Things to Do in Malta This Weekend: Notte Bianca, Music & More
Notte Bianca, Valletta
Forget easing into October. This weekend is packed with comedy, flamenco, opera and an all-nighter in Valletta, so grab your diary and start picking.
Maker Faire Malta, Esplora, Kalkara (2–4 October)
Malta gets its very first Maker Faire this weekend, and it’s set to be a great day out for curious kids and grown-ups alike. Esplora Interactive Science Centre is filling up with inventors, artists, start-ups and hobbyists, all ready to show off what they’ve built and chat about how they did it. Expect hands-on activities, science shows and live experiments, plus films and talks from the makers in the Planetarium. Schools and educators get first access, so check the schedule before you go.
Get your tickets here!
OUTDOORS by Debbie Bonello, The Phoenicia Malta (opened 2 October)
Maltese artist Debbie Bonello opens her fourth solo exhibition in the Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia. Every piece was painted on location in Malta and Sicily over the past two years, catching the islands’ heat, haze and shifting light in quick, expressive brushwork. The show is curated by Charlene Vella and runs all month.
Defected Malta, various venues (until 4 October)
House music fans, this is your weekend. Defected Malta, now in its fifth year, kicked off with a pre-party on Thursday 1st October and keeps going until the early hours of Monday 5th October. The parties are spread across UNO, Fort St Elmo, Café del Mar and The Ditch, with stage takeovers and boat parties from labels including Defected, Glitterbox, Classic Music Company, Faith and Nu Groove. The line-up features big names such as Hot Since 82, David Morales, Jayda G, Low Steppa, Shermanology and Aline Rocha, alongside headliners Green Velvet and Kevin Saunderson. Individual day tickets and stage splits have been released, so you don’t need a full pass to join in. Check availability at malta.defected.com, as last year’s edition sold out
The Maids, Theatre Next Door, Magħtab (from 2 October)
Jean Genet’s dark classic gets a fresh staging with an all-male cast. Two maids escape into a dangerous role-play game in which they rebel against their employer, until fantasy and reality start to blur. Scott Le Crass directs, and it’s the first time Malta audiences will see Martin Crimp’s English translation. This weekend’s shows are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm, with more dates the following weekend. The final night ends with a post-show talk featuring the director alongside MGRM and LGBTI+ Gozo. The show is for audiences aged 16 and over.
Get your tickets here.
Puerto Flamenco, Teatru Salesjan, Sliema (3 October)
Seville comes to Sliema this weekend. Puerto Flamenco, led by Francesca Grima ‘La Chica’ and percussionist Andrej Vujicic, presents a brand-new show with a line-up of dancers, singers and a guitarist from Seville’s flamenco scene. Stick around afterwards, because there’s paella cooked on the spot and a DJ to carry the party on.
Get your tickets here.
Notte Bianca, Valletta (3 October)
The capital stays up late once again for its annual night of culture. Churches, palaces and museums open their doors for performances, and lots of cafés and restaurants will keep serving well past their usual hours. This year’s programme ranges from a magic show marking a century since Houdini’s death at the Manoel Theatre to a Moveo Dance Company piece inspired by Valletta’s old lamplighters in Pjazza Tritoni, a Nat King Cole tribute, a DJ set giving Maltese classics an electronic twist at the Grand Master’s Palace, and live music in St George’s Square and Merchants Square. Plan your route at festivals.mt/nb.
Così Fan Tutte, live from the Met, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, 7pm (3 October)
If you’re in Valletta early, catch the Metropolitan Opera’s take on Mozart’s romantic comedy, beamed live onto the big screen. The plot sees two sailors put their fiancées’ loyalty to the test, and this production moves the action to a 1950s Coney Island-style funfair, complete with fire breathers and sword swallowers. It’s rated 12A.
Get your tickets here.
Memorable Piano Quintets, Villa Corinthia, Attard, 6pm (4 October|)
Wind down the weekend with pianist Joanne Camilleri and some of the island’s top string players. The programme takes in Mozart, Liszt’s piano version of Schubert’s Ständchen, and Schubert’s much-loved Trout Quintet.
Get your tickets here.
The Ewfonija Grand Operatic Concert, Villa Fiorita, Marsalforn, Gozo, 7.30pm ( 4 October)
Over in Gozo, the Ewfonija Chorus and Orchestra return for their fifth operatic gala under Mariella Spiteri Cefai. It’s a night of favourite arias, big choruses and orchestral showpieces featuring established singers and up-and-coming voices, all in aid of the ARKA Foundation. Tickets are free but booking is required here.
