Thousands of people participated in the Andalucía Antequera Light Fest 2026, which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Dolmens Site as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Andalucía Antequera Light Fest 2026 has concluded its most special edition with record figures. Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Dolmens Site as a World Heritage Site, the festival brought together thousands of people over the past few days with a programme that combined light, sound, heritage, and music.
A historic tenth anniversary for Antequera
The mayor of Antequera, Manolo Barón, described the edition as “unique and impressive.” In his statements, he emphasised that the city has demonstrated its ability to organise large events “like no other city in Andalucía and Spain celebrates a World Heritage Site in such a special and unique way.”
Barón recalled that this edition “was not just another one,” but an occasion to commemorate a historic milestone. “We have surpassed a level,” he stated, referring to the atmosphere experienced since Friday, with a city full of visitors and a notable boost to local hospitality and commerce.
The mayor especially thanked the work of the deputy mayor for Tourism, Commerce, and World Heritage, Ana Cebrián, as well as the entire municipal team involved in the organisation, security, cleaning, and communication of the event. He also expressed his gratitude to the security forces, Civil Protection, and Local Police.
Institutional and business collaboration
Manolo Barón highlighted the collaboration of the Tourism and Andalucía Exterior Department of the Junta de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol from the Provincial Council of Málaga, Grupo Heineken, Morato Group, and the company Womack, responsible for the technical and artistic production. The mayor praised the involvement of companies based in Antequera, such as Morato, “for supporting the major cultural events of the city.”
For her part, Ana Cebrián noted that the ALF 2026 has been “a very special tenth anniversary,” with new features to continue growing a festival that is already part of Antequera's cultural and tourist identity. The deputy mayor recalled that the central theme has been the world heritage of Antequera, with a journey through “the last 6,000 years of history, not only of Antequera but of all humanity.”
Cebrián also thanked the work of the company Womack, which is celebrating a decade of collaboration with the City Council, as well as the involvement of various municipal areas. “This birthday belongs to everyone,” she stated, inviting people to experience the festival “with family, to share it, and to be happy.”
Shows and technical innovations
Among the most notable proposals was Luminare, an immersive videomapping show held for the first time inside the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor. This activity allowed the audience to enjoy an enveloping audiovisual experience with projections on the altar, columns, arches, and ceiling of the monument.
From a technical standpoint, the 2026 edition represented a significant qualitative leap. According to data provided by the production, the festival featured more than 80 professionals including artists, technicians, and support staff. Inside the Real Colegiata alone, 9 projectors were installed, compared to the usual four, achieving approximately 160,000 lumens and around 8,000 watts of sound.
The technical production was complemented by other spaces along the route, such as the San Luis square, with projections on the façade and live DJ; the courtyard of the Town Hall, featuring a 7 by 2.5-metre LED screen as part of the Music Party Universe proposal; Rain of Light on the Cuesta de San Judas, with a light installation inspired by water; and the San Sebastián square, where The Fire of History combined scenery, light, music, and fire evoking the origin of humanity.
The festival also included the Family Days Festival, held at the Paseo Real from July 15 to 19 with free access, food trucks, children's activities, and concerts. The City Council highlights the excellent reception of this family-oriented proposal, which has contributed to making the Light Fest an event for all audiences.
For the residents of Antequera and visitors, the outcome could not be more positive: the Light Fest 2026 has reaffirmed the city as a benchmark in celebrating its heritage, with a direct impact on the local economy and tourism projection. The next event, in 2027, promises to maintain the high standards.
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