Starlite Festival
The Starlite Festival, now known as Starlite Occident for sponsorship reasons, is a three-month-long music and cultural extravaganza held every summer in Marbella.
Every June, July and August, the Nagüeles quarry attracts a star-studded lineup of international performers to this unique space that combines an open-air auditorium, a Sessions space (an outdoor nightclub which hosts DJ performances) and several restaurants.
Combined with the Starlite Gala, hosted by Antonio Banderas, one of Spain’s biggest philanthropic events of the year, this makes Starlite one of the most important annual social and entertainment events in the country.
A unique venue
The former stone quarry, situated above Marbella, was first used in 1983 when Alfonso Hohenlohe, Julio Iglesias and Plácido Domingo founded the Auditorio de Marbella.
Despite a successful Tenors concert, the festival did not continue annually. Efforts to revive it in 1989 also fell short, leaving the quarry abandoned for 23 years.
In 2012, the site was revitalised for the inaugural Starlite Festival, which has since become one of Spain’s leading music festivals.
The festival has hosted performances by Enrique Iglesias, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli and more.
Its stage is set against the backdrop of 60-metre-high rock walls, creating an intimate atmosphere beneath the stars with incredible natural acoustics.
The 3,500-seat auditorium is divided into Stalls, Boxes and Podium areas, each offering various sub-categories, providing different levels of premium seating.
The festival location feels like a hidden gem, which means access can be challenging. Except for VIPs, attendees must park a mile away and take minibuses to the venue.
Getting to the Starlite Festival
First-timers may have difficulty accessing the festival. From Marbella’s Plaza Bocanegra, attendees drive to an unmade car park and then take minibuses up a steep hill to the venue entrance.
However, there is also a free shuttle bus that runs from Marbella town to the festival site throughout the night.
Despite the complexity, once inside the venue, the Starlite Festival experience is worth the effort. With its rich history, star-studded lineup and unique setting, the Starlite Festival is a highlight of Marbella’s cultural and social calendar.
Starlite Occident 2024
The 2024 edition of the Starlite Festival will host concerts from 14 June to 31 August.
So far, names confirmed for this year’s festival include Van Morrison, Sheryl Crow, Take That!, Simple Minds, Ricky Martin, Jamie Cullum, Tom Jones, UB40, Luis Miguel, Keane, Gipsy Kings, Julian Marley and many more.
For the full lineup and dates, click here.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.