🎪 Festivals in Malta
Malta's festival season runs close to year-round, from multi-day arts programmes in Valletta to open-air village celebrations across Malta and Gozo.
Festivals here span a wider range than the word usually suggests. Some are multi-day arts programmes staged across several venues — the Malta Festival of Ideas runs concerts, dance and talks under one banner. Others are single-site gatherings like Maker Faire Malta at Esplora in Kalkara, or open-air events in village squares and public spaces such as Għasri Square in Gozo and the Triton Fountain in Valletta.
Teatru Manoel in Valletta hosts a large share of the festival programming that moves indoors, particularly the music and performance strands. A good number of festival events are free to attend, especially the outdoor and community ones.
If you're planning a trip around one, the fixed points in the Maltese year are Carnival in February, the village festa season from May through August, the Malta Jazz Festival and Isle of MTV — a free open-air concert — both in July, and Notte Bianca in October, when Valletta's palaces and museums open late and free of charge. Birgu by Candlelight follows in the same month.
See detailsFuse Malta
FUSE Malta brings together enthusiasts of house and underground electronic sounds for a celebration held in a gorgeous Mediterranean setting!
See detailsFUSE Malta 2026
FUSE MALTA 2026 18–20 SEPTEMBER 2026 uno TICKETS | DAY TICKETS About the event FUSE Malta is making its comeback in 2026 with a three-day extravaganza scheduled for 18–20 September. This Mediterranean-based celebration blends musical performances with stunning coastal and sunny settings across va…
FreeTraditions, Wine, Olive Oil & Honey Festival
Sample local cuisine, enjoy authentic performances with traditional dancing, and participate in engaging activities suited for all ages at the Għasri Traditions, Wine, Olive Oil & Honey Festival in Gozo.
Għasri Square, Gozo Malta
See detailsThe Malta Motorsport Federation Festival għall-Istrina
A major motor vehicle celebration held in Malta dedicated to supporting charitable causes.
FreeEND OF SUMMER FAMILY WEEKEND FESTIVAL
Experience a festive End of Summer celebration in Birżebbuġa on 20 September, featuring live performances, culinary vendors, craft vendors and entertainment for all ages.
Birżebbuġa
FreeBuzzy Kids Entertainment Kids Funfair
Spend half a day at Buzzy Kids Entertainment Kids Funfair located in Għajnsielem, Gozo, where youngsters can experience more than 30 different rides, games, and entertainment options with no time restrictions.
Għajnsielem Football Ground, Gozo
FreeIndependence Day 2026
Join the celebration of Malta's independence with parades, cultural performances, and festive gatherings across the islands. This national holiday brings communities together to honour Malta's heritage and identity with special events and commemorations throughout the country.
See detailsAutumn Equinox
Experience the spectacular solar alignment at Mnajdra as dawn breaks during the autumn equinox.
See detailsGrintaFest The MaltaPunks Festival
Experience the raw energy and rebellious spirit of punk culture at GrintaFest, The MaltaPunks Festival, where local and alternative music takes center stage. Dive into live performances, creative expressions, and the vibrant community that celebrates Malta's punk scene.
See detailsForward Motion Malta 2026
Experience Forward Motion's triumphant return to Malta in 2026 through On the Rock Festival, running September 24–28. Enjoy four days celebrating deep, soulful, and textured house music in a setting that prioritizes genuine connection and lasting experiences against Malta's breathtaking Mediterra…
FreeGozo International Puppet Festival
Experience an array of puppet artistry, narrative performances, and imaginative shows suited for audiences of every age at this celebration held in Għarb on the island of Gozo.
Għarb Square, Gozo Malta
FreeScience in the City 2026
Discover a blend of scientific exploration, creative expression, and hands-on engagement during Science in the City 2026. This two-day event unfolds at Triton Fountain in Valletta across September 25–26, offering visitors the chance to participate in interactive exhibits that bridge art and science.
Triton Fountain, Valletta
See detailsDefected Malta 2026
Defected Malta makes its triumphant return for a fifth consecutive edition, bringing world-class electronic music back to the Mediterranean shores this coming October. The festival runs from October 1st through October 4th, 2026, and promises an immersive long-weekend experience celebrating conte…
See detailsMAKER FAIRE MALTA
Esplora will host Maker Faire Malta on 2–4 October 2026, showcasing innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing alongside hands-on workshops, competitive events, and imaginative projects designed for visitors of every age group.
Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara
See detailsMaker Faire Malta
Come experience the island's premier gathering of creators, innovators, and hands-on enthusiasts at Maker Faire Malta. Taking place October 2–4 at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre, this dynamic festival celebrates invention, technology, artistic expression, and do-it-yourself culture throug…
Esplora Interactive Science Centre
See detailsMaestrissimo
On Saturday, 4th October 2025, Teatru Manoel in Valletta will host two performances at 6pm and 10pm as part of Notte Bianca, Malta's premier annual festival celebrating arts and culture. Coordinated by Festivals Malta, this free public event transforms Valletta's streets, squares, churches, gover…
Teatru Manoel
See details2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ Ensemble Télémaque
Four compelling compositions put the mandolin in the spotlight, each offering distinct sonic exploration. Fiorini's Fighting for Hope conveys themes of strength and positive outlook. Kerer's Fractures delves into sonorities hovering at the threshold of breaking point. Macchi's Demander à Vincent …
Teatru Manoel
See details2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ We are all Sabir
This is an unscripted theatrical experience bringing together performers from across the Mediterranean region—including Malta, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, and Morocco. Operating under the SABIR Project Collective banner, these artists generate spontaneous narratives that transcend linguistic a…
Teatru Manoel
See detailsAnjunadeep Malta 2026
The Anjunadeep festival makes its return to Malta in 2026 for a third consecutive year. Mark your calendars for October 8–11 and immerse yourself in four days of celebration alongside fellow Anjuna enthusiasts. Throughout the festival weekend, Anjunadeep events unfold across distinctive locations…
FreeBirguFest by Candlelight
Thousands of flickering candles will transform Birgu into a magical setting as part of BirguFest – Birgu by Candlelight, scheduled for 9th and 10th October.
Birgu, Malta
See details2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ Literary Evening
"Voices Across Borders and Possibilities for Peace" A multilingual literary gathering featuring European Union Prize for Literature nominees Ilija Đurović, Lusine Kharatyan, and Iva Pezuashvili, who was awarded the prize, alongside writers Karl Schembri, Ira Melkonyan, and Noah Fabri. The evening…
Teatru Manoel
See details2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ I am Alex – Moveo Dance Company
**English:** "I am Alex" captures a colloquial phrase meaning to see yourself as the protagonist in everyone else's life—a reflection of narcissism in contemporary society. This creation by Dorian Mallia of Moveo Dance Company examines how we view ourselves, interpersonal discord, and the search …
Teatru Manoel
See details2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ Closing Concert – Etnika
A quarter-century has passed since Etnika emerged from an ambitious effort to resurrect Malta's neglected heritage music, uncovering dormant instruments and songs that they reimagined with contemporary vitality. This sparked widespread recognition both domestically and across the globe. Following…
Teatru Manoel
FreeKite & Wind Festival
Experience stunning aerial performances, activities themed around the breeze, and fun for all ages during the Kite & Wind Festival held in Għarb on the island of Gozo.
San Dimitri Area, Għarb, Gozo
See detailsIl Parnaso Confuso & La Corona – Valletta Early Opera Festival
This year's Valletta Early Opera Festival presents a pairing of two seldom-performed one-act works by Christoph Willibald Gluck, brought together by Festivals Malta and Teatru Manoel under the artistic guidance of Kenneth Zammit Tabona. Both compositions date to 1765, originally created for the H…
Teatru Manoel
See detailsMalta International Organ Festival 25
Opening Concert – Stabat Mater 20 November • 7:30 PM • St Paul's Shipwreck Parish, Valletta The Malta International Organ Festival launches with an emotionally resonant sacred work presenting Domenico Abos's complete Stabat Mater alongside key sections from Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's compositi…
Teatru Manoel
See detailsValletta Baroque Festival
Wonder Women Friday 9th January 2026 Teatru Manoel Main Stage Spanish Baroque & Traditional Music Performed by Forma Antiqva Celebrating trailblazing female artists of 18th-century Spanish theatre—business-minded musicians and singers who broke barriers, claimed their place on stage, and demonstr…
Teatru Manoel
See detailsKurżitàJiem 2026 at Esplora!
Esplora becomes KurżitàJiem from 26 January through 1 February 2026, a celebration where inquisitiveness flourishes and STEAM education takes centre stage. This edition aims to connect academic experiences with career pathways ahead. Encounter an array of scientists and industry experts prepared …
Esplora Interactive Science Centre
See detailsCelebrating Ballet – 60 Years of the Cecchetti Method in Malta
A gathering of ten local dance academies will come together to mark six decades since The Cecchetti Method was established in Malta. This commemorative occasion will feature dance instructors spanning three generations, paying tribute to the pioneering contributions of Enrico Cecchetti as well as…
Teatru Manoel
See detailsWieniawski, Mendelssohn & Karłowicz
The De Valette International Chamber Music Festival (DV'Classical) presents a prestigious opportunity for musical conversation and cross-cultural dialogue, unveiling its first-ever event—an elegant showcase highlighting the finest in chamber music, situated in Valletta's historic center. The open…
Teatru Manoel