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Upcoming Cultural Events in Malta – Kultura 2026

This calendar focuses on culture, heritage, and the arts (not nightlife). Some events are announced with dates, others are still marked (TBC) until organisers publish final schedules.
For local context and deeper background, relevant ManicMalta guides are linked where they fit.

Image	Event	Date
	Valletta Baroque Festival – 14th Edition Baroque music across Valletta, staged in historic venues including Teatru Manoel and St John’s Co-Cathedral. Practical note: evening church venues can be cool, especially in January. ManicMalta: Valletta self-guided tour	8th to 25th January, 2026
	Il-Karnival ta’ Malta Malta’s main Carnival programme with parades, satire, costumes, and float-building traditions centred on Valletta and Floriana. Cultural add-ons often include traditional theatre (Il-Qarcilla) and curated exhibits on Carnival craft and costume. ManicMalta: History of Maltese Carnival	13th to 17th February, 2026
	Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck (Public Holiday) National public holiday (10 February) connected to St Paul’s shipwreck tradition, with observances centred in Valletta and church celebrations across Malta. ManicMalta: St Paul’s Islands (background and context)	10th February, 2026
	Mużika Mużika Maltese-language song festival with finalists performing live with orchestra across three nights at MFCC Ta’ Qali. ManicMalta: Malta in March 2026	19th to 21st March, 2026
	Malta Biennale 2026: CLEAN \| CLEAR \| CUT Contemporary art biennale across multiple Malta and Gozo sites, including Heritage Malta locations and Valletta venues. Plan by venue: opening hours and ticketing can vary by site.	11th March to 29th May, 2026
	Holy Week and Good Friday Processions Holy Week events across Malta and Gozo, including Good Friday processions in many towns and local parish programmes. Valletta also hosts Holy Week installations in St George’s Square in some years. ManicMalta: Easter in Malta 2026	29th March to 5th April, 2026
	Festa Frawli – Strawberry Festival (Mġarr) Community festival focused on local produce and seasonal food culture, with stalls and family activities in Mġarr.	12th April, 2026
	Malta International Fireworks Festival – 25th Edition Fireworks and pyrotechnic displays in Valletta and Gozo (Nadur), linked to Malta’s long-standing fireworks and festa traditions. ManicMalta: Malta village festas 2026 (context for fireworks culture)	18th April to 30th April, 2026
	Dark Malta Festival Alternative culture festival with live performances and related art elements (programme and venues published by organisers).	17th to 19th April, 2026
	Valletta Green Festival Large-scale garden installation and public programme in St George’s Square (dates vary year to year). Confirm the 2026 run on the Valletta Cultural Agency listings.	Spring, 2026 (TBC)
	Festgħana Festival dedicated to għana (traditional Maltese folk singing), including performances and related cultural programming. ManicMalta: Why tourists misread Maltese għana	21st to 24th May, 2026
	Turandot – Teatru Astra, Gozo Puccini opera staged at Teatru Astra (Victoria, Gozo). Cast, orchestra, and ticketing details are published by Teatru Astra.	30th May, 2026
	Sette Giugno National commemoration of the 1919 events, with official ceremonies and wreath laying in Valletta.	7th June, 2026
	Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF) Multidisciplinary programme (music, theatre, dance, installations) across Valletta and heritage locations. ManicMalta: Valletta self-guided tour	12th to 21st June, 2026
	Opera in the Capital Open-air opera production in Valletta (St George’s Square), part of the Valletta Cultural Agency programme.	27th June, 2026
	L-Imnarja Traditional late-June feast with gatherings and folk elements at Buskett, tied to seasonal and rural customs.	28th to 29th June, 2026
	Valletta Local Food Festival Maltese food culture and local producers in St George’s Square, with demonstrations and a curated programme.	3rd to 5th July, 2026
	Malta Jazz Festival Jazz programme in Valletta, traditionally staged in the Ta’ Liesse area by the waterfront.	6th to 11th July, 2026
	Dance Festival Malta Contemporary dance platform with performances, workshops, and masterclasses across several days in Valletta.	23rd to 26th July, 2026
	Village Festas (Patron Saint Festivals) Core community tradition: band marches, church events, decorated streets, and fireworks (ground and aerial). Peak season is late spring through summer. ManicMalta: Malta village festas 2026	May to September (peak), 2026
	Victory Day and National Regatta National commemoration (8 September) with ceremonies and the traditional rowing regatta in the Grand Harbour. ManicMalta: The Three Cities (context for harbour traditions)	8th September, 2026
	Valletta Guitar Festival Guitar-focused concerts and related activities across Valletta venues.	10th to 12th September, 2026
	Independence Day National day marking Malta’s independence (1964), with official ceremonies and related programming.	21st September, 2026
	Notte Bianca City-wide arts programme in Valletta with extended opening hours at cultural sites and a multi-venue performance schedule. ManicMalta: Valletta self-guided tour	3rd October, 2026
	BirguFest – Birgu by Candlelight Candlelit evening programme in Birgu (Vittoriosa), typically paired with extended opening hours at key heritage sites. 2026 dates are usually announced closer to October. ManicMalta: The Three Cities (Birgu guide)	October, 2026 (TBC)
	The Three Palaces Concert programme staged inside selected historic palaces, with access and seating depending on each event format.	27th October to 1st November, 2026
	Malta Book Festival National book festival at MFCC Ta’ Qali with exhibitors, talks, launches, and programme events published by the National Book Council.	4th to 8th November, 2026
	Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival Literature festival organised by Inizjamed. The 2026 dates and venues are typically published by the organisers closer to the event.	August, 2026 (TBC)
	Christmas in the Capital Valletta seasonal cultural programme and city-wide installations during the Christmas period (details depend on the annual schedule). ManicMalta: Christmas in Malta (guide)	25th November to 31st December, 2026
	Republic Day National day marking the Republic of Malta (1974), with official ceremonies and related cultural programming.	13th December, 2026
Year-Round
	Rock’n Malta Ongoing programme supporting rock and alternative live performances across venues (dates vary across the year).	All Year, 2026
	Saluting Battery – Time-Gun and Museum Historic time-gun tradition at Upper Barrakka (12:00 and 16:00, Monday to Saturday; exceptions apply on specific dates). ManicMalta: The business of making cannons (Malta context)	Mon-Sat, 2026 (12:00 and 16:00)
	Changing of the Guard (Valletta) Ceremonial change of the guard in Valletta (typically listed as the last Friday of each month at 10:30). Timing can shift for exceptional occasions, so checking listings near the date is recommended.	Last Friday of every month, 2026 (typically 10:30)