Velez-Malaga Noche en Vela 2026: Candlelit night of street theatre, concerts & dance

Velez-Malaga is getting ready for one of the biggest nights in the Axarquia calendar, with the Noche en Vela 2026 turning the town’s historic centre into a giant open-air stage on Saturday, August 29.

Running from 8pm until 3am, the candlelit celebration will bring music, theatre, dance, circus, fire performances, street entertainment and heritage tours to streets, squares, churches and historic buildings across the old town.

Ten activity areas will keep things moving throughout the night, giving visitors plenty of reasons to wander from one part of Velez-Malaga to another.

David de Maria leads the music programme

Those wanting a dance have plenty to look forward to, with David de Maria taking to the stage at La Fortaleza at midnight, followed by Gonzalo Hermida at 1.45am. Play will perform at the same venue at 10.15pm.

Earlier in the evening, the official opening takes place in Plaza de las Carmelitas at 8pm, followed by a performance from the Orquesta Sinfonica de Malaga at 8.15pm.

Street performances begin at 8.30pm, with Steampunk characters, tunas, brass bands, charangas and verdiales bringing plenty of noise and colour to the historic streets.

Families are also well catered for, particularly around Calle Canalejas, where children can enjoy games, musical theatre, bubble shows and the Duo Magic IlusionArte performance.

Fire, flamenco and plenty to discover

Anyone looking for something a little different can head to Plaza de la Constitucion for a theatre and circus show featuring hoops and fire, while the Mirador de la Muralla hosts the circus and theatre performance Re-cuerda.

Flamenco fans will find performances at Santa Maria, Plaza Espinar and other locations, while Casa Cervantes, San Francisco and the various museums add concerts, performances and guided visits to the programme.

Historic sites including the Convento de San Francisco, Palacio de Beniel, Arco Mihrab Nazari, Museo de Semana Santa and La Fortaleza will open for special night-time visits.

Last year’s Noche en Vela saw more than 10,000 candles and thousands of visitors, going to show just how popular the event has become.

Extra parking and buses planned

Visitors travelling into Velez-Malaga will have 1,665 parking spaces available, with more than 800 additional spaces at the fairground served by buses. Special bus services will also operate from the town’s different population centres. Timetables and routes are expected to be announced shortly.

For the complete 2026 programme, including individual performance times, visitors can check the Velez-Malaga Town Hall Noche en Vela information.