The Feria de San Bernabé is one of the most relevant festivities, with the greatest “packaging”, and tradition of Marbella which is celebrated every year in June. San Bernabé is one of the most anticipated and most colourful events on Costa del Sol. This festival together with Carmen in July is one of the most awaited and deeply rooted festivities felt by citizens in Marbella. The fair in Marbella is one of the festivals with the greatest Andalusian flavour, where flamenco dresses are a very important part of the celebration. Both locals and foreigners mingle to enjoy dancing, music, good wine and delicious cuisine, for a whole week. Living first-hand the parties of San Bernabé in Marbella is the ideal occasion to enjoy the face “more traditional” of the town, the most ideal to get an idea of the Marbella of yesteryear, before the tourist boom.

 

 

San Bernabé Pilgrimage 2026

The San Bernabé Pilgrimage marks the start of Marbella’s patron saint celebrations each year. In 2026, it will take place on Sunday 31 May, bringing together local residents, social clubs and pilgrims for a day of celebration in honour of the city’s patron saint.

The morning begins with a free churros and hot chocolate tasting in Plaza de la Iglesia. Afterwards, the image of San Bernabé sets off in pilgrimage from the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación to the Patron Saint’s Chapel in Nagüeles Park. Along the route, a floral tribute will be paid at the monument dedicated to Miguel Vida, after whom the park’s main pathway is named.

Once in Nagüeles, the traditional Pilgrims’ Mass will be celebrated, followed by a festive programme featuring live music, performances by local dance academies and the popular paella offered by Marbella Town Hall.

The day concludes with a performance by local band Los Calvin, bringing to a close an event that combines tradition, gastronomy and a festive atmosphere in one of Marbella’s most iconic natural settings.

 

2026 Marbella Fair’s program

The San Bernabé Fair and Festivities 2026 will take place in Marbella from 8 to 14 June, a week during which the city comes alive with music, tradition, entertainment and activities for all ages. The programme combines Marbella’s most cherished traditions with concerts, shows, family-friendly events and plenty of opportunities to enjoy both the Day Fair and the Night Fair.

Download the full program

 

Programme Highlights

The celebrations officially begin on Monday 8 June with the opening speech delivered by Aurelio Gómez Gutiérrez, a long-serving member of Marbella’s Festivals Department who has played an important role in the organisation of many of the city’s traditional celebrations. The opening evening will also feature the crowning of the Fair Queens, Ladies, King and Miss Congeniality, followed by the traditional fireworks display by the Marina.

The Day Fair opens on Tuesday 9 June in Marbella’s Old Town, the Alameda Park and Avenida del Mar. This year, the entrance arch will pay tribute to Motoclub Peña Los Mentirosos in recognition of its contribution to the city’s festive life. The day will also coincide with Children’s Day, when reduced prices will be available at the fairground attractions.

On Wednesday 10 June, one of the fair’s most traditional events takes place: the raising of Marbella’s historic banner on the balcony of the Festivals Department, accompanied by a colourful parade of Giants and Big-Heads through the town centre. That same evening will see the debut of the new Youth Area, a dedicated space within the fairgrounds featuring DJs, food trucks and activities designed for younger visitors.

Thursday 11 June, the Feast Day of San Bernabé, will be the most solemn day of the celebrations. Following tradition, a civic and religious procession will make its way to the Cruz del Humilladero, followed by a Mass in honour of the patron saint and a procession through the streets of Marbella’s historic centre.

Live music will play a major role throughout the week. Among the most anticipated performances are Los Calvin y Alejados, La Cruz del Mapa and Los Piratas, as well as Medina Azahara, who will perform as part of their farewell tour, one of the highlights of this year’s programme.

The fair will come to an end on Sunday 14 June with the traditional Children’s Water Festival and a variety of family activities, bringing the curtain down on a week filled with celebration, community spirit and festive atmosphere.

 

Queens and Ladies of The San Bernabé Fair

Throughout the festivities, Marbella hosts a wide range of events and performances as part of both the Day Fair and the Night Fair. A few weeks before the celebrations begin, the traditional ceremony to elect the Fair Queens, King, Ladies and official representatives of the San Bernabé Fair and Festivities takes place.

For the 2026 edition, Lucía Sánchez González and Claudia González Amores were crowned Youth Queen and Children’s Queen respectively. Hugo Aguilar del Pino was named King of the Fair.

Youth Queen Lucía Sánchez González will be accompanied by her Ladies Julia Álvarez Hernández, Angelina Pino Pertierra, Daniela Pinilla and Amaia Villada Rosas.

In the children’s category, Claudia González Amores will be accompanied by Martina Cazorla Manzano, Cataleya Esquivel Acedo del Olmo, Ariadna González Muñoz and Isabel María Ramírez Rodríguez.

The title of Miss Congeniality was awarded to Ainara García Santos, accompanied by her Ladies Lola García Sáez and Sofía Agüera Grande.

The opening speech for the San Bernabé Fair and Festivities 2026 will be delivered by Aurelio Gómez Gutiérrez, a member of Marbella’s Festivals Department who has been closely involved in the organisation of many of the city’s traditional celebrations. His appointment recognises the dedication of those who work throughout the year to ensure that the fair remains one of the most important events in Marbella’s festive calendar.

How to get there

During daytime, the Fair takes place in Parque de la Alameda and on Avenida del Mar.

Google Maps

 

At night, the Fair will no longer take in land of the third phase of La Cañada, now it has been decided to move it to a nearby plot, south of the highway, in the Arroyo Segundo area. The road that gives access to the Cañada tunnel will also be used, from the roundabout that exists to the south of the Arroyo Primero sports center.

Google Maps

 

 

1. Free bus

Transport services for the movement of citizens and visitors, from different points of our city to the fairground at night(the Canadian phase III).

Opening hours: from 5 to 11 June, will be 18.00-03.00 hours except in the following cases:

• Wednesday, June 6, 17.00-03.00 hours special service.
• Special night service for Friday 7th, Saturday 8 and Sunday, June 9.

These days will have a bus service that will expand the completion of your journey up to 6.00 hours.

1. Shell Petrol Station (Bus Station). Google Maps
2. Avda. Cánovas del Castillo (El Cenit housing development). Google Maps
3. Avda. Ricardo Soriano (El Pirulí). Google Maps
4. Avda. Ricardo Soriano (Zona 7 Puertas- Unicaja). Google Maps
5. Avda. Severo Ochoa (Marbell Center building). Google Maps
6. Travesía Huerta de los Cristales (Eroski). Google Maps
7. C/ Vázquez Clavel (‘El Punto’). Google Maps
8. C/ Serenata (Mercadona). Google Maps
9. The fair venue. Google Maps

From 6:00 p.m. to 03:00 a.m., the City Council of Marbella also puts into operation a train that departs from Parque Comercial La Cañada and from Av.José Manuel Vallés (next to the Valle Azul building.)

 

Parking

You can opt to leave your car at the Albarizas, where the Town Hall has provided a mini-train service as far as El Real that is also free and that has a pick-up point in the vicinity where avenida José Manuel Vallés ends. From La Cañada to the feria site, access is by foot or by the public transport means provided only.

Google Maps

 

History

The San Bernabé fiestas pay homage year after year to the Patron Saint of Marbella. Leisure, fun, the coming together of locals and a good atmosphere take over the city on these fiesta days. San Bernabé Day is also Carmen Day, one of the more important times of the year for Marbella.

These fiestas commemorate the Reconquest of Marbella by the Catholic Monarchs in 1485. During this week of the Fair, locals, as well as tourists and visitors, have the chance to enjoy traditional and colourful Andalusian fiestas.

 

The Fair

For one week, booths and cachorros take over Marbella and the old quarter and fair site display colourful flags. People wear traditional dress and both tourists and locals enjoy the picturesque charm of traditional Andalusian fiestas. The programming is varied and fun, and includes shows, processions, processions carrying the Virgin, events and performances of all kinds.

The large amount of people who come to this event creates a great atmosphere, with the streets full of life and colour and everyone having fun, but on the other hand, a couple of little things should be taken into account in order to enjoy the fair as much as possible: June is usually pretty hot so it is best to have a hat and bottle of water to hand. As always, when there are many people, there can be pickpockets. These are isolated and infrequent cases, but not carrying much money and paying attention are two simple precautions that can be very useful.

 

Sampling the tapas booths

 

All that dancing will make you hungry and thirsty and, if the rest of the year we tend to eat traditional Andalusian and Mediterranean cuisine, this is even more pronounced during the San Bernabé Fair. Horse riders and people proudly wearing Gitana dress are now as popular as Spanish omelette, fried fish and churros with hot chocolate when the fair is over.

 

 

Bear in mind, too, that people do not have a meal at the Feria, but rather snack and for this the Iberian pork products are the best choice. But everyone knows that there are two culinary stars: ham and cheese. We eat with our hands and you should try the Costa del Sol’s seafood delicacies.

Dinner is done well at the Fair. Everyone enjoys El Real, the booths and meeting up with friends, and the customary small sandwiches are savoured, especially by the little ones. The adults, for their part, can try a wide range of small sandwiches accompanied by fried peppers.

 

Eating is a serious business at the Fair that stretches far into the night. When the lights go off and the day begins, people say goodbye over churros with hot chocolate or delicious fritters. They never go hungry.

 

Drinks

All this is washed down with a refreshing drink, since this time of year is usually pretty hot in Marbella. The most traditional way to cool down is with a glass of beer or manzanilla or fino sherry. You can also try a traditional drink: rebujito, which is made with fino sherry and Seven Up. Whatever method you choose, remember to drink in moderation so you can enjoy the Fair with all your senses sharpened.

 

CURIOSITIES AND TIPS TO ENJOY THE SAN BERNABÉ FAIR 

Those who have visited the Fair of San Bernabé are aware that all Marbella´s citizens are the best ambassadors of this festivity. But for those who still do not know what Cartojal is, what verdiales are and how they sound or have not yet taken a waffle with chocolate to regain strength, pay attention, because now we are going to put some guidelines to take into account if you want to enjoy San Bernabé to the fullest:

 

To check the celebrations program

We recommend you to check at our section for the 2019 Fair Program to know first-hand what activities have been prepared for this year, since this way you can know beforehand what you want to see and where it is.

 

The perfect ‘Outfit’ for the fair

It is true that each type of event requires its particular ‘protocol’, but at the Fair of San Bernabé we can say that there are no limits. Each one can go as he/she likes and as comfortable as he/she  feels, therefore, the most normal thing is to see the light clothing assistants (with comfortable and soft clothes), so as not to pass more heat than strictly necessary.

 

 

The power of Hydration!

Keep in mind that at this time of the year is really hot, so the most important thing to avoid a heat stroke is to hydrate well and drink fluids. And since we are in Feria and we won’t always be drinking water, in this fair you can also take a delicious red wine with lemon, a very cold beer (it must be a “Victoria, ‘malagueña and exquisite”), soft drinks and especially a very special drink that is the queen of all the fairs, Cartaojal.  

 

Cartojal

The Cartojal is the most popular drink in the fair, it is a sweet wine that is taken very cool and always ends up in the suitcase of the tourists who try it. As a tip, we will tell you that it is necessary to take with moderation, although the heat makes you want to drink once and again. The problem comes when alcohol takes over you.

 

Don’t forget Marbella!

There is a lot more to see in Marbella aside from the San Bernabé Fair. Bear in mind that on these days the city is empty as everyone goes to the Fair, so it can be the perfect time to enjoy Marbella’s monuments or get lost in the city’s streets.

 

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We hope that this post has opened the desire to come to enjoy Marbella of your big week and that, if you decide to come, enjoy the most of this holiday and do not hesitate to take a glass of Cartaojal to our health

 

WHERE TO STAY

If you decide to come to Marbella, make sure you stay at Fuerte Hoteles. El Fuerte Marbella a historic establishment on the Costa del Sol, now transformed to 5 stars, is the Marbella hotel that best combines casual luxury, an exclusive and welcoming atmosphere and the sheer comfort offered by its location on the city centre’s beachfront, which offers stunning sea views right across Marbella’s seafront promenade.