Malta Festivals and Events — When the Island Goes Wild | Gozo Journal

Think the Poles know how to celebrate? You haven't seen Malta. Here, every village has its patron saint, and once a year throws a party with an energy that's hard to believe. The fireworks can be heard 10 km away.

1. Festa — The Heart of Maltese Culture (May–September)

From May to September, almost every weekend somewhere on the island there is a Festa. What does that actually mean:

Streets decorated with light garlands like Christmas — but in the middle of summer
A solemn procession carrying the patron saint's statue (on shoulders — the statue often weighs a ton)
Brass bands playing marches through the night
FIREWORKS. Maltese people have an obsession with pyrotechnics. Each village tries to outdo its neighbours. Loud, colourful, and long.

The biggest Festas: Santa Marija (15 August) — particularly in Mosta — and the Patron Festa in Valletta.

2. Carnival (February)

Two completely different events in the same week:

Valletta: Colourful float parades, costumes, music. Family-friendly, spectacular, very busy.
Nadur (Gozo): A completely different atmosphere — dark, satirical, surreal. Masks are not always friendly, humour is sharp, the atmosphere is unlike anything else. Firmly for adults seeking something unusual.

3. Isle of MTV (June/July)

A huge free outdoor concert at Granaries Square in Floriana (right next to Valletta). Pop and R&B stars — past acts include Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, David Guetta. Crowds of tens of thousands. Tickets are free — reserve online in advance.

4. Notte Bianca (October)

Culture Night in Valletta. Museums, palaces, and galleries open until late — all free. Streets alive with musicians and art installations. One of the most beautiful evenings of the year on the island.

Want to feel the real Malta? Find a local Festa. Blend into the crowd with the locals, try the nougat sold by street vendors, and stand under a sky lit up by fireworks. That is the Malta no guidebook can quite capture.