Citizen Carnival Foundation of Málaga (FCCM) has set a "ambitious goal" for the upcoming celebration: "To create a carnival that is hard to forget." Thus, this Monday, more than 90 planned activities were announced for a festival that will begin on February 6 with the opening conference and will end with the Burial of the Boquerón on March 2.

The Carnival 2025 was introduced by the delegate of the quarry, Miriam Ruiz; the councilor delegate of the Area of Operational Services, Internal Regime, Beaches, and Festivities, Teresa Porras; the treasurer of the Foundation, Juan Luis Monío, and the delegate of the fans, José Gómez.

With just a few days until the launch of the over 90 planned activities, the starting signal will be given with the Opening Conference led by Santi Moreno at the Cine Albéniz on February 6.

For the first time at this event, the Golden Whistle award will be presented along with two new awards that the Board initiated in this first year of mandate: the 'Golden Carnival-goer' award and the distinction of 'Carnival-goer for a Lifetime'. The multitude of events are already scheduled, and all the details are being finalized to experience a historic Málaga Carnival.

"It has been a very tough and intense few months of work, but the party we have in mind, not only for the people of Málaga, can mark a before and after for carnival lovers. We aim to make an unforgettable Carnival, the first of many to be remembered," Ruiz explained. For her part, councilor Teresa Porras indicated that "the Carnival becomes a unique moment to enjoy the most popular traditions of winter where music, costumes, colors, and gastronomy come together. At the City Hall, we are committed to a high-quality street festival, prestigious, popular, and aimed at all audiences."

Málaga Carnival 2025: get to know the poster, the announcer and the main dates

Activities

Among the activities, the starting signal will take place at the opening conference. It will be held on Thursday, February 6 starting at 19:00 at the Cine Albéniz. It will be given by the researcher and historian, Santiago Tello, and will feature illustrations by authors Francis Sevilla Pecci and the announcer of the 2025 festival, Jesús Gutiérrez Fernández.

From February 15 to March 1, the initiative 'Carnival in your district', the previous ones, will take place, touring the streets of Málaga.

On the other hand, they recalled that from January 28 to February 19 there will also be carnival celebrations for the elderly in the districts of Málaga capital. The grand gala for this group will be on February 22 starting at 20:00 at the Teatro Cervantes.

Check the performance order of the COAC of the Málaga Carnival 2025

COAC

For the first time in its history, the Foundation will offer the entire contest live through its various web platforms, and the COAC, from start to finish, will be broadcast live in 4K and streaming from the official YouTube channel. An Official Contest of Singing Groups (COAC) that not only grows in numbers but also, for the first time in many years, recovers the chorus category. The reform and change of rules in the bases of this category have favored that, after many years without being able to find a chorus in Málaga since no group from the province had registered since 2013, they return to the contest.

Another historical milestone is that the Málaga Carnival now has the presence of each and every one of the provinces in Andalusia. The COAC goes from 43 participating groups in 2024 to a total of 58. The contest will begin on February 8 at the Teatro de la ESAD and will last until February 14.

Later, the venue will change, and the Teatro Cervantes will host the final phase on February 16, 17, 18, and 19. The grand finale will take place on February 21. A total of 170 more seats will be available for the general public.

The councilor delegate of Operational Services, Beaches, and Festivities at the City Hall of Málaga, Teresa Porras, together with the president of the Citizen Carnival Foundation of Málaga, Luis Bermúdez, presents Carnival 2025. / L.O.

The Carnival, to the Street

On the other hand, they noted that the street carnival will start on Saturday February 22 with the announcement by Jesús Gutiérrez Fernández in the Plaza de la Constitución starting at 20:00. Previously, the classic Gala of the Elderly will take place at the Teatro Cervantes.

That same Saturday, the Election of the God Momo and Goddess of Carnival will take place. Another highlight of the extensive program of activities. The next day, February 23, Pablo Salas, Tino Berdugo, David Morales, and Rafa Rodríguez will be in charge of announcing the junior carnival.

A high-level event to open a Sunday in the Plaza de la Constitución starting at 12:00, which will gather more planned acts. Among them, the election of Prince and Princess, Child God Momo and Child Goddess, as well as the Grand Carnival Parade that once again gathers thousands of visitors, attendees, and participants. Again, the procession will start at 17:30 on Jacinto Street.

On the other hand, the Junior Gala will take place next Sunday, February 16. As for the carnival groups, the historic center will have four stages distributed through the main streets.

Stage Cerveza Victoria in the Plaza de la Constitución, stages Tesesa and Bocaboca in Larios and also stage Deca in Calle Granada. It will be on February 27 when the traditional Final in the Plaza will also be held.

José Luis Puche will be the author of the poster for the Málaga Carnival 2025

On Carnival Friday, Andalusia Day, the parade will take place from 12:00, starting in the Historic Center and consisting of Fantasies, as well as animation and children's groups. Later, they will perform in the Plaza de la Constitución.

In the evening, there will be drawing workshops, as well as the 'Contest for the best presentation, pasodoble, or copla to Andalusia. That same night, the Drag Queen Gala will take place in the Plaza de la Constitución (20:00), hosted by drag Pinkchadora.

On Dress-up Saturday, the usual Children's Costume Contest will take place in the Plaza de la Constitución as well as the award ceremony for the Drawing, Workshops, and various children's groups that will perform on stage. From 20:00, the traditional Battle of the Flowers (last Saturday of Carnival) will commence.

An image of the Battle of the Flowers from 2023 / Gregorio Marrero

The unique battle between the townspeople and the carnival-goers where thousands of petals and confetti are thrown. Last year, it gathered more than 38,000 attendees and visitors between the Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Larios according to estimates, in addition to the actual participants of the procession.

Between this event and the Carnival Parade, 1,850 kilograms of confetti and 150 kilograms of de-petaled flowers were thrown. That same Saturday, the performance Tribute to El Barrio will liven up the evening. Also, anyone attending in costume can take photos at the photocall that will be set up on Calle Larios where there will be prizes for the most original.

The Burial of the Boquerón of Carnival

The Burial of the Boquerón of the Málaga Carnival 2023, in images / Gregorio Marrero

The final touch will be on March 2 during the Piñata Sunday with the burial of the Boquerón (from 17:00). Nearly 40,000 attendees accompanied the procession in 2024, which ended with the burning of the work by the Málaga artist Fernando Wilson at the La Malagueta beach.

Previously, the award ceremony will take place in the Plaza de la Constitución, as well as the parade of Gods, animation, and the usual Great Boqueroná where attendees can taste one of the most typical dishes of our seas, with packets of fried anchovies, for free.