If Marbella knows how to do anything, it’s how to throw a party! Life on the Costa del Sol is lively, and there’s always a festival just around the corner. Even when Marbella isn’t hosting a local celebration or paying homage with a procession, its neighbouring towns and villages are either in a state of preparing for one, recovering from one or having one.
This summer season, there’s plenty to look forward to in Marbella, whether you're after world-class music acts, cultural experiences, or a taste of local life. Don’t miss our Guide to Marbella's Best Summer Festivals 2025 to make the most of it all.
Starlite Festival
Dates: 13 June–29 August 2025 Venue: Cantera de Nagüeles, Marbella
Carved into the majestic Sierra Blanca mountains, Starlite is a 3-month long music festival, which has been running every year since 2012, and has since become the highlight of Marbella’s summer entertainment. Part of Marbella's Best Summer Festivals 2025, this luxurious music festival is quite unlike any other, transforming the dramatic natural amphitheatre of the Nagüeles quarry into a vibrant open-air concert venue. Both the concert performances and nightly DJ sets are a unique experience, with acoustics amplified by the surrounding rugged cliffs, creating unforgettable performances beneath the canopy of the night sky.
Just some of the artists appearing in this year’s festival
The stellar 2025 lineup continues Starlite's tradition of musical diversity—from international superstars to beloved Spanish artists. Some of the big names taking to the stage this year include Will Smith, The Script, Clean Bandit, Pet Shop Boys, and Santana to name but a few. And if there’s no particular artist that peaks your interest, you can still enjoy the festival spirit without a concert ticket. Starlite’s open areas invite visitors to enjoy the 5 gourmet pop-up restaurants showcasing acclaimed chefs from Spain and abroad. And after the main show is over, the night goes on, as the venue transforms into a summer-party club scene with renowned DJs commanding the decks until dawn.
For those seeking an elevated experience, Starlite delivers with exclusive VIP sections, champagne bars, and after-show experiences that attract both local celebrities and international jet-setters.
Booking: Buy direct through the festival site or official Ticketmaster Spain.
The entrance to the fairground at the Marbella feria
Feria de San Bernabé (Marbella Fair)
Dates: 9–14 June 2025 Venue: Parque de la Constitución (day); Fairgrounds, La Cañada (night)
The Feria de San Bernabé, dedicated to the town’s patron saint, is Marbella’s most traditional summer festival. This week-long celebration (held annually in early June) combines the lively spirit of a Spanish feria with the charm of Marbella’s historic old town. Locals gather to dance, enjoy traditional foods, and immerse themselves in the cultural fabric of the region, whilst the youngsters are all about the fairground rides. Known especially for its flamenco dancers, brass bands, and traditional casetas (marquees), the feria offers both locals and visitors a true Andalusian experience.
The fairground in full swing
The daytime activities take over the Parque de la Constitución, where street vendors and local shops set up booths selling everything from artisanal foods to boutique clothing, jewelry and souvenirs, and as the sun sets, the festivities move to the fairgrounds by La Cañada. The fairgrounds offer an assortment of amusement park rides organised into sections for different age groups, and an array of irresistibly indulgent food stalls offering sweet and savoury favourites alongside iconic traditional game booths packed to the brim with giant toy prizes you can almost never win.
Tickets & Info.
Full programme of Marbella’s San Bernabé feria will be released on Marbella’s Town Hall Website closer to the time of the event.
Booking: Free entry. Parking can be tricky so taking a taxi or using public transport is recommended.
Jumping over the flames for purification
Noche de San Juan (Saint John's Eve)
Date: 23 June 2025 Location: Various beach clubs and chiringuitos along the coast.
San Juan is a magical night that marks the summer solstice on June 23rd. A celebration of light, fire, and renewal, this ancient tradition involves a communal bonfire, where some people dare to jump over the flames as a symbol of purification, while others set intentions and leap into the sea at midnight for good luck. Another tradition involves people writing their wishes or hopes for the months ahead on a piece of paper, or perhaps things that they want to say goodbye to, and throw them into the flames, symbolising liberation from the past and hope for the future. As one of Marbella's Best Summer Festivals 2025, San Juan offers a powerful, communal way to welcome the summer season.
It’s a night of joy and community spirit, filled with music, cocktails, and a lively, carefree atmosphere. There are always good vibes, plenty of music, dancing and people setting up their own personal party sections along the beach. The night is capped off with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight, lighting up the Mediterranean skies from one end of the coast to the other. Various beach clubs and chiringuitos host their own events for the special evening, usually offering live music, fresh food, and the perfect environment to mark the arrival of summer. Whether you're taking part in the ritualistic bonfire jump or simply enjoying the festivities by the water, Noche de San Juan is one of the most unforgettable nights in Marbella’s calendar.
Tickets & Info.
Booking: Open-access; simply arrive early to claim a spot, or book a table for dinner at one of the clubs or restaurants on your beach of preference.
The symbolic act of blessing the waters
Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen
Date: 16 July 2025 Location: Marbella Old Town and Fishing Port (Marina La Bajadilla)
On July 16th, Marbella celebrates the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, a deeply spiritual event dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers, celebrated throughout Andalucía’s coastal communities. As part of Marbella's Best Summer Festivals 2025, this vibrant celebration honours the Virgen del Carmen with a maritime procession where the statue of the Virgin is carried through Marbella's historic Old Town, accompanied by a band and local dignitaries. The procession culminates at the Marina, before being placed onto a boat and taken out to sea. This symbolic act is a blessing for the waters, ensuring safe travels for the fishermen and good fortune for the town’s coastal community.
The procession is followed by a flotilla of boats that accompany the statue in a moving tribute to the Virgen del Carmen, and the waters are dotted with boats of all sizes, each adorned with heaps of flowers and decorations. For many locals, this event is both a religious and cultural occasion, and it offers a unique insight into the spiritual traditions that are an integral part of life in Spain. It is said that if the Virgen del Carmen is safe anywhere on the Costa del Sol, it’s in Marbella, as the very special statue of her image is kept 12 metres underground in a vault, only to be brought out every year on July 16th, for her own very special day.
Tickets & Info
Programme: Information on precise locations, procession routes and start times of each event will be released on Marbella’s Town Hall Website closer to the event.
Booking: No tickets needed; reservations only for private boat participation.
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