Malaga Christmas Lights 2025: Switch-on date and time confirmed

The wait is over! He’s checking his list. He’s checking it twice! It seems summer has barely finished, and many are still yet to swap over their wardrobes to the winter collection of jumpers and scarves, but Christmas is coming, and the first official sign in the Costa del Sol is the switching on of the Christmas lights in Malaga.

Traditionally, the city centre fills to capacity with people and families eager to see the latest lighting extravaganza, moving light shows to festive music, and drone displays over the port. And this year looks to be even bigger than ever. Every year, it is one of the most important Christmas events in the country, and draws people from far and wide to the city through a sense of tradition, and Christmas spirit.

When the light extravaganza begins

Malaga Council has officially announced that its world-famous Christmas lights will be switched on Friday, November 28, at 7pm in Calle Larios, perfectly timed with Black Friday shopping. This year’s show of lights promises to be bigger than ever, with 2.7 million energy-efficient LED lights illuminating over 500 streets, a new record for the Costa del Sol capital. The iconic Calle Larios will transform into a “celestial tunnel of angels”, while Alameda Principal becomes an enchanted forest.

Daily light & sound shows will run three times every evening at 6.30pm, 8pm and 10pm (except December 24 & 31), synchronised to festive music that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The illuminations will shine until January 6, with extended hours until 2am at weekends.

Malaga botanical garden light show – highlight of Christmas in Costa del Sol

New for 2025: the magical ‘Alice Christmas’ experience at La Concepción Botanical Garden, which opens the same night, featuring giant illuminated characters and free candy floss for children.

Pro tip from locals and experienced visitors to the park: skip the 7pm switch-on crush and catch the 10pm show instead – same magic, half the crowd.

The immersive Christmas show is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, transforming the historic gardens into nine worlds of light, music, and fantasy. Visitors can embark on a nighttime journey, encountering characters like Alice and the Mad Hatter across stunning spaces, from the Ice Lake to the Golden Heart Dome.

Fusing art, technology, and nature, the light display offers a unique sensory experience. It celebrates the spirit of Christmas while highlighting the cultural value and botanical richness of La Concepción and will no doubt be one of Malaga’s most magical festive events.