▷ MALAGA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2023. Dates, schedule and show

The Malaga Christmas lights in Calle Larios have become an attraction in themselves, one more reason (let’s say the main reason for many people) to visit Malaga on these special Christmas dates.

The Alameda Principal debuts a decoration with a forest framework and hanging leaves that also shine during the day.

However, Larios street is not the only notable Christmas scene in Malaga. Malaga will have more than 500 streets decorated with more than 2.2 million LED light points, as well as video mapping in the Cathedral of Malaga or the famous Christmas lights of the Botanical Garden in the Garden of Concepción.

Here you have everything you need to know about dates, times and tips to fully enjoy the famous Malaga Christmas lights.

To offer the best information about the Christmas lights on Larios Street, I have compiled the main questions and advice from my personal experience, after visiting them every year.

If I had to summarize how to organize the visit to see the lights in 5 basic points, these would be:

Use public transportation whenever you can.
Avoid holidays and the days before, many people accumulate on Larios street.
If you go as a family you will have to arrive well in advance to find a good place.
Enjoy the show in person, don’t just record it.
Be patient at the end, stay in your place, because it takes a few minutes for the street to begin to clear.

Table of Contents

When are the Malaga Christmas lights switched on?

The lighting of the Malaga Christmas lights in Larios Street in 2023 will take place on Friday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Malaga’s Christmas lights will be on with the following schedule:

6:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily (Sunday to Wednesday)
18:30 to 2:00 from Thursday to Saturday and the day before holidays.

The Christmas light show in Malaga will last 43 days, with the last day to enjoy them being January 6th, 2024.

Finally, the decoration of the lights in 2023 will be the same as the previous year, so we will see “the heavenly angels” again.

Christmas Lights in Malaga

Calle Larios Malaga Christmas lights schedules.

The 2023 Christmas lights musical show on Calle Larios takes place in the following sessions: 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The Larios street lights will be on from 6:30 p.m. to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and from Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
On December 24th and 31st there will be no musical show in the 3 shows, but the lights will be on until 6:00 in the morning.

Outside of these hours, the Larios street lighting will remain on from 6:30 p.m. However, there will be no musical show, although it will be equally nice to walk along Calle Larios or the surrounding streets.

How long does the Larios Street light show last?

The duration of each Larios street show is approximately 15 minutes, including 7 songs and light and sound shows.
Here you can see the full video of the Christmas lights in Malaga on YouTube.

Celestial Angels: the Malaga Christmas lights of Larios Street 2023.

The Christmas decorations on Larios Street in 2023 will once again be the “Celestial Angels”.

An installation composed of a total of 16 angels in 32 lateral columns, as well as 32 steles or gusts.

These 4 meter tall angels stand out for their 12 meter long tails. They are designed with effervescent effects, starting in warm white and ending in a pure white full flash. Adorned with glitter of dichroic leaves to also shine during the day.

This installation is completed with columns that decorate the posts. Warm and cold tones dress the golden structure, richly decorated with gold sequins and crystals.

Malaga-Christmas-Lights-2023

Music and songs of the Malaga Christmas lights.

For this Christmas 2023 in Malaga, the songs that will accompany the Larios street musical show are:

‘Jingle bells’ (André Rieu · Johann Strauss Orchestra).
‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’.
‘Carol of the bells’ (Pentatonix).
‘Epic Christmas.
‘A donkey is going towards Bethlehem.’

Musical novelty in the lights: for the first time on December 27th and 28th, verdiales (typical music from Malaga) can be heard to give all the prominence to the most ancient Malaga melody.

Where is the best place to see the Larios street lights?

Based on my experience of many years seeing the lights, I would say that it depends mainly on two factors:

The main one would be the configuration of the group, it is not the same to go alone, as a couple or with children.
The second thing to keep in mind is whether you want to see the entire show or just part of it.

If you want to see the complete light show, the first thing is to leave early, at least 20-30 minutes before the start to have a good place.

And what is a good place?

The one that allows us to be comfortable and be able to move if necessary. I would avoid the center of the street and my advice would be to stay at the beginning (near Plaza de la Marina) or at the end (near Plaza de la Constitución), this applies especially to families with children.

In another case, we can find our place in the middle of the street, knowing that mobility will be very limited, especially if we want to partially see the light show.

Where to park to see the lights of Malaga?

The best advice would be not to bring your car to the city center, because in general the traffic in Malaga is bad and on those days it gets worse.

The best option if you come by car is to park in the area of the Martín Carpena Sports Palace. Here you will find a wide esplanade and the metro takes 20 minutes.

Parking in the Universidad-Teatinos area and taking the metro there would be another good alternative, the metro from here is direct and I get to the center in 20 minutes.

If you have no choice anyway, consult our article on where to park in Malaga for more information.

Malaga metro map

If you cannot use public transportation or come from another town, another option would be to come early and park in a nearby municipal parking lot, but not in the center.

These options can be: Plaza Camas parking, Avenida Andalucía parking or Cuarteles Street parking.

Without a doubt the best option to see the Malaga Christmas lights is to use the metro to the city center.

If you come from the Fuengirola-Torremolinos area, taking the suburban train (Cercanias) to the Alameda-Centro stop would be the best option.

Cercanias-Malaga-Map

Is the Christmas light show in Malaga done in the rain?

The answer is yes. As it is done outdoors, there are no restrictions on rainy days.

The Christmas light show on Larios Street takes place as normal at the usual times: 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Malaga Christmas lights schedules in 2023.

Here is the summary with all the schedules of the Christmas shows and lights in Malaga 2023:

Larios street light schedules.

Turning on the Larios 2023 street lights: Friday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m.
The Larios street lights will be on from Sunday to Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to midnight and from Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
The screenings with a musical show on Larios Street will be at 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
On December 24 and 31 there will be no musical show in the 3 shows, but the lights will be on until 6:00 in the morning.
Larios street lights dates: November 24th to January 6th.

Schedule of the video mapping of the Cathedral of Malaga.

Dates: from December 1st to January 4th, except December 24th and 31st.
The video mapping shows are at 7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
To see the show you have to be at the crossroads between Molina Lario Street and Postigo de los Abades Street.

Video-Mapping-Catedral-Navidad-Málaga-2022-2

Video-Mapping-Cathedral

Other Malaga Christmas light shows.

To complement the famous Larios street lights and their musical show, other Christmas shows have been created in the city. Which makes it have a broader offer and increases the Christmas spirit in Malaga.

Don’t miss my 10 plans to see and do in Malaga at Christmas.

So you will have to choose or walk through all these places so as not to miss any of the Christmas lights in Malaga.

The video mapping of the Cathedral.
Spider salon on San Juan street.
The Alameda and the park.
Christmas lights at Malaga Botanical Garden.

Malaga Christmas Lights at Botanical Garden

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.