A host of stars on the Costa del Sol during the Starlite Occident Marbella Festival

It’s the only music festival in the world held in… a quarry! It features top-tier artists and attracts thousands of visitors from around the globe every year. If you’re planning a vacation in Marbella during the summer months, be sure to check it out. It’s already a cult classic and certainly the longest-running festival, with over 60 days of concerts. See which stars will be performing this year.

The History of the Starlite Occident Marbella Festival

The festival’s history began in 1983, when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, singer Julio Iglesias, and tenor Plácido Domingo organized a musical event at… the Cantera de Nagüeles quarry in Marbella. It was decided to use this space as a natural auditorium due to its excellent acoustic properties. It was the first event of its kind in history, aimed at combining culture with a beautiful view of the Costa del Sol. Building on this event – thirty years later – the first edition of the festival took place during the Starlite Gala.

Over the years, the Starlite Marbella Festival has become one of the most important cultural events in Spain and Europe. Suffice it to say that over the course of its previous editions, the Starlite Festival has welcomed over 2 million guests from around the world. Today, it is undoubtedly an event that draws music lovers and show business stars to Marbella and the Costa del Sol. Every year, the organizers strive to invite the biggest names in the music world to offer the audience a rich and diverse program.

The Starlite Occident Marbella Festival has already hosted many famous artists, such as Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Julio Iglesias, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin, and Tom Jones. For many years, a charity fundraiser has been organized during one of the festival nights, hosted by Antonio Banderas himself.

Over a decade ago, in 2013–2014, the Starlite Occident Festival took place at the Marbella Convention Center. However, for the past 10 years, the event has been held in an abandoned quarry. There, attendees can enjoy beautiful views of the sea, the city, and the surrounding cliffs, as well as exceptional acoustics.

What is the Starlite Occident Marbella festival and where does it take place?

The Starlite Festival attracts thousands of people from around the world every year, and its popularity continues to grow. The event runs for three months – from June to August at the Cantera de Nagüeles in Marbella. In 2025, Starlite Occident Marbella took place almost every Monday and Friday, from June 13 to August 29. In 2026, the first concerts begin as early as June 19 and will run through August 29.

The first edition of the Starlite Occident Marbella festival was primarily a music event, but since 2013, it has expanded its program to include fashion shows, film premieres, and art exhibitions.

As a result, in 2014, the event received the El Caminante Award – presented by the newspaper El Mundo – for the best tourism initiative in Málaga.

The organizers strive to introduce new features. It is particularly impressive that the festival’s set design is transported up the hill each year – to a former quarry – so that it looks slightly different every time, while still accommodating an audience of 2,200. While attending the concert, everyone can admire the illuminated rocks and pine trees growing on the quarry walls and listen to music performed by the world’s biggest stars. All of this creates a truly unique atmosphere.

The quarry is shaped like an amphitheater, which provides an extraordinary acoustic experience. According to Plácido Domingo and Julio Iglesias, it is one of the best venues in terms of acoustics they have ever encountered. Additionally, you can see the artists up close – stars who usually perform in front of large audiences of up to 50,000 people.

The Starlite Occident Marbella Festival begins even before the concert itself, when guests can enjoy a wide range of culinary offerings in the atmosphere of a summer terrace. The amphitheater features both seating and a VIP area where guests sit in “Bubble Boxes” (eight-person boxes) at the back and at the height of the first 15 rows of the main floor, where waiters serve drinks during the concerts.

There are numerous restaurants and bars on the festival grounds. After each concert, you can head to the area with a large dance floor to continue the evening with DJ music, interspersed with performances by artists or dance shows. Among the international artists in 2025 were Kool & the Gang, Europe, Seal, Scorpions, Will Smith, The Beach Boys, and Santana, and in 2024, one of the festival’s biggest stars was Ricky Martin.

What is the Starlite Gala?

The event also has a charitable dimension, and the Starlite Foundation organizes the annual Starlite Gala, which aims to raise funds for charitable projects. The gala is hosted by Antonio Banderas and Sandra García-Sanjuán. It is one of the largest annual charity events in Spain.

Who will perform at the 2026 Starlite Occident Marbella Festival?

During its 15th edition, the festival in Marbella will feature just over 40 days of concerts in June, July, and August.

Among the artists announced for this edition are: Lenny Kravitz (June 29), Grupo Frontera (July 6), Maroon 5 (July 7), Deep Purple (July 9), Yandel Sinfónico (July 18), Carlos Rivera (July 22), Sergio Dalma (August 4), and Antoñito Molina (August 19).

You can find the full lineup and purchase tickets on the festival’s official website. Prices vary depending on the artist, concert date, and seat category.

What should you know about Starlite Occident Marbella?

Starlite opens daily at 8:00 PM. The Auditorium stage features numbered seating – divided into grandstands, stands, and VIP boxes with premium service, located just 20 meters from the stage.

• There are 42 VIP boxes available, each accommodating up to 8 people, which can be purchased on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis.
• VIP box tickets include VIP parking, a welcome drink, amenities during the concert, waitstaff service, and priority reservations in the lounge and restaurant. To rent a box, call +34 672 149 416.

DJ sets begin in the lounge area from 10:30 PM to 6:00 AM. Admission is free (until midnight). If you wish to attend only the DJ sets after the main concert, you can do so by purchasing a ticket on the official website. The price varies depending on the set of the day.

There are several dining options on the premises where you can sample the best of local and international cuisine. Meals at the restaurants are served in two shifts: before the concert (from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM) and after the concert (from 11:00 PM to 1:30 AM). We recommend several tried-and-true restaurants in the area: Temazo (grill), Ánima (Mexican cuisine), Tana Bata (Japanese), Sandra’s Caviar, and Raffaella (Italian). The Temazo Bar is the most economical option, perfect for a less formal meal.

Two menus are available: the Starlite Menu with four courses for €70 per person and the Glut Menu with a full selection of dishes from the menu for €100 per person (plus drinks). The other three restaurants offer à la carte dining with reservations at a price of €30 per person.

Additionally, there are several food stands where you can eat standing up at nearby cocktail tables.

For those traveling by car, the organizers recommend the following parking options:

• Star Parking: for just €30, you can reserve a parking spot in advance and not worry about your car. Spaces are very limited.
• General Parking: free for festival guests with a shuttle service. The entrance is located 1.5 kilometers away. After parking your car, return to the entrance to the AstroTurf corridor, where a fleet of minibuses transports visitors 1.5 kilometers up a steep hill to the foot of approximately 50 steps leading to the festival entrance.
• VIP Parking: For Gold and Silver Box ticket holders, with a private driver taking you right to the red carpet, is located closer to the festival entrance.
• Platinum Parking: Platinum Box ticket holders can drive their car up to the red carpet, where event staff will park it.
• Bus line 10 runs from downtown Marbella to Starlite – via Marbella Alameda, Farmacia Berdaguer, Edificio Portillo, and Porcelanosa to Starlite – every half hour from 10:30 PM to 5:30 AM. The schedule for local bus line 10 is available on the Marbella bus website.

Starlite Beach Club – what’s new at the 2026 festival?

In 2026, the organizers plan to open a new beach club located at Laguna Beach in Estepona. The space, covering over 2,000 square meters, will accommodate more than 600 people. It features a pool and restaurants – preserving the magic of Starlite – with live music, DJ sets, and themed parties.