The Best Festivals and Events in Malta

Move over Ibiza, these are the not-to-miss music events to mark on your calendar.

Gianpula Fields outside the historic fortified city of Mdina is the striking setting for the Glitch Festival this August. Eight stages will host some of the best DJs and artists from the electro music scene at one of Europe’s most celebrated music events. The four-day festival is bookended by an opening party within Valletta’s UNESCO-listed walls and topped off with a host of decadent boat parties. Pool parties, cave venues and all-night beats are the heart and soul of this seriously stimulating festival. Find more details on the festival website.

One for your 2025 diary: this three-day dance music festival brings some of the biggest artists and DJs in the music industry to the Med. This year Wade, Chris Lake, Sonny Fedora and more dropped beats in seriously stylish island locations. The heart of the festival is Malta’s largest club, UNO, which regularly hauls in over 4,000 party goers. Across the weekend TRIIP hosts boat-, pool- and even castle-parties, where decks are spun in some of the island’s most iconic venues. This year it was Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, one of the primary sites of the Great Siege of 1565. Talk about atmospheric. Sign up for news on Triip 2025, and more of mega Maltese events company 356 Entertainment’s festivals, here.

Ghanafest is a celebration of a traditional Maltese form of folk singing dating back centuries. Today there are three main forms: the two-man vocal duel of spirtu pront, the emotional draw of the solo tal-fatt and the more melodic, guitar-driven sounds of fil-gholi. All are given prominence in the two-day festival in late June that takes place at the Argotti Botanic Gardens in Floriana, just outside of Valletta. Dates for 2024 are to be announced, so keep an eye out for updates.

Festival fans will want to book flights early to experience one of Malta’s primary seasonal attractions: Summer Daze. The main events take place across the weekend of the 15th-18th of August, though satellite events occur throughout the week of the 11th across the country. This year, the world famous sounds of Sam Smith, Becky Hill and BBC Dance Anthems’ Charlie Hedges will headline the main event. Tickets are a steal at only 10 euros and come with a reusable cup for use throughout the festival. Book your tickets early as these are sure to sell out.

Isle of MTV is now in its 22nd year and to call it a highlight of Malta’s festival calendar would be an understatement. Routinely attracting the biggest names in entertainment (Mark Ronson, Chemical Brothers, Paloma Faith and The Chainsmokers are just some of the chart- topping artists to have attended) it’s also Europe’s largest free festival. This year, Nelly Furtado, DJ Snake and Raye are headlining the one night only event on the 16th July, which begins around 3pm and ends before midnight. Stick around for the rest of MTV Malta Music Week, which features endless club nights and parties at various locations across the island.

Gozo, Malta’s little sister, should not be underestimated. From the 20-24 June, club nights, villa parties and boat parties spring up as part of the Abode on the Rock festival. This year, the artist line up is as strong as ever, with Danny Howard, Enzo Is Burning and Gaskin just some of the plethora of talent due to hit the decks. The venues are a highlight too. La Grotta is well known across the island as Gozo’s most popular nightclub. Set on the downslope of the Xlendi valley, its picturesque surrounds belie a heady interior where club-fans dance way late into the night. There’s also a villa party at a palatial multi-level, property with its own pool. What more could you want?

A different kind of music descends on the capital in July, when some of the most renowned exponents of the jazz genre fill out the three-day Malta Jazz Festival. The traditional venue is waterfront Ta’ Liesse on the outskirts of Valletta, but for 2024, the opening event will take place at the Grand Hotel Excelsior and be led by the Gianluca Figliola Trio. Over the three days, various other artists will play in venues including the City Theatre, Offbeat and Spazju Kreattiv. Expect big names. Previous guests include Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Joe Zawinul. Buy tickets and find out more here.