Our islands are renowned for their rich history, vibrant culture, and numerous annual events that draw visitors from around the world. From traditional feasts rooted in centuries-old customs to contemporary music festivals that attract global audiences, Malta offers a diverse calendar of events throughout the year. This article explores some of the most significant dates and events in Malta, providing insights into what makes each occasion special.
October
Take That – The Greatest Weekend (October 17-20)
Legendary group Take That announced they will be coming to Malta for the “The Greatest Weekend”. Events will range from live concerts to nightclub events and will also feature two headline sets from the iconic multi-platinum band and other huge artists who will perform in an intimate environment but with a full scale production.
Buy tickets and get more information here.
2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race (October 19 From 11:00 am to 12:00 pm )
The Rolex Middle Sea Race was created as the result of sporting rivalry between two British yachtsmen residing in Malta, Alan Green and Jimmy White, and two Maltese sailors, Paul and John Ripard, both members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. The Rolex Middle Sea Race course is approximately 606 nautical miles long and is sailed anti-clockwise, starting from Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta. The Mediterranean’s most renowned offshore race has all the ingredients required for an enthralling contest.
Hamrun Chocolate Festival (October 19 From 5:00 pm to 11:55 pm)
The Hamrun Chocolate Festival is Malta’s unique international festival which this year will be celebrating its 14th edition. With a turn-out of more than twenty-five thousand people attending in the last edition, such Chocolate Festival is a unique event which gives visitors a special opportunity to enjoy a wide range of chocolate related products.
English National Ballet – Swan Lake (October 15-20)
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland will be broadcast exclusively at the Eden Cinemas live on 15th of October with an encore on 20th of October. Tickets now on sale!
Don’t miss this whimsical performance! Get your tickets now.
Hamrun Chocolate Festival (October 19 From 5:00 pm to 11:55 pm)
St Joseph High St, Hamrun, Malta
The Hamrun Chocolate Festival is Malta’s unique international festival which this year will be celebrating its 14th edition. With a turn-out of more than twenty-five thousand people attending in the last edition, such Chocolate Festival is a unique event which gives visitors a special opportunity to enjoy a wide range of chocolate related products.
Terrur – Zabbar Terror Festival October 31 – November 3 From 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm)
Il-Misraħ, Żabbar’s oldest squares, will be creeping to life as a Halloween village from Thursday, 31st October to Sunday, 3rd November. Two cursed squares and four shadowy alleys will be crawling with eerie attractions and spine-chilling activities. Enter the depths of two enchanted World War shelters—one filled with terror for the brave-hearted adults and the other with spooky thrills for little ghouls. Get lost in a twisted, haunted maze, bounce through ghostly castles, and enjoy the monster-filled play zone. Unearth your creativity with pumpkin carving, feast on devilishly delicious food, and beware of live performances. Join us if you dare for a frightfully wicked Halloween experience!
November
The festival will take place around various locations in Malta.
Shadows of Birgu: A Ghost Walk (November 1 From 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm)
Step into the mysterious streets of Birgu and discover the eerie stories lurking in its shadows. This 90-minute tour will take you through spooky tales and haunted history that will send chills down your spine. Perfect for those who love a thrilling evening and want to learn about the darker side of Birgu’s past.
Price:
• Members: €15
• Non-members: €17
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience – it’s the perfect way to kick off the spooky season! 🎃
For more information or to book your spot, email us at [email protected]
Żabbar Halloween Lantern Festival (November 2-3)
The 4th Edition of Żabbar Halloween Lantern Festival will be taking place on Saturday 2nd November, at Biċċieni Alleys. The perfect outing for all – Families, children, youths, and adults! Experience one of Malta’s favourite Halloween Festivals consisting of numerous activities, attractions, entertainment and fun for all ages.
What to expect:
🍬 Trick or Treating
🏮 Unique Street Lantern Display
💃 Halloween Costume Street Party with live DJs
👻 Artistic exhibitions and installations in each alley
🎃 Jack-O Lantern Competition
🎯 Kids’ Halloween Activities
🪄 Live Shows by Professional Performers
📷 Creepy Photo Booth
🤸♂️ Kids Area with Trampolines. Bouncy Castle & More
🍩 Sweet Stalls
🍔 Food Stalls
🥤 Bars
Event is FREE TO ENTER.
Location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LJWQGFVtSHncB6Qp6
Il Re Pastore – Valletta Early Opera Festival (November 8-10)
Out of the two dozen or so operas that Mozart composed, only a handful are typically performed. For the second edition of the Valletta Early Opera Festival, Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel presents an enchanting rendition of Il Re Pastore. During this year’s edition of VEOF, the event returns with one of Mozart’s underappreciated pieces, with the return of Maestro Giulio Prandi at the helm of the orchestral ensemble in this tale of war, starcrossed lovers and triumph from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s earlier repertoire; a piece which Mozart composed when still only 19 years old. Comparable to the quartet of lovers present in his famed Così Fan Tutte, Il Re Pastore is a piece that engages with similar themes through an Italian libretto by Metastasio.
This year’s opera includes the return of counter-tenor Federico Fiorio in the lead role of Aminta, Claire Debono as Tamiri and Raffaele Giordani as Agenore. The cast will also include two new-comers to the VEOF: Catherine Trottman as Elisa and Nico Darmanin as Alessandro.
The performances will be held on the:
8th November – 7.30pm
9th November – 7.30pm
10th November – 4pm
Verdi Requiem (November 23 From 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm)
The Valletta Cultural Agency proudly presents Verdi’s Requiem on November 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Composed in memory of Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni, this masterpiece is renowned for its emotional depth and dramatic intensity. First performed 150 years ago, Verdi’s Requiem remains one of the most revered choral works in classical music.
This exceptional production features the prestigious Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, along with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and KorMalta, under the direction of renowned conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi. The evening will showcase a stellar cast of soloists, including soprano Anna Pirozzi, a regular performer at Europe’s most prestigious opera houses, and Maltese mezzo-soprano Marvic Monreal, who recently performed with the Berlin Philharmonic. Joining them is established Maltese tenor Alan Sciberras, who has sung in opera productions in Italy and Malta, and Swedish bass-baritone John Lundgren, acclaimed for his roles in major operatic works.
This performance offers music lovers a unique opportunity to experience Verdi’s Requiem live, interpreted by world-class artists.
The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber 2 (November 23 From 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm)
Teatru Aurora, Triq ir-Repubblika, Victoria, Malta
Following the resounding success to great reviews of the November 2022 The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, November once more will then be the month whereby The Gozo Youth Orchestra in collaboration with The Helping Hand Group will present a Gala performance of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber 2 on Saturday 23rd November 2024 at 8.30p.m. This show will commemorate the huge success attributed to the collaboration of the Gozo Youth Wind Band & Orchestra and The Helping Hands Group. The latter was instrumental to re-introduce in Gozo the concept of musical theatre with productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Scarlet Pimpernel, The Best of Musicals, A Night with the Musicals and LesMisSaigonGuerre amongst others.
It is with great pleasure that once again The Really Useful Group Ltd – U.K. has granted the rights to present another large-scale spectacular show, with the Gozo Youth Orchestra under the musical direction Mro. Joseph Grech performing original West-End orchestrations purposefully hired and authorised from the Really Useful Group Ltd – U.K. of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpieces for stage including: Superstar, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat, Phantom of the Opera, Beautiful Game, Sunset Boulevard, Evita, Cats, Tell Me On a Sunday, Song and Dance, Starlight Express, Whistle Down the Wind.
The team is proud to welcome back Anthony Bezzina (Masquerade Theatre Company- Malta) as the artistic director of the show. A star-studded cast of solo musical theatre singers include: Ludwig Galea, Dorothy Bezzina, Lawrence Gray, Rachel Fabri, Neville Refalo and Clara Sciberras together with violinist Armita Azar (U.K.). Other international singers will join the show and details will be announced close to the date. The GYO backing choir and children’s chorus will be coached by Dorothy Bezzina.
This event is supported by the Cultural Heritage Directorate within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, Arts Council Malta, MTA, General Soft Drinks Ltd, CVC Media, Aurora Bistro Café, Malta International Airport, The Duke Boutique Hotel and Paul Stellini Design Studio.
In Guardia Parade (2023 – 2024 From 11:00 am to 11:40 am)
Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta
The In Guardia Parade is a captivating re-enactment that portrays the inspection of Fort St Elmo and its garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John, who was responsible for the military affairs. This authentic event used to take place regularly inside Malta’s major fortifications.
During the re-enactment, approximately 50 re-enactors dressed in their period uniforms demonstrate their military drills to the Grand Bailiff to showcase their preparedness in case of military threats. The performance lasts for about 40 minutes, and visitors with tickets are entitled to watch the re-enactment and explore the upper part of the fort.
For further information, please send an email to [email protected].
The parade is scheduled to take place at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta on several dates throughout 2023 and 2024, namely:
- October 13th & 27th
- November 10th & 24th
- December 1st & 15th
Valletta Resounds: The Caravaggio Experience (September 25 – November 12 From 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm)
St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Triq San Gwann, Valletta, Malta
Step into a world where art and music converge at Valletta Resounds, held in the stunning Oratory of the historic St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Caravaggio’s masterpieces brought to life through captivating storytelling and enchanting classical music. Under the talented direction of acclaimed Maltese musical leader Jacob Portelli, a dynamic ensemble of local musicians will guide you on this unforgettable journey. Experience the magic of history and culture in a setting as exquisite as the performances themselves. Don’t miss this unique celebration of the arts!
Critically acclaimed Maltese musicians under the musical direction of Jacob Portelli are at the helm of the site-specific performance, bringing to life the works of Baroque Masters such as Handel and Bach along with the sound of sacred Maltese music by composer Francesco Azzopardi and more. Sung to perfection by some of Malta’s most esteemed sopranos, Dorothy Bezzina and Dorothy Baldacchino, the music is beautifully brought to life on Baroque Harp, Baroque Violin, Baroque Cello and on the Psaltery. This auditory delight is woven harmoniously with tales of the Oratory narrated by the ever-charming and regal character of Fra Bartolomeo performed by Jeremy Grech.
The 40-minute concert starts at 18:30 with exclusive access to the Cathedral at 18:00 and can be accessed from main door in St John Street.
December
GAELFORCE DANCE – The Irish Dance Spectacular! (December 7-8)
Gaelforce Dance, the unmissable two hour spectacular, has brought over 1 million to their feet worldwide as audiences and the media hail Gaelforce Dance as the Ferrari of the Irish dance world.” Source: Evening Herald, Ireland
Gaelforce Dance, the celebration of Irish dance, music and song, has dynamically tapped its way into the beating hearts of millions of audience members worldwide since its inception in 1999. This Dance spectacular has enjoyed tremendous success on a global scale performing in over 30 countries, across 4 continents and playing to over 2 million people.
Gaelforce Dance is the story of two lovers, Lorcan and Aisling who, as our tale begins, are blissfully unaware of the passion that will erupt between them, leading the lovers into a maelstrom of forbidden love and their community into a cauldron of hate. As the story begins, a chance meeting sparks the ill-fated affair where broken loyalties and jealousy tear two brothers apart. Only after the ultimate tragedy are the brothers once more united.
Produced by Michael Durkan and choreographed by Richard Griffin, Gaelforce Dance is a highly acclaimed show that expertly weaves intricate choreography, thundering rhythms, enchanting melodies and a compelling storyline into a stirring tale of Love, Passion and Tragedy. It is due to these incredibly innovative elements that in 2010 Gaelforce Dance was the winner of IQ Magazines ‘Limelight Award’ for Best Dance Spectacular beating all other Irish dance shows in its category.
Feast of The Immaculate Conception (December 8)
On the 8th of December, Malta celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a significant religious and cultural event observed with great reverence across the island. Students at GV Malta can immerse themselves in the solemn yet festive atmosphere as Malta’s towns and villages come alive with religious processions and traditional rituals.
Natalis Notabilis Malta’s Christmas Village (December 11-15)
4th edition of Malta’s Christmas Village Natalis Notabilis 2019 with over 90 stalls which will transform Rabat historical part to a winter wonderland
Republic Day (December 13)
On the 13th of December, Malta proudly celebrates Republic Day, a significant national holiday marking the anniversary of the country’s transition to a republic in 1974. Students at GV Malta have the opportunity to join in the patriotic festivities and witness the vibrant celebrations that unfold across the island. In Valletta, the capital city, flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and cultural performances take center stage, with dignitaries and citizens alike coming together to honor Malta’s sovereignty and democratic ideals.
