What's On in Malta This Weekend, 24–26 July
Another scorcher of a weekend is on the cards, and Malta’s events calendar is doing its best to keep up. There’s a village festa in full swing, a DJ priest making his first Malta appearance, a bit of Shakespeare under the stars, comedians and plenty more besides, here’s what’s worth your time from Friday to Sunday.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Balluta
This is really a big weekend for festa season, with several villages reaching their feast day together on Sunday 26th.
St Anne in Marsaskala builds towards its finale with a Saturday evening band march through the village, followed by ground fireworks after 11pm. Sunday brings a morning march from around 10.30am, before the statue of St Anne is carried through the decorated streets in the evening procession from around 8pm, closing with aerial fireworks around 10pm.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Balluta is one of the more scenic festas to catch, with the neo-gothic Carmelite Church sitting right on Balluta Bay in St Julian’s. Expect the beat of band marches, a procession carrying the statue through the seafront streets, and fireworks that reflect beautifully off the water. It’s an easy one to combine with a stroll along the St Julian’s waterfront.
St Margaret in Sannat, Gozo is the gentler option if you want the full festa experience without the crowds of Malta’s biggest feasts. The village has been building towards Sunday with a run of named pyrotechnic shows, Marċ Brijuż on Thursday, Pyro Symphony and Shades of Flames on Saturday, before the ceremonial emergence of the statue from the church. It will all be accompanied by bells, band music and synchronised fireworks on Sunday, followed by the Glowing Skies fireworks finale.
The DJ Priest comes to Ħal Għaxaq
Here’s one that sounds like an original experience. Padre Guilherme, the Portuguese Catholic priest known worldwide as the “DJ Priest”, plays his first ever Malta show tonight, Friday, as the headline act of the Għaxaq Music Festival. He shot to fame after a set at World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023 that played to over a million people, and he’s since taken his mixes of electronic music and messages of hope to cities including Rio, Beirut and Madrid.
He’ll be joined by UK trance duo POU, Product of Us, along with local talent JJoy, Mux and Braynod. The whole thing is part of the 400th anniversary celebrations for the Parish of Ħal Għaxaq, and proceeds go towards Embrace Diversity Organisation, which supports children and young people with disabilities. Tickets are available from here.
Live music on Strait Street
Fancy something a little more intimate than a festival stage? Tony Perfetto is playing 97 Notes in Valletta tonight. The Strait Street cocktail bar has built a name for itself with a steady run of live music and open-stage nights, so expect the kind of cosy, character-filled setting that’s become its trademark.
Italy's biggest radio festival lands in Floriana
Friday also brings something new to the island, the 105 Summer Festival, run by Italy’s Radio 105, is making its Malta debut at Fosos Square in Floriana. It’s a free concert, and a big one, the Italian edition of this festival has drawn more than 120,000 people in the past. The line-up currently includes Fedez, Gigi D’Alessio, The Kolors, Anna Tatangelo, Elettra Lamborghini and Ermal Meta, with even more top names on the bill. Doors open at 6pm, and if you want a spot right at the front, VIP tickets are available here.
The Farsons Beer Festival returns to Ta' Qali
One of Malta’s biggest summer traditions is back for another year. Running every evening from Friday through the weekend at Ta’ Qali National Park, the Farsons Beer Festival combines live music across multiple stages with local and international beers, street food and family-friendly entertainment. Entry is free, making it one of the island’s most popular summer nights out.
Omid Djalili brings Namaste to Malta
If stand-up is more your thing, comedian Omid Djalili is playing two nights at the InterContinental Arena Conference Centre in St George’s Bay, tonight and tomorrow, both at 8.30pm. His show ‘Namaste’ has already done 120 dates around the world, from Canada to Australia, and sees him take aim at everything from climate change to political chaos. You’ll likely know his voice from the animated films In Your Dreams and The Bad Guys 2, or his face from Gladiator and The Mummy. It’s a 16+ show, and with tickets already down to the last few seats in some sections, it’s worth booking sooner rather than later from ShowsHappening.
Hamlet under the stars
Prefer your evenings a touch more theatrical? Hamlet is running in Floriana across several nights this week, including tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Catching Shakespeare performed outdoors as the temperature finally drops in the evening is one of those distinctly Maltese summer pleasures. Find tickets here
Isle of MTV Music Week winds down
Malta Music Week, the five-day party programme built around the free Isle of MTV concert, runs right through to Sunday, so this weekend catches the back half of it. Katy Perry headlined the main show in Floriana earlier in the week, and the official parties are still going strong.
Friday night belongs to Gianpula Village, where G7 Fridays takes over the Main Room with UK trio NERVO from 11pm. On Saturday, the action moves over to Café del Mar in St Paul’s Bay for a Music Week special starring Australian DJ GORDO, while over in Paceville, Toy Room Super Club is running its own late-night session. Sunday brings the week to a close with a Toy Room Beach Club pool party featuring Dizzee Rascal from 1pm, followed by a final Café del Mar pool party in the evening, though that one’s already sold out. All the official Music Week events are strictly 17+, with valid photo ID required at the door. Grab your tickets from here.
Whatever you end up doing, this is seriously peak Malta summer: fireworks, festivals, and far too many good excuses to stay out late.
