The public holidays at a glance
Malta has 14 public holidays in each of the two years covered here, and they are a mix of religious feast days and national days. A holiday that falls on a weekend is not always moved to the weekday, so check the calendar if you are planning a trip around one. Shops, banks, offices and many museums close or open for shorter hours, while restaurants, beach kiosks and tourist transport mostly keep running.
Public holidays in 2026
| Date | Maltese name | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | L-Ewwel tas-Sena | New Year’s Day |
| 10 February 2026 | In-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl | Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck |
| 19 March 2026 | San Ġużepp | Feast of St. Joseph |
| 31 March 2026 | Jum il-Ħelsien | Freedom Day |
| 3 April 2026 | Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira | Good Friday |
| 1 May 2026 | Jum il-Ħaddiem | Worker’s Day |
| 7 June 2026 | Sette Giugno | Sette Giugno |
| 29 June 2026 | L-Imnarja | Feast of St.Peter and St.Paul |
| 15 August 2026 | Santa Marija | Assumption Day |
| 8 September 2026 | Il-Vittorja | Feast of Our Lady of Victories |
| 21 September 2026 | L-Indipendenza | Independence Day |
| 8 December 2026 | L-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni | Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
| 13 December 2026 | Jum ir-Repubblika | Republic Day |
| 25 December 2026 | Il-Milied | Christmas Day |
Public holidays in 2027
| Date | Maltese name | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | L-Ewwel tas-Sena | New Year’s Day |
| 10 February 2027 | In-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl | Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck |
| 19 March 2027 | San Ġużepp | Feast of St. Joseph |
| 26 March 2027 | Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira | Good Friday |
| 31 March 2027 | Jum il-Ħelsien | Freedom Day |
| 1 May 2027 | Jum il-Ħaddiem | Worker’s Day |
| 7 June 2027 | Sette Giugno | Sette Giugno |
| 29 June 2027 | L-Imnarja | Feast of St.Peter and St.Paul |
| 15 August 2027 | Santa Marija | Assumption Day |
| 8 September 2027 | Il-Vittorja | Feast of Our Lady of Victories |
| 21 September 2027 | L-Indipendenza | Independence Day |
| 8 December 2027 | L-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni | Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
| 13 December 2027 | Jum ir-Repubblika | Republic Day |
| 25 December 2027 | Il-Milied | Christmas Day |
Good Friday is the only date that moves between the two years, because it follows the date of Easter. The others are fixed on the same calendar day each year.
National days and feast days
The holidays fall into two groups. Five are national days that mark moments in the country’s modern history: Freedom Day on 31 March, which commemorates the departure of British forces in 1979, Sette Giugno on 7 June, which remembers the 1919 riots, Victory Day (Il-Vittorja) on 8 September, which marks the end of the Great Siege of 1565 and the Italian surrender in 1943, Independence Day on 21 September, which marks independence from Britain in 1964, and Republic Day on 13 December, which marks the 1974 move to a republic. Official ceremonies take place in Valletta and the flag is flown widely, as explained in the guide to the Maltese flag.
The remaining holidays are religious feasts or general public days. They include New Year’s Day, the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck on 10 February, the Feast of St Joseph on 19 March, Good Friday, Worker’s Day on 1 May, the Feast of St Peter and St Paul (L-Imnarja) on 29 June, the Assumption (Santa Marija) on 15 August, the Immaculate Conception on 8 December and Christmas Day. Santa Marija is among the most important of these, and 15 August is a very busy day on the beaches. L-Imnarja has its own traditions, with a countryside feast near Mdina that is associated with food, music and folk singing.
What closes and what stays open
On a public holiday, expect banks, government offices and most shops to be closed, and expect larger supermarkets to keep shorter hours or close. Pharmacies work on a rota, so a duty pharmacy is usually open in each area. Public transport runs on a reduced timetable on some days, and museum and site opening hours can change, so check current hours before travelling.
Tourist services such as boat trips, ferries to Gozo and beach clubs generally keep running, but they are busier because locals are also off work. For popular sites and ferries, book earlier or go at the start of the day. The Gozo ferry guide explains how the crossing works.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are the quietest days of the year. Many restaurants close or take bookings only on 25 December, so book ahead. Good Friday is also special, with religious processions through towns such as Valletta in the evening.
Festas in summer
Village festas are not public holidays, but they matter to travellers. Each parish celebrates its patron saint with a main feast day and a build-up of several days. Festas are most common from May to September, and the busiest weekends are on the Sundays around the feast, when the village is decorated, bands play, the saint’s statue is carried through the streets and fireworks end the evening. Streets close to traffic, bus routes are diverted, and parking becomes hard.
A festa is an excellent free evening out. It is lively, loud and local, and visitors are welcome. Dates change from village to village, and the events calendar gives the wider picture of what to expect each season. Local parish posters and notices in village squares usually announce the programme a few weeks ahead.
Planning around the dates
If you are flexible, schedule sightseeing on the weekdays that are not holidays and use the holidays for beaches and village life. Avoid arriving or leaving on the busiest dates, notably around Christmas, Easter and the mid-August break, when flights and ferries are full. The best time to visit Malta page explains how the seasons shape the calendar, and the overview of Malta covers the basics of the islands.