Melilla opens the application period for ten stalls at the Christmas Market

The Ministry of Culture, Cultural Heritage, and the Elderly of the Autonomous City of Melilla has opened the application period for the ten stalls of the 2026-2027 edition of the Christmas Market, which will be set up in the Plaza de las Culturas between December 4, 2026, and January 5, 2027. The call is formalized through Resolution No. 998, dated October 29, 2026 (Resolution No. 2026000998), published in the Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Melilla (BOME) No. 6428, dated November 3, 2026, with announcement number 1222 and official reference BOME-A-2026-1222. The deadline for submitting applications will remain open until 11:59 PM on November 25, 2026.

A five-week market in the city center

The requirements established by the Ministry aim to regulate the organization and development process of the Christmas Market, an announcement which, according to the text itself, is intended for an indeterminate plurality of people and is ordered for publication in accordance with Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations.

The market will operate with normal hours from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM Monday to Friday and, on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Special hours are also established:

• December 24: from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• December 25: from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
• December 31: from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• January 1: from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
• January 5: from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

Awardees may extend their opening hours as long as they respect the limit between 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

Requirements for local artisans and merchants

Artisans, merchants, collectives, and associations from the City of Melilla may submit an application. Preference will be given to stalls that have participated in previous editions and those whose products are directly related to Christmas decoration and are typical of a market of these characteristics, such as decorations, nativity scenes, or Christmas tableware.

The application form is attached to the announcement and its submission is mandatory. It may be delivered to the Culture Area office (calle Cervantes, no. 7) or through the Electronic Office accessible from www.melilla.es, for which a valid digital certificate or cl@ve firma is required, using the “General Application” procedure and stating “Christmas Market stall application” in the subject line.

A food handling certificate will be mandatory for participants selling food products, and the organization may request any documentation it deems appropriate at any time.

Ten stalls, selection criteria, and reserve list

The announcement initially provides for a total of 10 stalls, a number subject to possible modifications. If a selection process is carried out, criteria regarding seniority, product type, craftsmanship, variety, and quality of the items for sale will be considered. Those who are not awarded a stall will be placed on a reserve list in case a greater number of booths eventually become available, and the distribution of space will be at the discretion of the organization.

Each vendor will be responsible for the interior decoration of their stall, and all must be fully installed on the morning of December 4, as the inauguration is scheduled for that afternoon. The City will provide one electricity point per stall for lighting and recommends that staff dress in accordance with the Christmas season. Dismantling and the removal of materials must be completed before 12:00 PM on January 7, 2027, a mandatory deadline to clear the space in preparation for the subsequent Amazigh Market.

Warnings and consequences of non-compliance

The accumulation of two faults for failing to open during the established hours will result in the loss of the right to operate the booth and to participate in future markets promoted by the Department. The City reserves the power to modify the rules, change dates, or suspend the market due to inclement weather or other justified causes, and may expel those who fail to comply with the regulations.

The Department emphasizes that the awarding of a stall in the 2026-2027 Christmas Market does not grant any right, preference, or advantage for the Amazigh Market, which will be processed as an independent administrative file with its own rules and criteria. The announcement was signed in Melilla on October 29, 2026, by the Technical Secretary of Culture, Heritage, and the Mayor, Juan León Jaén Lara.

The call marks the start of the Christmas campaign in the city center and opens a window of barely three weeks for local professionals to formalize their application: anyone aspiring to one of the ten booths must gather the documentation and submit it before November 25, as the installation schedule leaves no room for extensions.

Source: Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Melilla (BOME), no. 6428, of November 3, 2026, section I, pp. 5391-5393 (official reference: BOME-A-2026-1222).