▷ MALAGA CARNIVAL 2023: PROGRAM and DATES

The Malaga Carnival is one of the great festivals of the capital of the Costa del Sol (Málaga), together with Easter (Semana Santa), the Christmas lights or the Malaga Fair. These are days of celebration, with numerous activities, both on the street and in the theaters, with the traditional Official Singing Group Contest (COAC) 2023.

The Carnival of Malaga is also known as the Warm Winter Festival.

In addition, other activities are carried out such as workshops, street parades, gastronomic tastings, carnival contests in the districts, concluding with the 3 great events of the Malaga Carnival: the battle of the flowers, the Great Carnival Parade and the burial of the Boqueron on the beach.

Entierro-Boqueron-Carnival-Malaga

The Carnival of Malaga is managed by the Fundación Ciudadana Carnaval de Málaga, a non-profit institution that was born in October 1996, heir to the Friends of Carnival Association. You can follow them on their website Carnavaldemalaga.es and social networks (@CarnavalMLG).

Table of Contents

When is Malaga Carnival 2023?

Málaga Carnival 2023 is officially celebrated from Saturday, February 11th to Sunday, February 19th, 2023, the day on which the traditional “entierro del boquerón” (burial of the anchovy) on the Malagueta beach.

However, the activities of the Malaga Carnival 2023 begin days before, with the celebration of the inaugural conference of the Malaga Carnival 2023 on Friday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. And the COAC preliminaries begin on Friday, January 27th, culminating in the grand final of COAC Málaga on Friday, February 10th, 2023.

Great-Parade-Carnival-Malaga-Calle-Larios

Most important dates of the Malaga Carnival 2023.

Here I highlight the most relevant dates, but you have the complete schedule of the Malaga carnival in its corresponding section:

The preliminaries of the 2023 Malaga Carnival will be held between January 27th and February 1st, 2023.
The Grand Final of the COAC Málaga 2023 will be held on Friday, February 10th at 8:00 p.m. at the Teatro Cervantes.
Carnival Grand Gala, proclamation and election of God and Goddess: Saturday February 11th, 8:00 p.m.
Málaga Carnival Parade: Sunday February 12th, 5:30 p.m.
Flower battle in Calle Larios: Saturday February 18th at 8:00 p.m.
Burial of the Boquerón in the Malagueta beach: Sunday February 19th at 5:00 p.m.

Where is the Malaga Carnival held?

Málaga Carnival is celebrated mainly through the streets of the historic center, with some notable points such as the Plaza de la Constitución (proclamation of the carnival), Calle Larios (the epicenter of the parade and point to see groups) or the Plaza de la Merced, where the great end at 21:00 on February 12th, 2023.

In the surroundings of Calle Granada, Plaza del Carbón and Calle Larios you can find the different groups of the Malaga Carnival singing.

Great-Parade-Carnival-Malaga

Málaga Carnival 2023 poster.

This year’s 2023 poster for the Malaga Carnival has been made by the painter Fernando Benítez Gabriel (Cádiz, 1973) and was presented on 5th December 2022 at the Carnival house (calle Eslava, 10).

Don’t indulge in contests or exhibitions by managing his work from the gallery he owns.

Benítez has been the winner of different outdoor painting awards: Puerto de Santa María, Los Toruños Natural Park, Puerto Real, Benaocaz, Grazalema, Bornos, Olvera, Mijas… to highlight some of the most important.

Poster-Carnival-Málaga-2023

Program of the Carnival of Malaga 2023.

Here I present the complete program of the Malaga Carnival 2023, all the activities, more than 70, that will take place during the Malaga Carnival 2023, some of them within the “official period” from February 11th to 19th and many others that take place in the previous weeks.

Here is a video summary of the Malaga Carnival 2023:

Málaga Carnival in the districts.

The great novelty of this Malaga Carnival 2023 and that replace the old previous ones. They are produced with the contest already started, so the groups present will perform the repertoire of this edition. Watch out for dates and locations. Of course, there will be representation of singing groups.

Carnival in the Cruz de Humilladero District.

Date: January 29th.
Time: from 1:00 p.m.
Place: Sports Courts, 4 Benjamin Franklin Street.
Event: Carnival Berzas.

Carnival in the Teatinos District.

Date: February 4th.
Time: from 1:00 p.m.
Place: Peña Finca La Palma, Avda. José Ribera S/N.
Event: Migas de Carnaval.

Carnival in the Palma/Palmilla District.

Date: February 4th.
Time: from 1:00 p.m.
Place: Valle-Inclán Citizen Center, Av. de la Palmilla.
Event: Paella Carnavalera.

Carnival in the Garden City District.

Date: February 5th.
Time: from 1:00 p.m.
Place: La Alegría Park – Casabermeja Road.
Event: Paella Carnavalera.

Carnival at the Perchel.

Date: February 5th.
Time: from 1:00 p.m.
Place: Plaza de la Libertad next to the Casa del Carnaval
Event: Perchelero Potage.

Carnival in the Eastern District, El Palo.

Date: February 18th.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: Alberto Suárez “Pipi” Gardens.
Event: Noodles on the side.

Málaga Carnival Grand Gala.

This is the day of the official opening day of the Malaga Carnival 2023, which takes place in various places on Saturday, February 11th

El Mayor Gala at Teatro Cervantes.
Carnival proclamation at Plaza de la Constitución (8:00 p.m.).
- Málaga Carnival 2023 Announcer: Paqui Prieto.
Election of God and Goddess of Carnival (9:00 p.m.)

To all this we add the appearance of numerous carnival groups throughout the city.

Carnival-Malaga-2023-Paqui-Prieto

Malaga Carnival Great parade 2023.

The date chosen for the great parade of the Carnival of Malaga 2023 is Sunday, February 12th with several important times:

12:00: Youth proclamation by Rocío Sala in the Plaza de la Constitución.
13:00: Election of God and Goddess and prince and princess of the quarry.
5:30 p.m.: Great Parade of the Carnival of Malaga.
9:00 p.m.: Grand Finale in the Plaza at 9:00 p.m.
- Carnival groups in the Plaza de la Merced from 20:00.

Great-Parade-Carnival-Malaga-2023

Children’s parade and Drag Queens gala.

Both activities will take place on Friday, February 17th:

18:00: Children’s parade.
9:00 pm: Drag Queens grand gala in Constitution Square.

Flowers-Battle-Carnival-Malaga

Battle of the Flowers 2023 in Malaga

One of the star activities of the Malaga Carnival is the battle of the flowers that will be held this 2023 on Saturday, February 18th at 8:00 p.m. in Calle Larios.

Entierro del boquerón (Burial of the anchovy)

The end of the Malaga Carnival will be marked by the burial of the anchovy which is celebrated on Sunday, February 19th at 5:00 p.m.

Previously, at 12:00, the Parade of the Gods, a song contest, a large boqueroná and carnival groups in the street are held.

Sígueme

Alejo Tomás

After traveling around the world alone, visiting the 21 Wonders of the World and living and working in 4 countries, in 2018 I decided to create something beautiful about Malaga, my city.