Holy Week in Málaga: An Unforgettable Experience!

It won’t be long before Holy Week in Málaga begins, which this year will be celebrated from April 13 (Palm Sunday) to April 20 (Easter Sunday).

These special dates go back more than 500 years – to the time of the Catholic Monarchs – and have become an event that brings together devotees, visitors, and tourists who gather in the capital of the Costa del Sol to witness an unforgettable spectacle.

Holy Week in Málaga has become a very special time, not only for its main activities but also to enjoy with family and friends. You can relax in Málaga during Holy Week and enjoy a boat rental in Málaga.

The scent of flowers and incense; the colorful attire of the nazarenos and penitents; the processional marches with their distinctive music, and, of course, the impressive thrones that, in some cases, can weigh more than 5 tons make this Holy Week in Málaga an experience you won’t want to miss.

Each of the Holy Week processions has its own route but all share an ‘official route’ through the streets of central Málaga. This year the new official procession route (which premiered in 2019) is repeated and begins on the south side of Plaza de la Constitución and continues along Larios, Martínez, Atarazanas, Torregorda, Alameda Principal, Plaza de la Marina, and Molina Lario streets to conclude at the south tower of Málaga Cathedral. (See map).

Procession Schedule

Although Holy Week in Málaga offers 44 processions, below we detail some of the most popular (and our favorites) along with their departure time and the scheduled time for their passage through the grandstand area and their conclusion at the south tower of the Cathedral.

Palm Sunday (April 13)

La Pollinica: The brotherhood with the most members in Málaga is in charge of inaugurating the Holy Week processions.

• Departure at 9:45 AM
• Passes the Grandstand at 12:15 PM
• South Tower at 2:15 PM

Holy Monday (April 14)

El Cautivo: Possibly the best-known brotherhood in Málaga. Followed by thousands of devotees, it departs at 5:30 PM from its Trinidad neighborhood.

• Passes the Grandstand at 8:30 PM
• South Tower at 10:35 PM

Holy Tuesday (April 15)

Virgen de las Penas: With its flower mantle created each year, it departs at 5:45 PM.

• Passes the Grandstand at 6:40 PM
• South Tower at 8:45 PM

Holy Wednesday (April 16)

Jesús El Rico: Recognized for being the Christ that each year releases a prisoner (a privilege granted in the 18th century by King Charles III), it departs at 5:45 PM.

• Passes the Grandstand at 9:05 PM
• South Tower at 11:05 PM

Holy Thursday (April 17)

Cristo de la Mena (Cristo de la Buena Muerte): In the morning, thousands of people gather at the Port of Málaga to watch the Legion troops disembark to transfer the Cristo de Mena from the Santo Domingo parish to the brotherhood’s headquarters. In the afternoon the procession departs at 6:55 PM.

• Passes the Grandstand at 8:25 PM
• South Tower at 10:25 PM

Virgen de la Esperanza: This impressive throne is the largest of Holy Week in Málaga. It weighs 5,700 kg and is carried by 257 people.

• Departs at 9:30 PM
• Passes the Grandstand at 11:20 PM
• South Tower at 1:35 AM

Good Friday (April 18)

Calvario: Departs from Monte San Cristóbal at 4:00 PM on a long route.

• Passes the Grandstand at 6:40 PM
• South Tower at 8:45 PM
• Cathedral at 8:50 PM

Easter Sunday (April 20)

Cristo Resucitado: Departs at 10:00 AM from the Church of San Julián, passing the Grandstand at 11:05 AM and ending at the South Tower at 1:00 PM.

If you want to see the complete procession schedule with the times and routes of Holy Week in Málaga 2025, simply copy this link: https://agrupaciondecofradias.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Horarios_ACC_SS_2025.pdf

Are you planning to spend your Holy Week vacation on the Costa del Sol? Will you attend the processions in Málaga? If in addition to seeing Holy Week you would like to enjoy a day of sailing along the coast of Benalmádena, check your availability at Oceanautic. We offer transfer service to enjoy your experiences with family.