The PSOE of Málaga has asked the City Council to protect the traditional character of the Real Cortijo de Torres in light of the rise of booths that operate as restaurants or nightclubs. The Málaga Federation of Peñas shares this concern.
The socialist spokesperson in the Málaga City Council, Mariano Ruiz Araujo, has urged the governing team to act against what he considers a commercial drift of the Málaga Fair. In his opinion, the current model is displacing the traditional booths in favour of establishments that operate practically as restaurants or nightclubs.
Ruiz Araujo has warned that "the Fair cannot become a theme park of restaurants and nightclubs" and has defended that the venue must remain a space for traditions, peñas, and family booths. This stance aligns with that expressed by the Málaga Federation of Peñas, whose president, Manolo Curtido, has raised concerns about the advance of "mercantilism" in the Real Cortijo de Torres.
The socialist has insisted that defending the family model does not mean opposing youth leisure, but rather ensuring a balance so that business does not overshadow the essence of the Fair. Therefore, he has asked the mayor to strengthen inspections and compliance with regulations during this edition, especially in the so-called family area.
"If those representing the peña movement are publicly stating that there are breaches and calling for greater firmness from the City Council, the governing team has an obligation to listen and act," Ruiz Araujo pointed out.
Socialist councillor Pablo Orellana has called for a "serious and shared reflection" on the future of the model once the 2026 Fair concludes. Orellana has requested that traditional peñas and groups play a leading role in any review, as "we cannot allow the entities that have historically brought life to the Real to lose ground to an exclusively commercial model."
For Orellana, the Fair "does not belong to the businesses that set up their activities there for a week; it belongs to Málaga and its people." He has advocated for preserving a space where a family can enter a booth, encounter traditions, and enjoy a genuinely Málaga atmosphere: "Modernising the Fair, yes; turning it into a succession of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, no."
The Málaga Fair 2026 will be held at the Real Cortijo de Torres, and the debate about its model comes at a time when traditional peñas are calling for more institutional support to maintain their activities.
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