Looking for authentic Andalusian experiences beyond the familiar? Then this is the best time to be in Málaga! As spring unfolds, a wonderful tapestry of culture and celebration lies just a short drive from the Marbella area. In charming mountain villages and historic towns, to the culturally rich city centre, discover these 10 lesser-known festivals in May that fortify local communities and offer opportunities to experience the authentic Spain that exists beyond your doorstep.
Article by Sophie Gatward-Wicks
– Upcoming Events –
Pack a spirit of curiosity, and feel culturally immersed with these May festivals that reveal the province’s heart beyond the postcard panoramas.
1-Málaga Book Fair
April 30th to May 11th 2025
The 54th Feria del Libro de Málaga transforms the Paseo del Parque into an open‑air book fair, offering free admission daily with extended evening hours to suit both early‑birds and night‑owls. Organised by the Asociación Feria del Libro de Málaga, this festival brings together established and emerging authors for book signings, presentations and round‑tables. Enjoy daily storytelling and creative workshops with the little ones, and on May 10th, the fair joins Málaga’s city‑wide La Noche en Blanco for “El Día en Blanco,” featuring marathon readings and performances by figures like Rayden and Rodrigo Cortés.
2. Málaga Pizza Fest (new festival)!
May 16th to May 18th 2025
Mahou Pizzas Fest debuts in Málaga at the city’s striking Terminal de Cruceros, where 10 top local pizzerías will each present both a signature gourmet pizza and a classic favourite in competition for the public’s vote and a professional jury’s award. Entry to the festival grounds is free (though capacity is limited), with optional prepaid “pizza menu” tickets granting priority access to all participating kitchens via a special queue. Beyond pizza tastings, visitors can enjoy live musical performances, hands‑on workshops (from dough‑throwing to pizza‑box design), show cookings, tastings of Mahou beer pairings, and a variety of sweet treats –making it as much a full‑blown street party as it is a culinary contest. We can’t wait for this one!
https://www.pizzasfest.com/pizzas-fest-malaga/
3. International Museum Day
Málaga, May 18th, 2025
Málaga joins the global celebration of International Museum Day under the theme “El futuro de los museos en comunidades en constante cambio,” inviting both locals and visitors to explore how museums can evolve amidst social, technological and environmental shifts. That day, most of the city’s top institutions – including the Museo Picasso Málaga, Museo Carmen Thyssen, Centre Pompidou Málaga and Museo Revello de Toro, are offering free admission and a rich programme of activities ranging from spontaneous “flash” guided tours at the Pompidou to extended evening hours at the Picasso. In addition, the Museo Carmen Thyssen opens its doors for 15 hours of dance and music performances in its courtyard.
Other dates of free admission to Málaga’s museums: https://mmalaga.es/entrada-gratuita-museos-de-malaga/
4. Día del Caracol
Riogordo – May 26, 2025
In the Axarquía hills, Riogordo’s Día del Caracol turns escargots into a communal feast on the last Sunday of May. Villagers simmer over 350 kg of snails in a paprika-driven broth, ladling the rich caldo freely to all who attend. Between bowls, bands of rondallas (string-band ensembles) roam the stalls, whilst a three-day livestock fair echoes the town’s historic agrarian roots. For a true taste of rural Málaga, pull up a chair at the long communal tables and join in this quirky, welcoming tradition.
Visit the city council website for more information
5. Feria Agrícola y Ganadera AGROGANT
Antequera, 30 May to 1 June 2025
For those with equestrian interests, this delightful event revives an 1856 Andalusian tradition on the last weekend of May, just an hour’s scenic drive from Marbella. Beyond the select livestock auctions and impressive agricultural exhibitions, visitors can explore excellent food pavilions featuring artisanal Málaga goat cheese tastings, estate olive oil samplings from local producers, and workshops on sustainable farming practices that align with our own commitment to environmental stewardship. As evening approaches, the championship horse competitions and elegant equestrian parades showcase the region’s beautiful Andalusian horses.
https://cultura.antequera.es/?agenda=agrogant24
6. Open House Málaga
23 – 25 May 2025
Open House Málaga is an annual international architecture festival that offers a unique opportunity to explore the city’s most emblematic and often inaccessible buildings. The festival’s fifth edition will feature over 40 free activities, including guided tours and urban routes led by architects and historians. This year’s theme, “Arquitectura que transforma” (“Architecture that transforms”), focuses on the impact of design and urban planning on the evolution of cities and the quality of life of their inhabitants. Notably, the festival will extend beyond Málaga to include the neighbouring towns of Antequera and Vélez-Málaga, offering a broader perspective on the region’s architectural heritage. Open House Málaga is part of the global Open House Worldwide network, which promotes public appreciation of architecture in over 50 cities worldwide.
– Earlier this month –
Keep your calendars marked for next year! The exact dates are subject to change each year, so always check the local Ayuntamiento for accurate information.
7. Feria Internacional de los Pueblos
Fuengirola – April 30th until May 4th 2025
At Fuengirola’s beachfront fairgrounds, late April through early May transforms into a world market. The Feria Internacional de los Pueblos features over 30 country pavilions, each offering authentic cuisine, crafts, and nightly dance performances. Attendees wander from Moroccan tagines to Polish pierogi and join lively workshops, ranging from salsa to African drumming. The opening pasacalles on May 1st sees more than a thousand representatives in traditional dress parade through the town centre en route to the recinto ferial (fairground), creating an exuberant mosaic of global unity under the Andalusian sun. Entry is free, making it a budget-friendly passport to the world.
8. Ruta de la Tapa and Día de la Naranja
Istán – May 3rd, 2025
Just a scenic 15-minute drive from Marbella, the picturesque village of Istán presents one of the province’s most charming gastronomic affairs. In the shaded cobblestone streets of this hillside retreat, May brings the wonderful Ruta de la Tapa together with the Muestra Gastronómica y Día de la Naranja. Now in its 16th edition, this culinary journey invites food lovers to collect stamps in a “tapaporte” (a food passport of sorts), while sampling creative pintxos prepared by local chefs and restaurant owners. Once you have your passport stamped at every tapas place on the event map, you win a free Istán-branded Tshirt!
Friendly villagers welcome visitors with complimentary cups of freshly squeezed orange juice and “sopa hervía“, a warm orange broth that connects you to authentic Andalusian heritage. You’ll enjoy delicious creations such as papas aliñás topped with slivers of local oranges or delicate bacalao fritters paired with a citrus-infused aioli, each dish showcasing the valley’s exceptional produce.
9. Cruces de Mayo
Torrox – May 3rd, 2025
For those who appreciate artistic expression and cultural heritage, Torrox offers a beautiful spectacle just a 45-minute drive east from Marbella. On the evening of May 3rd, the town’s plazas transform into open-air art galleries adorned with towering crosses draped in beautiful native flowers, vintage flamenco shawls, antique copper urns, and artfully arranged produce. Thirteen neighbourhoods compete for the town hall’s coveted prize, each cross reflecting generations of artistic tradition. As dusk falls, talented local guitarists and dancers provide wonderful entertainment, whilst residents welcome visitors with complimentary homemade tapas. This event offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the artistic soul of Andalucía in an intimate, genuine setting.
10. Fiesta de la Naranja
Coín – May 4th, 2025
Coín’s orchards yield a sweet finale in early May when the Fiesta de la Naranja brings streets to life with live music, artisan stalls, and countless oranges. Villagers ladle out endless samples of sopa hervía, a warming orange soup, and pour glasses of vitamin-rich fresh juice as families stroll beneath banners proclaiming the end of the harvest season. The festival also spotlights local crafts, from woven baskets to hand-made ceramics. This makes it the ideal spot to pick up a unique souvenir before the season’s last oranges disappear from the trees.
11. Feria del Perro
Archidona – May 2nd until May 4th 2025
For dog enthusiasts, Archidona becomes Andalucía’s four-legged capital each May. The Feria del Perro draws nearly a thousand canine participants, from sleek podencos to stately mastíns, all converging for monographic breed shows, agility courses, obedience trials, and working-dog demonstrations. Visitors can chat with breeders at informative stands and join in lighthearted dog parades where coats and collars become canvases for whimsy.
