Christmas in Malta: traditions, markets and events
Many people think of Malta as a summer destination. Yet Christmas is one of the island’s biggest celebrations, with cribs, lights and processions. December also brings gentle prices and mild weather, around 15 °C. Here’s how Malta celebrates Christmas and what to do over the 2026 festive season.
Christmas traditions in Malta
Malta is still one of the most Catholic countries in Europe, and Christmas keeps a strong religious side. The island is often said to have 365 churches. During Advent, many are dressed in crimson damask and flowers. Every village prepares its own cribs, carols and processions.
The presepju, the Maltese crib
The crib, or presepju, is the great tradition of a Maltese Christmas. The oldest known one dates from 1617, at the Dominican friary in Rabat. Maltese cribs recreate island scenery: rocks, caves, windmills and limestone houses. The clay figurines are called pasturi, and some cribs are mechanical, with moving figures.
Touring crib exhibitions is a much-loved family outing in December. In the early 20th century, St Ġorġ Preca wanted a crib in every home. His catechists gave plaster figurines to children.
The gulbiena, the crib’s wheat
About five weeks before Christmas, families sow wheat or canary grass seed on cotton wool, kept in the dark. The seeds grow into long white shoots, the gulbiena. These then decorate the crib, the statue of the Infant Jesus and church altars.
Midnight Mass and the child’s sermon
On the evening of 24 December, churches are packed for Midnight Mass. Just before it, a child gives the Christmas sermon instead of the priest: this is the priedka tat-tifel. In recent years, the archbishop has celebrated Midnight Mass at St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, broadcast on television.
The procession of the Infant Jesus
The Infant Jesus procession began in Ħamrun on Christmas Eve 1921. It takes place in the evening, on 24 December or the days before. Children, often in costume, walk with the statue singing Ninni la tibkix iżjed, Malta’s best-known Christmas carol.
Christmas in Valletta
From late November to 31 December, Valletta celebrates Christmas in the Capital. In 2026, the programme runs from 25 November to 31 December. Hundreds of metres of lights brighten Republic Street, Merchants Street and South Street. A huge Christmas tree stands in Freedom Square, at the entrance to the city.
In the evening, St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Mediterranean Conference Centre usually host carol concerts. The Manoel Theatre stages ballets, concerts and a family pantomime: the 2026 pantomime announced is Peter Pan. In Floriana, just outside the capital, the Fairyland Christmas village usually sets up rides and an ice rink. It runs from early December to early January.
To get your bearings before enjoying the lights, a small-group guided tour of Valletta gives you a good overview in two to three hours.
Christmas markets in Malta
Malta has no large German-style Christmas market, but plenty of smaller Christmas villages. Here are the main ones, with the dates announced for 2026, to be confirmed with the organisers.
- Natalis Notabilis, in Rabat: chalets, crafts and entertainment at the foot of Mdina, announced from 4 to 13 December 2026, free entry.
- Woodland Christmas Market, in Ta’ Qali: an open-air market in the national park, announced from 4 to 13 December 2026.
- Verdala Palace gardens, in Buskett: an illuminated trail and Christmas village, announced from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, on selected dates, paid entry.
- Villa Rundle, in Victoria (Gozo): a Christmas market in the public gardens, on several weekends in December.
- National Aquarium, in Qawra: a market announced from 18 to 23 December 2026.
Christmas on Gozo
On the island of Gozo, the unmissable event is Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem. In the fields of Ta’ Passi, hundreds of costumed volunteers bring a Nativity-era village to life: baker, blacksmith, tavern, workshops and animals. Entry is free.
The village only opens on certain dates, from mid-December to the Epiphany weekend. In 2025-2026, it opened eleven times, from 14 December to 4 January. The 2026-2027 programme isn’t published yet, so check the dates before catching the ferry. On Christmas Day and 1 January, crossings usually stop from noon to 3pm.
New Year’s Eve in Malta
The big event on 31 December is Valletta’s national New Year’s Eve celebration, in St George’s Square. In 2026, the party is announced from 10pm to 2am, with a concert followed by fireworks over the Grand Harbour. The previous edition drew around 70,000 people.
Buses usually add extra services to Valletta that evening, then night routes for the journey home. The capital’s hotels fill up fast for this date, so book early.
What do people eat at Christmas in Malta?
Christmas lunch is eaten on 25 December, with the family. Roast turkey has replaced the cockerel once cooked in the baker’s oven. It often follows a timpana, a baked pasta pie in a pastry crust.
For something sweet, qagħaq tal-għasel are pastry rings filled with a treacle, citrus and spice mixture. Despite their name, “honey rings”, they contain no honey. After Midnight Mass, people drink imbuljuta tal-qastan, a hot drink of chestnuts, cocoa and orange zest.
Practical tips for a Christmas trip
What’s the weather like in December?
December is mild: 14.5 °C on average, with highs of 17 °C and lows of 12 °C. On the other hand, it rains on about ten days in the month, often in showers. The sea stays at around 18 °C. You’ll find all the details on our weather in Malta page.
Public holidays and closures
Four public holidays fall over the festive season: 8 December, 13 December, 25 December and 1 January. Heritage Malta museums and sites close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. St John’s Co-Cathedral also closes on Christmas Day and 1 January. See the full list of public holidays in Malta.
On 25 December and 1 January, buses usually stop from noon to 3pm, then from 9pm onwards. On Christmas Day, most shops close. Plan your journeys accordingly, and see our tips on transport in Malta.
Hotels and prices in December
December is one of the quietest months of the year, and hotel prices are among the lowest. The only exception is New Year, especially in Valletta. To choose where to stay, compare hotels in Malta on our map.
FAQ: frequently asked questions about Christmas in Malta
How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Maltese?
You say Il-Milied it-Tajjeb. The word Milied means Christmas.
What’s the weather like in Malta at Christmas?
It’s mild: about 17 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night, on average. Pack a jacket and an umbrella, as showers are frequent in December.
When are Valletta’s Christmas lights switched on?
In late November. In 2026, the Christmas in the Capital programme starts on 25 November and runs until 31 December.
Are museums open at Christmas?
Not every day. Heritage Malta sites close on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. They reopen on the other days of the festive season.
Where can you see a living nativity in Malta?
On Gozo, at Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem, the largest living nativity in the archipelago. It opens on set dates between mid-December and Epiphany, and entry is free.
What can you do on New Year’s Eve in Malta?
Head to Valletta for a concert in St George’s Square and fireworks over the Grand Harbour. Extra buses usually serve the capital that evening.
Christmas in Malta follows the rhythm of its villages: a crib here, a procession there, a concert in a baroque church. Combine Valletta’s lights, a day on Gozo and New Year’s Eve over the Grand Harbour. It’s a lovely way to discover the island out of season.
