On the evening of Black Friday, November 28, the city of Malaga officially kicked off the festive season when thousands of Malagueños flooded the historic centre for the traditional switching-on of the Christmas lights on Calle Larios.
This year’s honour of pressing the ceremonial red button fell to Malaga-born Hollywood star Antonio Banderas, making this his third consecutive year in the role, along with producer Domingo Merlín (co-founder of the Sohrlin Andalucia arts centre) and the full cast of the hit show “Imagine”. The same team also staged an exclusive open-air performance specially created for the occasion, turning the countdown into a full theatrical experience moments before the lights burst into life.
Credit: Credit: Ayun Malaga
Malaga Christmas lights in a nativity theme
The 2025 display, titled “Natividad de Luz” (Nativity of Light) and designed by Iluminaciones Ximénez, replaces the celestial angels and arches that adorned the street for the past three years. Sixteen giant five-metre medallions, each depicting scenes from the Nativity, are suspended above the pedestrian thoroughfare, supported by 32 decorated columns and accompanied by 32 sweeping light beams that “dance” in time to the music. More than 350,000 LED bulbs illuminate the full length of the iconic shopping street.
The Calle Larios spectacle will run three times nightly at 6.30pm, 8.30pm and 10pm until January 5, 2026, except on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, when the lights remain on continuously but without music.
Across the city, Malaga Council has invested €1.5 million in an eco-friendly lighting scheme using Ecogreenlux technology that significantly reduces light pollution and energy consumption. In total, 2.7 million LED points now decorate the capital, covering almost 500 streets with garlands, luminous arches, natural fir trees, and three-dimensional motifs.
Three different Christmas light themes
Nearby Calle San Juan once again offers its popular themed walk divided into three atmospheric sections: Baroque chandeliers in “Sueño Barroco”, Victorian-style lamps in “Nostalgia Victoriana”, and delicate lace lampshades with winter foliage in “Susurro de Invierno”.
On Saturday evening, the Cathedral of Malaga will premiere a new video-mapping show, “El pescador de sueños” (The Fisherman of Dreams), inspired by the city’s traditional cenacheros (fish sellers). The eight-minute laser and 3D projection on the Molina Lario façade will run nightly at 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm until January 4.
With crowds wrapped in Santa hats, light-up reindeer antlers and festive scarves, Malaga’s historic centre reaffirmed its place as one of Spain’s most spectacular Christmas destinations as the city glowed brightly into the night.