Published 01 September 2026 | Events

TL;DR: Almeria has begun preparing its 2026-2027 Christmas programme, with a €1.01 million lighting contract focused especially on the renewed Paseo de Almeria .

Paseo takes centre stage at Christmas

With the Feria y Fiestas de Almeria 2026 now over, the city is already turning its attention to the next major celebration. The Ayuntamiento has launched the tender for one of the main contracts shaping Christmas 2026-2027: the extraordinary festive lighting scheme.

The contract has an estimated budget of €1,010,350, around 20% higher than last year’s figure. Interested companies have until 15 September to submit their offers.

The tender was approved by the Junta de Gobierno Local following a proposal from the Area de Urbanismo, Vivienda y Fiestas Mayores. It covers the rental, transport, installation, maintenance, operation and later removal of the lighting across the city.

Christmas preparations begin early

The planned festive period will run from the end of November until 6 January 2027. Starting the process now is intended to give the selected contractor time to install and prepare the displays before the Christmas season begins.

Eloisa Cabrera, the councillor responsible for the area, described the tender as part of the continuous planning required for Almeria’s major public celebrations. The city has moved directly from organising the Feria to preparing the Christmas services and contracts, with the aim of having everything ready on schedule.

The planned investment would increase the number of illuminated points and take Christmas decoration to almost 50 streets and public spaces. The scheme includes close to 200 arches, light motifs, three-dimensional figures and other ornamental features.

Paseo de Almeria takes centre stage

The main change this year will be the role given to the Paseo de Almeria. Following the completion of its urban redevelopment works, the central commercial and pedestrian avenue is due to receive its new configuration during the Christmas period.

The lighting proposal for the Paseo includes 80 trees covered with illuminated cords, 18 special arches and 15 further features installed on street poles and stones. Together, these elements are intended to create a specific setting for the avenue rather than treating it simply as another decorated street.

The Ayuntamiento says the Christmas display will accompany the changes made to the Paseo and reinforce its position as a central meeting place and route through the city centre. It also expects the area to remain an important focus for shops, hospitality businesses and tourism during the festive period.

Displays across the city

The Paseo will be part of a wider lighting plan extending through the centre and other parts of Almeria. Two of the largest features will be 18-metre illuminated Christmas trees, planned for Puerta Purchena and Plaza de las Velas.

Other public spaces included in the proposal are Plaza Manuel Perez ‘Tomatito’, Plaza de San Sebastian, Virgen del Mar, Reyes Catolicos, Parque de la Estacion, Plaza Marques de Heredia, Plaza Pierre de Coubertin, Plaza Vieja, Reina Regente and Plaza Circular.

There will also be specific decoration at the Alcaldia and Cable Ingles roundabouts. The plan includes lighting around the Mercado Central, using illuminated plant-style elements, as well as displays for the Christmas Market.

Landmark buildings included

Several notable buildings are also listed for festive illumination. These include the Ayuntamiento, Teatro Apolo and the Mercado Central itself, adding decorated facades to the street-level arches, figures and other installations.

The final arrangement will depend on the outcome of the tender process, but the published proposal sets out a larger city-wide display with the renewed Paseo de Almeria as its main reference point. For residents and visitors, the first visible sign of the Christmas programme is therefore likely to be the transformation of the central avenue once the seasonal installation begins.

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