Málaga Winter 2026-27: Lights, Weather & Day Trips

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Winter is Málaga's quiet season, and that is the appeal. Daytime highs stay in the high teens, the coach day trips are less crowded, and the city centre fills up in the evenings for the lights on Calle Larios.

This post covers what we know in October 2026: the Christmas lights, the weather, holiday closures, the big dates in early 2027 and the day trips that suit cooler months.

The quick answer

The Calle Larios lights usually switch on in late November; the 2026 date had not been announced in mid October. AEMET normals give daytime highs of about 17 to 18 °C from December to February, with December the wettest month. Many sights close on 25 December and 1 January. Festival de Málaga runs 26 February to 7 March 2027, and Semana Santa runs 21 to 28 March 2027.

When do the Calle Larios Christmas lights switch on in 2026?

The city has not announced the 2026 date yet. Last year the lights went on on Friday 28 November, and the switch-on usually falls in late November.

The city council confirms the date and design itself, usually a few weeks before. In 2025 a malaga.eu press release set the switch-on for Friday 28 November at 18:30, with the light and music show on Calle Larios running at 18:30, 20:30 and 22:00 into early January. On 24 and 31 December and 5 January the lights stayed on without the music.

Event listings show a provisional window of late November 2026 to 6 January 2027 for this winter. Treat that as an estimate until the council publishes it. The shows are free, and the street gets packed.

Item	2025-26 (official)	2026-27 status
Switch-on	Friday 28 November 2025, 18:30	Not announced in mid October
Show times on Calle Larios	18:30, 20:30 and 22:00	Expected to follow the same format
No music	24 and 31 December, 5 January	Not announced
Last show	Early January	Listed as provisional to 6 January 2027

What is the weather like in Málaga in winter?

Mild and mostly dry. AEMET's normals give daytime highs of 17 to 18 °C from December to February and lows of 7 to 9 °C.

The figures below are AEMET's 1981-2010 averages for Málaga airport. November and December are the wettest months, but rain comes in a few heavy days rather than a steady drizzle. January and February have more sunshine than December.

Pack a warm layer for the evenings and for the mountains: Granada and Ronda are far colder than the coast. The sea sits at about 15 to 16 °C from January to March, which is bracing.

Month	Average high	Average low	Rain days (1 mm or more)	Sunshine hours
November	20.1 °C	11.3 °C	5.6	172
December	17.5 °C	8.9 °C	6.6	160
January	16.8 °C	7.4 °C	5.8	180
February	17.7 °C	8.2 °C	4.8	180
March	19.6 °C	9.8 °C	4.0	222

Calle Larios in Málaga with its polished marble paving — Calle Larios on a winter afternoon, a few hours before the light show.

What is open in Málaga over Christmas and New Year?

Most sights open through the holidays on winter hours, but several close on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January.

Check the day before you plan around a museum. These are the published holiday rules for the main sights:

Sight	Winter hours	Holiday closures
Alcazaba and Gibralfaro	09:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:00 (1 Nov to 31 Mar)	Not listed; ask the site
Roman Theatre	Tue to Sat 10:00 to 18:00, Sun 10:00 to 16:00, closed Mondays	Closed 24, 25 and 31 Dec, 1 and 6 Jan
Museo Picasso Málaga	10:00 to 18:00 (Nov to Feb)	Closed 25 Dec, 1 and 6 Jan; closes at 15:00 on 24 and 31 Dec and 5 Jan
Nerja Cave	09:15 to 16:30 (longer hours over Christmas)	Closed 25 Dec, 1 and 6 Jan
Alhambra, Granada	08:30 to 18:00 (15 Oct to 31 Mar)	Closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan

Córdoba by coach with a guided walk of the Jewish Quarter and Mosque-Cathedral tickets in the package.

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When is Semana Santa 2027 in Málaga?

Semana Santa 2027 runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March.

Easter falls early in 2027. Holy Thursday is 25 March and Good Friday is 26 March, as listed by El Debate. Málaga's processions fill the centre every day of that week, and hotels fill with them. Book rooms early and expect road closures around the official route.

A few weeks earlier comes the Festival de Málaga, the Spanish-language film festival. Its 30th edition runs from 26 February to 7 March 2027, the festival says. On 28 February, Andalusia Day, the Picasso Museum is free.

Málaga Cathedral with its single finished tower above the old-town rooftops — The Cathedral sits at the heart of the Semana Santa processions.

Which day trips from Málaga are best in winter?

Granada, Córdoba and the Nerja cave. Winter means smaller crowds, cooler walking and caves that stay at the same temperature.

Granada. The Alhambra is at its quietest in winter, and the Sierra Nevada is often white behind it. Wrap up: Granada is far colder than Málaga. The Granada and Alhambra day trip needs your full name and ID number at booking, and it is non-refundable, so book it once your dates are fixed.

Córdoba. The fast train makes Córdoba close, but the Córdoba coach trip includes Mosque-Cathedral tickets and a guided walk, which saves queueing on a short winter day.

Nerja. The Nerja caves and Frigiliana tour works in any weather because most of the visit is underground. For more ideas, see our day trips from Málaga guide and when to visit Málaga.