Mijas prepares to thank visitors with free paella and flamenco

Mijas is preparing to thank its visitors with a taste of paella and live flamenco when the town holds its annual Tourist Day on Wednesday, September 23.

Free paella in Mijas Pueblo

The event will take place in Plaza Virgen de la Peña in Mijas Pueblo, with the programme open to visitors and local residents. Flamenco gets things underway at 12pm, followed by free paella from 1.30pm.

A shuttle bus service will also be provided to make getting to the event easier, although the council has not yet published information about the route or timetable.

Tourist Day follows a busy summer

Mijas has plenty to celebrate after recording hotel occupancy of 94.4 per cent in August, according to figures from the Association of Costa del Sol Hoteliers. That put the town third among the province’s tourist destinations.

Tourism currently supports almost 8,000 jobs in Mijas, with 7,974 workers linked to the sector during the second quarter of 2026. Tourism councillor Francisco Jerez said the Tourist Day forms part of the town’s participation in World Tourism Day and gives visitors and residents a chance to share the occasion.

Mijas wants visitors beyond summer

September’s celebration also has a wider purpose for Mijas. The tourism department wants to attract more visitors outside the busiest summer months, particularly during winter.

Jerez said the council is continuing to promote golf, sports tourism, gastronomy and the municipality’s inland areas as reasons for people to visit during quieter months.

Winter visitors can also help the local economy because they tend to stay longer and look for different experiences from those travelling during the peak summer period.

Mijas has held its Tourist Day for years, with last year’s event also featuring flamenco and free paella in Plaza Virgen de la Peña. In 2025, the council said the paella was eaten within about an hour, showing the popularity of the event.

This year’s celebration comes four days before World Tourism Day on September 27, making the Mijas event an early local celebration of the international tourism date.