The installation of Malaga's one-million-euro Christmas lights display is already underway, almost three months before the celebration of the big day on the calendar.

As in previous years, the Ximénez Lighting company will be responsible for installing the dazzling displays and, this Monday (27 September), workers started the huge operation in Plaza de la Merced.

This year Malaga City Council has increased the budget for Christmas lights by an additional 200,000 euros to allow more streets to lit up and cover some of the shortfall after a number of sponsors pulled out.

Last Christmas there were no musical light shows or official opening of the festive displays to avoid crowds gathering during the pandemic. But a hundred streets of the city were illuminated and the 'Christmas forest' took its traditional place on Calle Larios.