The Centro Histórico Association of Málaga has appointed local actress María Barranco as the flag bearer for the Málaga Fair 2026. She will carry the Málaga Flag during the pilgrimage on August 15.
Local actress María Barranco will carry the Málaga Flag at the upcoming Málaga Fair. This decision was made by an absolute majority by the board of the Centro Histórico Association of Málaga (CCA), which annually selects a personality linked to the city to serve as the flag bearer during the urban pilgrimage.
The appointment was announced this Thursday through a statement from the entity, presided over by Rodrigo Bocanegra Valdés. The association highlights that Barranco is one of the most recognised actresses in Spanish audiovisual media and that her connection with Málaga has been constant throughout her career.
The XLIII Pilgrimage of the Málaga Fair will take place on Saturday, August 15. The procession will depart at 11:00 from the Town Hall and will traverse the main streets of the historic centre to the Sanctuary of Victoria, where a mass will be held in honour of Santa María de la Victoria, the city's patron saint.
The association has encouraged both locals and visitors to participate in this event, considered the most beautiful and traditional urban pilgrimage in Andalucía. Attendees can join either on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, a way to help keep one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Fair in the Centre alive.
A career linked to Málaga
María Barranco was born in Málaga and has developed a career spanning over four decades in film, theatre, and television. Her popularity soared with Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, a key film in the history of Spanish cinema.
Throughout her career, she has worked with some of the most prestigious directors in the country and has been recognised with two Goya Awards for Best Supporting Actress. The association emphasises that her career is marked by versatility and talent, and she has always proudly represented her Málaga roots.
Although her work has taken her to the main national and international stages and sets, Barranco has maintained a close bond with Málaga, participating in cultural and social initiatives in the city. Her appointment is seen, according to the entity, as a recognition of her artistic career and her commitment to her hometown.
The selection of the flag bearer is one of the most anticipated pre-events of the Málaga Fair, as the designated person leads the pilgrimage that officially opens the festivities. In previous editions, this honour has been bestowed upon figures from the worlds of culture, sport, or business with Málaga roots.
“Thus contributing to keeping alive one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Málaga Fair to continue enjoying the Fair in the Centre,” the organisation states.
For the residents of the historic centre, the pilgrimage marks the starting gun for a week of celebrations that transforms the streets. The route passes through iconic points such as Calle Larios and Alameda Principal, and the mass at the Sanctuary of Victoria gathers hundreds of faithful and curious onlookers each year.
The association has invited all Málaga residents to join this event, which combines devotion, tradition, and a festive atmosphere. The gathering is on August 15 at 11:00 at the Town Hall, from where the procession will depart.
With this appointment, María Barranco becomes the face of the Málaga Fair 2026, a role she will carry with pride, as highlighted by the association, due to her “permanent commitment to her hometown.”
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