Published October 26, 2025 | Category: Events

TL;DR: Wondering what to do in Almeria this October 2025? Here’s a curated roundup of the best festivals, concerts, outdoor routes and community happenings across the province — from the Garrucha Red Prawn Festival to Almerijazz, Halloween parades and mountain bike adventures.

What to Do in Almeria: Late October & Early November 2025

As autumn sets in, Almeria’s cultural calendar comes alive with local fairs, music festivals, gastronomy routes and outdoor activities. Whether you’re drawn to coastal celebrations, mountain trails or creative workshops, there’s something happening in nearly every corner of the province. Below is your essential guide to the most exciting things to do in Almeria from late October through early November 2025.

Table of Contents

• Festivals and Fairs
• Culture and Music
• Sports and Outdoors
• Food and Gastronomy
• Community and Family

Festivals and Fairs

Late October in Almeria is defined by lively festivals that blend tradition with community spirit. In Garrucha, the VI Red Prawn Festival celebrates one of the Levante coast’s most prized delicacies with tastings, music, and family-friendly events through October 26. Organised by the Diputación de Almería and the Ayuntamiento de Garrucha, the event draws thousands of visitors and local chefs celebrating the region’s famous red prawn.

Meanwhile, in Huércal de Almeria, car and motor enthusiasts gather for HuércalMotor 2025, a three-day auto and motorcycle show featuring 22 brands, exclusive offers, and entertainment for all ages. It’s coordinated by the Ayuntamiento de Huércal de Almería with regional business sponsors and free entry for visitors.

For more upcoming fairs and city festivals, visit our Events category.

Culture and Music

The highlight of Almeria’s cultural season is the Almerijazz International Festival 2025, running through November 9. Concerts take place at Teatro Apolo and other city venues, featuring Spanish and international artists in collaboration with Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The festival, coordinated by the Ayuntamiento de Almería, offers both free and ticketed shows and continues to position Almeria as a cultural hub in southern Spain.

Two new art exhibitions also stand out this season. Cianotipia explores experimental photography techniques, while Jardín de Sal examines the intersection between salt, art, and ecology. Both are hosted at municipal galleries and open until early November.

Discover more cultural and musical highlights in our Community section.

Sports and Outdoors

Nature and sport merge during the XVI Ruta BTT del Jamón de María, held this weekend in the Parque Natural Sierra de María–Los Vélez. Dozens of cyclists joined this emblematic mountain-bike route celebrating local gastronomy and endurance. The race forms part of the XCM Series Almeria 2025 and is organised with the support of the Diputación de Almería and Federación Andaluza de Ciclismo.

For hikers, the recent rainfall in Bedar and the Sierra de los Filabres has refreshed rural routes. Authorities from the Junta de Andalucía confirm that major trails remain open and safe, with excellent conditions for late-autumn trekking.

For outdoor guides and nature routes, visit our Nature & Environment category.

Food and Gastronomy

Beyond Garrucha’s seafood festivities, food lovers can explore the ongoing Ruta Sabores del Almanzora, a gastronomic route connecting 20 villages and more than 40 establishments across the Valle del Almanzora. It runs through November and is coordinated by Valle del Almanzora Turismo, promoting traditional tapas, wines and local produce from inland Almeria.

In Tabernas, the Autumn Cultural Programme continues through late November, offering outdoor cinema, desert walks and artisan markets. The initiative, supported by the Ayuntamiento de Tabernas, showcases the natural and creative spirit of the desert region.

For culinary experiences and local products, check our Travel Tips section.

Community and Family

Halloween brings community life to the streets of Almeria. The Noche en Negro, organised by the Ayuntamiento de Almería, transforms the city centre into a night of parades, silent film screenings, and live music inspired by 80s rock. Nearby, Benahadux celebrates a three-day Halloween programme filled with family workshops, games and costume contests led by the Ayuntamiento de Benahadux.

On October 31, the Cámara de Comercio de Almería hosts the “Visibilidad Local” workshop — an AI-focused session on improving business visibility and digital strategy for local entrepreneurs and expats. Registration is free via the Chamber of Commerce website.

For ongoing workshops and local initiatives, explore our Expats & Living category.

For more updates from across the province, visit our Events category.

Published October 25, 2025 | Category: Events

TL;DR: The Almeria International Film Festival 2025 (FICAL) runs from November 14–23 with a record number of film submissions, tributes to acclaimed filmmakers, and events that reaffirm Almeria’s status as Spain’s capital of cinematic landscapes.

Almeria International Film Festival 2025: FICAL Marks Its 24th Edition with Record Submissions and Global Guests

The Almeria International Film Festival (FICAL) returns this November for its 24th edition, transforming the Andalusian capital into a meeting point for filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals from across the world. From November 14 to 23, 2025, Almeria will once again showcase its deep connection with cinema — a bond that dates back to the golden age of Westerns filmed in its desert landscapes.

Table of Contents

• Festival overview
• Competitions and awards
• Program highlights
• Venues and screenings
• Almeria’s film heritage
• Practical info & sources

Festival overview

Organised by the Diputación de Almeria, FICAL was founded in 2003 under the name “Almeria en Corto.” What started as a regional short film competition has evolved into one of Spain’s most dynamic audiovisual festivals. According to the organisers, the 2025 edition will emphasise the theme of “Cinema as cultural identity and tourism engine”, underlining how Almeria’s landscapes have shaped global film history.

The festival’s official aim, stated by the Diputación, is to “promote the province of Almeria through its historical links with the audiovisual industry.” FICAL has become not only a cultural highlight but also a strategic pillar of Almeria’s off-season tourism economy, drawing international visitors in November each year.

Competitions and awards

FICAL 2025 will once again feature several competitive sections. The flagship contest, “Almeria en Corto”, remains one of Spain’s leading short film competitions. This year, more than 1,400 entries from over 60 countries were submitted — a record figure that highlights the festival’s global reach. According to the official rules published on Movibeta, all entries must have been produced after January 1, 2024 and must not exceed 30 minutes in length.

The festival awards more than €24,000 in prizes, including €7,000 for Best International Short Film and €6,000 for Best Spanish Short Film, along with recognition for Best Director, Screenplay, and Cinematography. These prizes are designed to support new voices in cinema and to encourage filming projects in the province.

In addition to the short film competitions, FICAL 2025 also includes sections for feature films, TV series, and digital content, reflecting how storytelling has evolved across new formats.

Program highlights

The full program, to be unveiled in early November, will include screenings, masterclasses, exhibitions, and open-air events. As in previous years, the opening gala will take place at the Auditorio Maestro Padilla, followed by the traditional red carpet ceremonies and the closing awards night at Teatro Cervantes.

Among the expected guests are Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet, who will receive an honorary award, and several emerging directors whose films have been shot in the Almeria region. The festival will also host round-table discussions on the future of the Andalusian film industry, co-productions, and sustainable filmmaking.

For visitors, the open-air screenings along the Paseo de Almeria and Plaza Vieja are among the most popular activities, often featuring restored classics and documentaries about the province’s cinematic past.

Venues and screenings

The festival extends across the city, combining cultural landmarks and modern auditoriums:

• Teatro Cervantes – Closing gala and award ceremony.
• Auditorio Maestro Padilla – Opening night and competition screenings.
• Museo de Almeria – Hosts the exhibition “Almeria on Screen.”
• Casa del Cine – Industry panels and meet-the-filmmaker sessions.

Many of these locations are within walking distance, turning central Almeria into a week-long open set for movie lovers.

Almeria’s film heritage

For decades, Almeria has been known as Europe’s natural film studio. Its desert plains and coastline have hosted over 500 productions, from Lawrence of Arabia (1962) to Sergio Leone’s iconic Westerns and more recent series such as Game of Thrones and Black Mirror. FICAL keeps this legacy alive by honouring both international and local creators who continue to choose the province as a filming destination.

The Almeria Film Office plays a vital role in connecting filmmakers with local resources and permits, while the festival’s “Filming Almeria” section specifically rewards productions that contribute to the province’s cultural and economic development.

Practical info & sources

Dates: November 14–23, 2025
Edition: 24th (XXIV)
Organiser: Diputación de Almeria
Total prize fund: €24,200
Official site: festivaldealmeria.com
Competition rules: Movibeta – FICAL 2025 Rules
Festival profile: Festhome
Organizer institution: Diputación de Almeria
Tourism info: Spain.info

For more updates from across the province, visit our Events category.