Águilas hosts the biggest and most spectacular Carnival celebrations in the Region of Murcia

The definitive calendar for the 2026 Carnival celebrations in Águilas, an annual event which has been granted International Tourist Interest status, has been published, with the month-long fiestas lasting this year from Saturday January 31 Friday March 6.

The main events of Carnaval 2026 in Águilas include the following (some of the exact timings have yet to be confirmed):

Saturday January 31

- The Grand Gala at which the official Carnival offices and titles are handed over by the 2025 dignitaries to those named for 2026, at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Sunday February 1

9.00: The 32^nd edition of the annual “Carnavales de Águilas” duathlon begins outside the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena. 

20.00: The 24th annual paper costume contest at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera. This is an extraordinary event with magnificent costumes which it is hard to believe are made of paper. Tickets are sold by the Federation of Carnival Peñas and will made available online here from 10 euros.

Tuesday February 3

- Crónica indómita by Lorenzo Hernández Pallarés at the Casa de la Cultura "Francisco Rabal".

Wednesday February 4

- The first semi-final of the national Chirigotas competition at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

Thursday February 5

- The second semi-final of the national Chirigotas competition at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

Friday February 6

21.30: The 22^nd annual National Drag Queen gala and contest at the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena. Tickets will be made available online here from 15 euros.

Saturday February 7

9.00 to 14.00: Carnival rowing regatta at the Club Náutico de Águilas, part of the Liga Llaut del  Mediterráneo competition.

21.00: The Carnaval de Águilas body make-up competition, billed as the "World Bodypainting Festival", at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos Infanta Doña Elena. Tickets will be made available online here from 15 euros.

Sunday February 8

- First leg of the 24th annual Carnival regatta for the "Estrella de Levante" trophy at the Club Náutico de Águilas.

​- Carnival Cuerva Run, test your stamina in a combination of running and drinking, starting at the fairground.

- The 17th annual Bands Festival at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

Thursday February 12

- The main events of Carnival begin with the 24th “Suelta de la Mussona”, the release of the carnal beast of Carnival from the castle, from where it makes its way down to the town centre amid taunting and provocation from the assembled crowds! The Mussona arrives in the Plaza de España at approximately 23.45, to be greeted by firecrackers and the opening of the “chiringuito” open-air bars.

(The Mussona is a figure which represents the dual nature of man, as both something wild, the beast within and man seen from outside, a way of expressing the battle between order and chaos; this is essentially what Carnival is all about!)

Friday February 13

- Schools’ parades at the primary and secondary schools of Águilas.

- The 35th annual competition at the camp of the Federación de Peñas to find the best “Cuerva” (a local liqueur typical of the Carnival celebrations). The competition begins at the Carnival fairground.

During the evening the “chirigota” group Las Esturreás perform in the streets, with performances planned by the yuccas on the promenade (Blas Rosique Blaya), at the Parque Blanco on Avenida Juan Carlos I and at the Fuente de la Colonia on the Paseo de la Constitución.

(Chirigotas are satirical folk songs which are typically sung by costumed performers during Carnival, and have their origins in Cádiz, in the south-west of Spain.)

The Chirigota de Águilas will also be performing during the evening.

- The children’s Mussona beast is released.

- After the junior Mussona arrives in the Plaza de España the children’s battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal is held and the opening speech for children is given. During this battle, supporters of Don Carnal and Dona Cuaresma pelt each other with “Cascarones” (eggs which have been blown out and filled with confetti): a noisy, fun event!

Saturday February 14

- Second leg of the 24th annual Carnival regatta for the "Estrella de Levante" trophy at the Club.

- The Plaza de España hosts the main battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal, followed by the Carnival opening speech and the welcome of the Mayor.

Sunday February 15

- The first of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. Seats to watch the main parades can be booked in advance from 21st January, in this case priced at 18 euros: further details to follow.

Monday February 16

- Children’s Carnival costume competition in the Plaza de España.

Midnight: Carnaval de Noche, the night Carnival in the Plaza de España.

Tuesday February 17

- The second of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. Seats to watch the main parades can be booked in advance from 21st January, in this case priced at 10 euros: further details to follow.

Thursday February 19

- The first of the traditional performances by La Murga of "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos Infanta Doña Elena.

Friday February 20

- The parade of visiting “comparsas” (or Carnival troupes) from other parts of the country in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. This is the 27th time the event has been held. Seats to watch the main parades can be booked in advance from 21st January, in this case priced at 5 euros: further details to follow.

- The traditional performances by La Murga of "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" continue at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos Infanta Doña Elena.

Saturday February 21

- The last of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. Seats to watch the main parades can be booked in advance from 21st January, in this case priced at 18 euros: further details to follow.

Approximately midnight, after the parade: The ceremonial burning of the figure of Don Carnal, followed by fireworks, in the Puerto de Poniente.

After this the prizes for the Carnival of Águilas 2026 are awarded in the Plaza de España.

Friday January 27

- Performances by the Chirigota “Las Esturreas” at the Casa de la Cultura Francisco Rabal.

Saturday February 28

- Carnaval de Águilas Sea angling competition at the Puerto Deportivo "Juan Montiel".

- The final of the national Chirigotas competition at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

Friday March 6

- The final performance for this year of the Chirigota de Águilas at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

 

If visiting Águilas during Carnival, or indeed at any other time of year, your first port of call should be the local tourist office (click here for map, telephone 0034 968 493 285, email turismo@aguilas.es).

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