The festival of light, heritage, and music returns this Friday and Saturday to Antequera to mark the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Dolmens Site as World Heritage by UNESCO.
The city of Antequera is preparing to experience two magical nights with the Andalucía Antequera Light Fest 2026, which kicks off tonight with its main events. The festival, taking place this Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July, commemorates the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Dolmens Site as World Heritage by UNESCO, a milestone that transformed the tourist and cultural projection of the locality.
A Journey of Light Through the Historic Centre
The mayor of Antequera, Manolo Barón, has encouraged residents and visitors to enjoy a “very special” event that was created precisely to celebrate that anniversary. “A decade later, the festival has established itself as one of the major cultural events of the summer in the interior of the province of Málaga,” he noted. The activities are spread across various locations in the historic centre, from 22:30 to 02:00 hours.
The deputy mayor of Tourism, Commerce, and World Heritage, Ana Cebrián, explained that this edition invites attendees to explore Antequera “from the high part of the city down to the centre,” discovering proposals that have light, history, and Antequera's world heritage as a common thread. The route promises to surprise both locals and tourists who visit during these days.
Videomapping, Fire, and Giant Planets
One of the major novelties of this edition is Luminare, a videomapping show that will take place inside the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor. The projections on the altar and the interior of the monument will create an immersive experience, with performances every 30 minutes. The Cuesta de San Judas will host Rain of Light, an uninterrupted light installation that evokes the importance of water in Antequera's history.
In the Plaza de San Sebastián, The Fire of History will combine light, music, and fire with choreographies by specialists, also with performances every half hour. The courtyard of the Town Hall will be the stage for Music Party Universe, where large luminous planets and an LED screen will recreate the night sky with images of various World Heritage sites. The Plaza de San Luis will host DJ Light, an activity designed for families, featuring a DJ on the balcony and projections that transform the façade into retrofuturistic, cyber, gothic, or techno booths.
More Activities and the World Cup Final
The Family Days Festival continues at the Paseo Real until Sunday 19 July, with free access. It offers food trucks, children's activities, family shows, and live music. Additionally, on Sunday, the final of the Football World Cup between Spain and Argentina will be shown on two giant screens, replacing the originally planned Beatles tribute concert.
As part of the commemorative programming, the City Museum will screen the documentary “The Day We Made History: 10 Years as World Heritage”, which revives the events of 15 July 2016 in Istanbul and the recognition process by UNESCO. The screenings will take place every hour, from 11:00 to 14:00 hours, from today until Sunday.
All activities of the Light Fest are free. The Town Hall encourages everyone to enjoy the city in an orderly manner, exploring the various spaces and taking advantage of the cultural, hospitality, and commercial offerings. The festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Andalucía Exterior of the Junta de Andalucía, co-financed with FEDER Funds, and in collaboration with the Diputación de Málaga, Cruzcampo, and Morato Group.
For the people of Antequera and visitors, this edition of the Light Fest is not just a visual spectacle but an opportunity to rediscover the heritage that put Antequera on the world map ten years ago. With a festive and family-friendly atmosphere, the city lights up to celebrate its history and look to the future.
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