Marbella Prepares for Another Vibrant Summer Festival Season
Local residents and holidaying visitors are once again looking forward to a diverse and buoyant summer festival season in Marbella and elsewhere along the Costa del Sol.
The stellar event on the annual calendar is, as always, the internationally renowned Starlite Occident Festival but revellers can also enjoy early-spring and summer festivities in Mijas, Fuengirola and Málaga, as well as top sports competitions including LIV Golf and the Davis Cup tennis finals.
Here is a round-up of the main highlights (in chronological order):
International Nations Fair
The seasonal fun begins in Fuengirola with the Feria Internacional de las Países from 1 to 5 May. Formerly known as the “Feria de los Pueblos”, the fair brings together people from dozens of different countries around the world, who are able to showcase and share their cultures in an exuberant kaleidoscope of revelry at the town’s fairgrounds.
Marenostrum Festival
Starting on 18 May and continuing until 7 September, the Marenostrum Festival in Fuengirola is celebrated around a giant stage set up on the beach as well as within the walls of the Sohail Castle overlooking the sea.
The music schedule includes many of Spain’s top artists, such as Manolo García (15 June), Medina Azahara (28 July) and Estepona (10 August), plus several international acts including veteran Mexican rock band Maná (22 June) and Seattle-based Queens of the Stone Age (23 June).
Starlite Occident
The line-up for the 2024 Starlite Occident boutique festival in Marbella is another who’s who of the international music scene.
Artists confirmed so far include: Jamie Cullum (14 June), Van Morrison (15 June), Sheryl Crow (21 June), Keane (9 July), The Corrs (10 July), Take That (14 and 15 July), Simple Minds (22 July), Tom Jones (23 July), Diana Krall (24 July), UB40 (9 August), Nick Carter (10 August) and Plácido Domingo (13 August).
Held in an amphitheatre on the outskirts of Marbella’s ultra-select Sierra Blanca residential area, the two and a half month Starlite extravaganza also includes diverse gastronomic experiences (at four restaurants) and after-parties with top DJs, plus a gala evening co-hosted by Antonio Banderas.
Selvatic Málaga Fest
Running from June to September at the Málaga Forum venue on the outskirts of Málaga in Churriana, Selvatic Málaga Fest includes music concerts by national and international artists as well as culinary and other leisure activities. One of the headline bands confirmed for this year is Black Eyed Peas (21 July).
Weekend Beach
The Weekend Beach Festival combines several music genres (rock, pop, fusión, urban, Latin and electronic) over three days (4, 5 and 6 July) in Torre del Mar east of Málaga city. This year’s headliners include Swedish rockers Europe and international DJ Steve Aoki.
Bigsound Málaga
Described as the “biggest urban music festival in Europe”, Bigsound moves from Válencia the past three years to Málaga’s Cortijo de Torres municipal auditorium, on 19 and 20 July. The event includes 15 hours of music, gastronomy, market and rest areas, and other entertainment activities and “unique experiences”.
Marbella Arena
Now established as one of the Coast’s major events venues, Marbella Arena (the refurbished former Puerto Banús bullring) launches its season on 28 April with Russian singer-songwriter Zemfira, then continues with house music institution Defected on 24 May (including Armand Van Helden, Sam Divine, Enzo Is Burning and Olive F.)
As part of the 2024 Fiesta Marbella festival, “Queen of Arab Pop” Nancy Ajram will be performing on 8 August and British act Pete Tong Ibiza Classics on August 10 with the Essential Orchestra.
Málaga Fair
Hailed as one of Spain’s must-visit annual fairs, the 2024 Málaga Feria will run from 17 to 24 August. The daily fun begins in the city’s colourfully decorated streets before adjourning to the fairgrounds until the early morning hours.
Cala Mijas Festival
The third annual edition of this increasingly popular music event in Mijas Costa is scheduled to be held on 29, 30 and 31 August, although the organisers have not yet announced details of the bands that will be performing in the specially set up festival area.
Calentita in Gibraltar
The popular food festival Calentita returns to Gibraltar on 6 July. Held at John Mackintosh Square and Campion Park, and dating to 2007, the 2024 event will include its regular stalls as well as new participants and features involving local businesses.
Championship Golf
The revolutionary global spectacle LIV Golf returns to Royal Valderrama Club from 12 14 July, where new recruit Jon Rahm will be making his league debut in Spain.
The European Tour is also back at Royal Sotogrande Golf Club with the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters from 17 to 20 October, while the Ladies European Tour concludes its season with the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España at El Paraíso Golf Club (Estepona) from 28 November to 1 December.
Davis Cup Tennis
The top eight men’s teams of 2024 will be back at the Martin Carpena stadium in Málaga for the Davis Cup Final 8 tennis competition from 19 to 24 November.
The qualifying group stage events will first be held in September, between the 12 winners of the home-and-away qualifiers in February (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia and U.S.), 2023 finalists (Australia and reigning champions Italy) and two wild cards (Great Britain and Spain).
Our team at Promas Estates always have their finger on the local social pulse so, if you need any advice or guidance about these events or other special celebrations, contact us and we’ll be delighted to help.
