Holy Week in Málaga has been declared a festival of international tourist importance. Every year it attracts thousands of people who come to the city to enjoy the processions and all the cultural surroundings. Holy Week in Málaga is also a source of inspiration for many literary and artistic works.
Malaga’s unique event and identity
Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Málaga is a unique and highly anticipated celebration every year. In 2025, it will be celebrated from 13 to 20 April. During this week, the city will be filled with processions, music and a very emotional atmosphere. Brotherhoods then walk the streets with their thrones – real works of art – and the involvement of residents and tourists is almost tangible. If you have the opportunity to take part in this event, it is definitely worth it. It is a unique experience that combines tradition, culture and spirituality.
Stop for a moment and take note of the Holy Week poster – a work by Juan Miguel Martín Mena, created on cotton paper glued to cardboard and combining materials such as coffee, salt, graphite and acrylic to create a rich visual texture. Its geometric structure balances the sacred and the earthly – with the Virgen del Rocío as the central figure in an ascending triangle – surrounded by the tower of the cathedral and the horizon of the sea.
The colour palette reflects the landscape of Malaga – with shades of earth, ochre and gold, and with the red carnation standing out as a symbol of passion and devotion to the brotherhood. The work incorporates symbolic elements such as the biznagas in the form of candles and the immaterial image of Christ the Redeemer, linking the Passion to the universal faith.
The modernist typography adds dynamism, while the silhouette of the cathedral connects heaven and earth, reinforcing spiritual balance. The work celebrates Holy Week and the identity of Malaga, combining tradition and modernity in a message of love, sacrifice and hope.
More information:
Semana Santa, or Holy Week in Spain
Learn about Easter customs in Andalusia
Schedules and itineraries for Holy Week in Málaga 2025
Processions not to be missed during Easter Week in Málaga 2025:
Official itinerary for Easter week in Malaga
Each confraternity sets off from their house or church and heads towards the official route, which starts in the Plaza de la Constitución and includes the following points:
- Larios Street,
- Calle Martínez, Central Market – Atarazanas and Torregorda,
- Alameda Principal,
- Plaza de la Marina.
The route ends on Molina Lario Street, next to the Bishop’s Palace at the foot of the cathedral. To avoid the crowds, it is advisable to look out for the processions on the streets at their key locations listed above.
Palm Sunday
The planned participation of the brotherhoods La Pollinica, Fusionadas, Dulce Nombre, Salutación, Humildad y Paciencia, Humildad, Salud, Huerto and Prendimiento.
Visitors’ tip: stock up on palm trees and olive branches to see La Pollinica, the first brotherhood to appear at Easter in Malaga, at midday.
Easter Monday
The planned participation of the fraternities Crucifixión, Pasión, Gitanos, Dolores del Puente, el Cautivo and los Estudiantes.
A tip for visitors: watch the ruler of Malaga, Cautivo, cross the Aurora Bridge. This is because he gives the impression that he is walking.
Maundy Tuesday
The planned participation of the brotherhoods El Rocío, Las Penas, Nueva Esperanza, Humillación y Estrella, Rescate and La Sentencia.
Visitor tip: admire the spectacular flower mantle worn by the Virgen de las Penas.
Holy Wednesday
The planned participation of the brotherhoods Mediadora, Salesianos, Fusionadas, Paloma, Rico, Sangre and la Expiración.
Visitor tip: watch the sunrise during the bull run at Cristo de la Expiración.
Maundy Thursday
The planned participation of the brotherhoods La Cena, Santa Cruz, Viñeros, Vera Cruz, Zamarrilla, Mena, Misericordia and La Esperanza.
Visitor tip: see the exit of the legion carrying Christ from Mena, one of the most famous Holy Week processions in Málaga.
Good Friday
The planned participation of the brotherhoods El Calvario, El Descendimiento, Dolores de San Juan, Amor, Traslado, Piedad and El Sepulcro.
Visitor’s tip: see the Servitas fraternity pass in the dark on any part of their route – it will make you swoon.
Easter Sunday
Get ready for the last procession through the streets of Malaga: El Resucitado. It will start at the church of San Julián at 10:15 and end at 2:45 in the afternoon.
Legion procession Malaga 2025
One of the most representative moments of Holy Week in Malaga takes place on Maundy Thursday, with the transfer of Christ the Good Death by the Legion.
The events will begin on Thursday, 17 April, with the Legionnaires going ashore in Malaga harbour at around 10 a.m. The parade will involve: The Spanish Legion and the Navy, who will be accompanied by soldiers, a brass band and a bugle.
Half an hour after disembarking on Muelle 2, the Legion’s forces arrive at Plaza Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás at around 10:30 a.m. They then carry the Santísimo Cristo de la Buena Muerte y Ánimas, from the square to the processional throne in the Church of Santo Domingo. In some sections, soldiers carry the Christ of Mena in their arms.
With the Christ of Mena in their arms, the legionaries sing ‘El novio de la muerte’, a military hymn that proclaims: “I am the man whom fate has wounded with the claw of the wild beast: I am the bridegroom of death, who will unite in a strong bond with such a faithful companion”. At this point, the audience is moved to tears and applauds.
What’s worth doing when visiting Málaga during Holy Week?
- Take part in the processions – Holy Week in Malaga is famous for its impressive processions, during which brotherhoods line the streets with their thrones. Don’t miss the Cristo de la Buena Muerte (Christ of the Good Death) procession on Maundy Thursday or the Santo Sepulcro (Holy Sepulchre) on Good Friday.
- Enjoy the local gastronomy – At this time of year in Malaga, you simply have to taste typical dishes such as Easter stew or torrijas (French toast). You can also try the famous ‘tapa cofrade’, which is served in many bars and restaurants in the city.
- Visit museums and monuments – Use your free time to visit the city’s main monuments, such as the Alcazaba or Malaga Cathedral. You can also visit the many museums the city has to offer – such as the Picasso Museum or Centre Pompidou Malaga.
- Explore nearby villages: If you have the time, take the opportunity to visit picturesque villages near Malaga – such as Ronda, Frigiliana or Mijas. Each has its own unique charm and will give you an insight into the local culture and traditions.
- Discover Málaga and its surroundings with local guides – in groups or privately, where you will always set the pace as you explore the beauty of Málaga.
More information:
Meet the Polish guides to Malaga and Andalusia
Malaga: City of a great artist
Centre Pompidou Malaga, or contemporary art in Andalusia
