Christmas in Malta 2026
This guide highlights the festive events across Malta and Gozo, featuring Christmas markets, village cribs, carol concerts, pantomimes, and visits from Santa sorted by week. For a true taste of local culture, visit village squares in the evening when the cribs are lit up, and be sure to check for any last-minute changes to event schedules online.
When: late November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
For kids: Santa, pantos and Christmas shows
Christmas in the Capital 2026, Valletta
Valletta City Centre
25 Nov – 31 Dec
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens, Victoria, Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens
28 Nov – 29 Nov
The Great Little Panto Show at Teatru Manoel Studio Theatre
Teatru Manoel
28 Nov – 8 Dec
The Great Little Panto Show
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Sat 28 Nov
Christmas It's Time
Victoria
Sat 28 Nov, 19:30
Christmas It’s Time at Teatru Astra, Victoria, Gozo
Teatru Astra
Sat 28 Nov, 19:30Free
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens Victoria, Gozo
28 Nov – 6 JanFree
Christmas at Valletta Waterfront 2026
Valletta Waterfront
29 Nov – 6 Jan
Christmas Market at Villa Rundle Gardens, Victoria, Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens
29 Nov – 24 Dec
Week of 16 November
Week of 24 November
Christmas in the Capital 2026, Valletta
Valletta City Centre
25 Nov – 31 Dec
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens, Victoria, Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens
28 Nov – 29 Nov
The Great Little Panto Show at Teatru Manoel Studio Theatre
Teatru Manoel
28 Nov – 8 Dec
Christmas Carol Concert & Festive Dinner at Casa Manresa
18 Pjazza San Kalċedonju, Floriana
Sat 28 Nov
The Great Little Panto Show
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Sat 28 Nov
Christmas It's Time
Victoria
Sat 28 Nov, 19:30
Christmas It’s Time at Teatru Astra, Victoria, Gozo
Teatru Astra
Sat 28 Nov, 19:30Free
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens Victoria, Gozo
28 Nov – 6 JanFree
Christmas at Valletta Waterfront 2026
Valletta Waterfront
29 Nov – 6 Jan
Christmas Market at Villa Rundle Gardens, Victoria, Gozo
Villa Rundle Gardens
29 Nov – 24 Dec
Christmas Magic at Għar Ilma Gozo
Għar Ilma, Kerċem, Gozo
29 Nov – 6 JanFree
San Niklaw Christmas Parade in St Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo
St Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo
Sun 29 Nov, 11:30Free
Swejjaq u l-Fiera tal-Milied in San Lawrenz, Gozo
San Lawrenz Square, Gozo
Sun 29 Nov, 12:00Free
Mixegħla Milied 2026 in Qala Square, Gozo
Qala Square, Gozo
Sun 29 Nov, 18:00Free
Week of 1 December
Woodland Christmas Market at Ta’ Qali National Park
Ta’ Qali National Park
4 Dec – 13 Dec
Natalis Notabilis Christmas Festival in Rabat, Malta
Rabat town centre
4 Dec – 13 Dec
Magical Christmas Show: Valletta
City theatre, Valletta
4 Dec – 5 Dec
Carols by Candlelight, 17th Edition at St Augustine's Friary
St Augustine Square Gozo
4 Dec – 5 Dec
Kids4Kids Market at the Woodland Christmas Market
Ta' Qali
Sat 5 Dec, 10:00
Christmas in the Square
Sannat
5 Dec – 6 Dec
Funkytown: 80s & 90s Christmas Party
San Gwann
Sat 5 Dec, 21:30
The Nutcracker by Moveo at Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Teatru Manoel
6 Dec – 8 Dec
Piano Recital by Gabrijel Cassar at Corinthia Palace, Attard
Corinthia Palace
Sun 6 Dec
The Nutcracker
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Sun 6 Dec
Kids4Kids Market at the Woodland Christmas Market
Ta' Qali
Sun 6 Dec
Merħba Milied in Kerċem, Gozo
Kerċem village centre
Sun 6 Dec, 10:00Free
Christmas in Ta’ Sannat, Gozo
Ta’ Sannat village square, Gozo
Sun 6 Dec, 15:00Free
Week of 7 December
Kids4Kids Market at the Woodland Christmas Market
Ta' Qali
Tue 8 Dec, 10:00
Joy to the World
Nadur
Thu 10 Dec, 18:30
Santa’s Magical Night in Qala Square, Gozo
Qala Square, Gozo
11 Dec – 13 Dec
André Rieu's 2026 Christmas Concert: Let It Snow
Cinema, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta
Fri 11 Dec
Santa's Factory and The Glowing Alley
11 Dec – 13 Dec
Yuletide Bop! at Teatru Manoel Studio Theatre
Teatru Manoel
12 Dec – 13 Dec
Elf The Musical
Mediterranean Conference Centre
Sat 12 Dec
Yuletide Bop!
Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Sat 12 Dec
Kraze Christmas Meet Up!
MaeWest Valletta
Sat 12 Dec
Santa's Magical Night
Qala
Sat 12 Dec, 17:00
Fil-Villaġġ Ma’ Santa Klaws
12 Dec – 13 Dec
Bring It Back: Christmas Edition
Rabat
Sat 12 Dec, 22:00
Santa's Factory and the Glowing Alley 2026
Government Experimental Farm
Sun 13 Dec
Week of 14 December
Week of 21 December
Week of 28 December
About Christmas in Malta
Cribs and the Maltese Christmas
Christmas in Malta is built around the crib (presepju). Parishes, band clubs and families put them up from early December, some in front windows, some filling whole rooms with miniature Maltese villages, windmills and all. In Gozo, Bethlehem f'Għajnsielem turns a valley into a live nativity village with crafts and animals over the season.
Lights, markets and shows
Valletta's streets are lit from late November and the city runs a programme of concerts and markets. Christmas markets pop up in squares and gardens across both islands, often for just a weekend, and the theatres put on pantomimes that are a family tradition in their own right.
Midnight Mass and the child's sermon
On Christmas Eve many churches hold Midnight Mass, where a child traditionally gives the Christmas sermon (il-Priedka tat-Tifel). New Year's Eve brings fireworks over the harbour and street parties, and the season closes with the Epiphany on 6 January.
Good to know
- Markets often run for a single weekend: check the date before you go.
- Pantomimes sell out early for weekend matinées.
- Buses are busy on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve; plan the way home.