What’s On in Malta This Weekend? Pinta, Parades & Pretty Much a Party Island
La Valletta, Malta
Right, if you thought Malta might ease off the gas as August winds down, think again. This weekend, from Friday 21 August through Sunday 23 August, the island’s throwing a decent send-off to summer, and it’s not just Valletta in on the action. Gozo’s got chocabloc weekend of its own. Here’s everything worth putting in the diary.
Pinta Beer Festival, Valletta
The big one. Pinta usually sets up camp at Gnien Laparelli, but for 2026 it’s moved to St George’s Square, right in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace, running Friday 21 August through Sunday 23 August. Expect more than 200 beers from local and international breweries, a main stage stacked with live music and DJs running into the night, food stalls to soak it all up, and the novelty of drinking a pint in one of Valletta’s grandest squares. Entrance is €4.50, grab your reusable cup at the entrance and take your time, there’s a lot of beer ground to cover.
Il-Karnival tas-Sajf (Summer Carnival), Buġibba & Marsaskala
Malta’s famous Carnival gets a warm-weather encore this weekend, not in Valletta but down on the coast. Buġibba hosts the floats, dancers and live music on Friday 21 August and Saturday 22 August, before the celebrations move to Marsaskala on Sunday 23 August. Expect a laid-back, seaside spin on the February original, and a nice one to combine with a promenade dinner.
Delicata Classic Wine Festival, Nadur (Gozo)
Gozo gets its own leg of Delicata’s Classic Wine Festival, Friday 21 August and Saturday 22 August at Ġnien il-Kunsill in Nadur. More than 20 Delicata wines are served against a village backdrop, with live cooking stalls doing rabbit and BBQ alongside pizza and street food, plus live music both nights. Friday goes nostalgic with a Back in Time theme, while Saturday switches things up with Party Time. Entrance is free, with visitors buying a souvenir glass and purse of wine coins for the pours. Delicata’s own advice is to skip driving, with a Bolt partnership for the event as well as taxis available from Mġarr.
Gozo Film Festival, Citadel Gozo
Also on the sister island, the Citadel in Victoria hosts the Gozo Film Festival from 21 August through 23 August , with free screenings and events across the weekend. If you fancy pairing your festival weekend with something a bit more cultural, and an excuse for a ferry ride, this is a lovely way to spend an evening under the stars.
Festa Santa Marija, Iż-Żebbuġ (Gozo)
Sunday 23 August wraps things up with the feast of the Assumption in Żebbuġ, Gozo, with processions, band music and plenty of traditional festa atmosphere taking over the village. If you’re already on the island for the Film Festival or Delicata, it’s an easy one to fold into the same trip.
BBC Radio 1 Dance: Malta, UNO Malta, Ta' Qali
If you want your Saturday night a bit more pop than pint, UNO Malta in Ta’ Qali hosts BBC Radio 1 Dance: Malta on 22 August, with Bebe Rexha, Jonas Blue and Charlie Hedges. Rexha’s stopping off as part of her Dirty Blonde Tour and last played the island at Isle of MTV back in 2019, so this is a proper one for the pop crowd. If you fancy it, don’t leave tickets until the last minute. BBC Radio 1 will be broadcasting live from the event.
Rock in the Forest, Ta' Qali
Another good one for Friday 21 August, Rock in the Forest sets up at the Greek Amphitheatre in Ta’ Qali National Park for an evening of classic and contemporary rock, played entirely by volunteer local musicians. It’s grown into one of the island’s favourite charity gigs, this year’s edition is raising funds for the Sigma Foundation, and the open-air amphitheatre setting makes it a properly atmospheric one after dark. Bar and food on site, tickets available online or at the door.
Getting around this weekend
Valletta, Gozo and Ta’ Qali will all be busier than usual, so leave the car at home if you can. With Pinta in full swing, expect Valletta’s terminus to be particularly busy on Friday and Saturday nights, so budget extra time or book a Bolt, eCabs or Uber home. Heading to Gozo, remember the ferry gets busy on festival weekends too, so turn up earlier than you think you need to, especially if you’re planning on a late crossing back. And if you’re headed to UNO Malta for the Radio 1 Dance night, a taxi there and back is likely to be the easier shout.
Whichever direction you head this weekend, island-wide or just up the road, Malta’s clearly decided summer isn’t over until it says so!
