The Consumers' Union of Málaga (UCE) estimates that each attendee will spend an average of €76.63 at the 2026 Fair, 14% less than last year. The bus, at 55.8%, will be the preferred mode of transport.
The Málaga Fair of 2026 will have a lower projected average budget than last year. The annual survey by the Consumers' Union of Málaga (UCE), presented this Thursday, August 6, estimates that each person will spend €76.63 during the event, which will begin next month.
This figure is below the €89 estimated for 2025. However, it is close to the amount recorded in 2024, when the forecast was around €76. The study thus reflects a reduction in expected spending after the increase noted in the previous edition.
The organization has analysed consumption forecasts, the modes of transport that attendees will use, the number of days of visit, and the evaluation of the main areas of the Fair. It also notes the difficulties that, according to the UCE, have arisen due to delays in the dissemination of the programme.
Among the known data before the report's presentation was the name of Juan Francisco Funes as the announcer. The appointment of the Málaga CF coach was communicated earlier.
A More Contained Budget
The amount of €76.63 corresponds to the average spending anticipated by the survey participants. The result does not equate to a fixed expenditure but rather to the estimation expressed by the respondents before the Fair begins.
The difference from the 2025 figure reaches €12.37 per person. Compared to that record, the value for 2026 returns to a magnitude similar to that of two years ago. The UCE interprets this evolution as a change from the trend shown in the previous year's forecast.
Food and drink will account for the majority of the money allocated to the festivities. Following that are children's attractions and transport. The report also indicates that the rising prices in booths and stalls continue to generate discontent among those attending the celebration.
The spending forecast is known while still pending information about the programme. For the consumer entity, this circumstance has affected the planning of some residents, especially those with less available time or who live in remote areas with poorer communications.
The Bus Will Be the Main Option
Public transport ranks first among the options planned to reach the fairgrounds. 55.8% of respondents indicate the bus as their chosen means of transport during the Fair.
Another group of attendees states they will walk because they live near the areas where the activities will take place. Private cars appear in 16.3% of the responses, while taxis will be used by 14% of participants.
The difference between the bus and other alternatives positions collective transport as the most widespread method for attending the Fair. The study does not provide a specific percentage for those who will walk, although it does identify this option among the collected responses.
The survey also inquires about travel outside Málaga during the festive days. 16.3% already plan to travel outside the city. This group is joined by another 25.6% who are considering it but have not yet made a definitive decision.
Attendance Will Last Several Days
The distribution of visits shows that most respondents plan to attend more than once. 44.2% estimate they will attend for two or three days, the most numerous segment of responses.
Additionally, 23.3% believe they will attend four days or more. This group includes visits to the Real Cortijo de Torres as well as attendance at the daytime fair held in the Centre of Málaga.
In contrast, 32.6% of respondents plan to attend only one day. 9.3% state they will not go at all. The percentages thus depict an uneven participation: alongside those who will concentrate their presence in a single visit, there is a significant number of people planning to return over several days.
The UCE detects a preference for the Real Cortijo de Torres during the various times of the celebration. The entity notes that this space is the most valued by Málaga residents both during the day and at night.
The overall assessment of the Fair remains predominantly positive among those surveyed. This is not the case for the daytime fair in the Centre, where the organization notes an increase in discontent year after year.
The evolution of prices appears related to that perception. The UCE warns that the rising costs of consumables in booths and stalls are causing complaints, although food and drink continue to be the main destination of attendees' budgets.
The Programme, Pending Until August
Another issue included in the report is the delay in communicating the contents of the 2026 Fair. According to the UCE, until August 5, one day before the publication of the study, only the promotional poster and the name of the announcer had been revealed.
The organization asserts that the information arrived later than in previous editions. This delay, according to their assessment, has affected the planning of some attendees, especially those living in remote areas or with poorer communications.
The Málaga Fair 2026 will begin next month and will take place both at the Real Cortijo de Torres and in the historic centre. Residents wishing to adjust their budget can consult the complete programme when it is officially published.
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