This article has been reviewed by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Key takeaways:
- Malta hosts vibrant cultural and religious celebrations throughout the year, including Carnival, village festas, and the Malta International Fireworks Festival.
- Many festivals, like BirguFest and Victory Day, reflect Malta’s deep historical and religious roots.
- Visitors can enjoy music, food, and artistic events such as the Malta Jazz Festival, Food Festival, and Festival Mediterranea.
Table of Contents
Celebrations of life on the Maltese archipelago
Life on the land of honey, Malta, is an amalgamation of ancient cultures and civilizations, and when it comes to celebrating life—the people of Malta show up in all their glory to pay homage to all that has been and is at the moment. So why should you miss the chance? Join Maltese people in their celebrations of life all around the year during your visit to the Maltese archipelago this year.
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Maltese Carnival
“Carnival”— chances are that one glance at the word takes you to the grand carnivals in Rio or New Orleans, but this year, take a chance with the almost five-century-old carnival. The Maltese Carnival has held a significant place in the local calendars since the rule of Grand Master Piero de Ponte in 1535.
The carnival takes place in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday as an act of last indulgence before Lent. Masked balls and mask competitions are held, and people show up in colorful, fancy costumes with elaborate masks and revel in the festivities with music, food, parades and competitions.
In 2025, the Maltese Carnival is set to fill the streets of Valletta with cheers and colors from 28 February to 4 March
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Nadur Carnival
Gozo’s Nadur Carnival is one of the many unique renditions of the Maltese Carnival nationwide. At the Nadur Carnival, no rules apply, and people can dress up as creatively as they like, which has earned it the nickname of Spontaneous Carnival or Macabre Carnival.
In 2025, the Nadur Carnival will take place from 28 February to 4 March after sunset.
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Maltese Village Festa
Part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Maltese Village Festa is an annual festival celebrating the sense of community and social cohesion shared between people living in the villages of Malta and Gozo.
It is essentially a Mediterranean expression of faith that starts with a liturgy in Catholic parishes and churches and then proceeds to the streets of Maltese towns and villages, that have been taking place for approximately the past three centuries.
There are close to one hundred festas taking place in the villages across Malta and Gozo all around the year; however, the main festa season starts takes place in Summer from April to October.
People dress up in bright colors to celebrate their beautiful homeland, and guests are welcome to delight in merriment and rejoice in the community spirit.
March with the locals and enjoy the magnificent fireworks display this summer in Malta!
Malta International Fireworks Festival
Fireworks have been imbued into the cultural tapestry of Malta since the time of the Order of the Knights of St John in 1530 CE, when explosives were used to celebrate special occasions. During the reign of the British Era, fireworks were developed into an art form still practiced today.
At present, the Malta International Fireworks Festival takes place in April or May, depending on the weather forecasts, in association with Heritage Malta and Malta Tourism. The gates of Fort St Angelo are opened for visitors and locals to witness the grand show of fireworks and lasers lighting up the sky like a meteor shower dancing with shooting stars.
Be part of the electrifying energy with live music and refreshments, and dance the evening away this year on the grand finale of the 2025 Malta International Fireworks Festival in May.
Malta Jazz Festival
The Malta Jazz Festival is a yearly music festival where local and international musicians playing jazz come together in July to celebrate the true essence of jazz. It is one of the only jazz music festivals where the elements of jazz are not watered down to cater to popular genres of music.
If you are in Valetta in July, keep an eye out for the festival to indulge in relaxing classical and contemporary jazz tunes with your fellow travelers.
Malta International Food Festival
Malta International Food Festival is a five-day food festival that combines the best local culinary flavors and traditions with gourmet traditions and ingredients. It presents the world with a freshly prepared taste of contemporary Malta.
You can try over 700 food items during the festival from nearly 40+ international cuisines. Guests get the opportunity to sample global flavors and participate in food challenges while enjoying live music from local musicians.
The 2025 edition of the Malta International Food Festival will be held from 6 August to 10 August at Floriana Ganaries in Valletta from 6 pm onwards.
BirguFest
In a country where eccentricities exist in abundance, BirguFest managed to become a part of the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 simply for showing up as their authentic self and lighting more than 10,000 candles at once.
Birgufest is a festival celebrating the rich history and medieval architecture of Citta Vittoriosa or Birgu—an old fortified town south of the Grand Harbour of Malta. During the Birgufest weekend, all electric lights are turned off in favor of candlelights, giving everyone in Birgu an opportunity to view the edifices through the lens of the Dark Ages.
During Birgufest weekend, Heritage Malta museums, such as Fort St Angelo and Inquisitor’s Palace, remain open for extended hours, and tickets are also available at a reduced price.
The 22nd edition of the Birgufest will take place on the 10th and 11th of October 2025.
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Festival Mediterranea
Festival Mediterranea is an annual mid-autumn festival in Gozo that highlights the island’s artistic and cultural offerings to Malta and the world. Opera and music concerts are the main attractions of the festival, but guests visiting Gozo during this time are also treated to complimentary guided walks around the island, varied art exhibitions and culinary events.
Although the 2025 dates have not yet been announced, Festival Mediterranea usually takes place around mid-October.
Other festivals of Malta
As a country that has been under several foreign rulers in the past, Malta celebrates its freedom with just as much vigor as the rest of the fests. Some of the other festivals of Malta you may encounter during your visit there include the following —
Victory Day
Victory Day, or Otto Settembre, is celebrated annually on 8 September in Malta. It commemorates three of the most significant Maltese victories—The Great Siege in 1565, The Siege of Valletta in 1800 and The Second World War in 1943.
Independence Day
Malta achieved its independence from Britain on 21 September 1964. Just like every other country that has been under imperial rule, Malta celebrates its Independence Day or Jum l-Indipendenza, with grandeur and pomp. Guests visiting Malta during this time can join in on the joy and unity spread nationwide on this day with the choir concert or the fireworks show.
Republic Day
Republic Day, or Jum ir-Repubblika, marks the birth of modern Malta with the death of monarchial rule on 13 December 1974 after severing sovereign ties with Queen Elizabeth II.
It is celebrated annually with military parades, awards, and concerts. Visitors are encouraged to join the festivities and revel in the glory of the Republic of Malta.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a festival to celebrate the virtuous conception of Mother Mary on 8 December. Since most Maltese people identify as Catholic, most places in Malta hold grand feasts fusing religious and cultural traditions.
