Events calendar Malta

Dance, music for 10 days in Valletta, Three Cities, Mdina and Victoria (Gozo).

This is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in Malta and Gozo. Its name comes from the Latin luminare (light), in reference to the bonfires and candles lit on this occasion. It commemorates two important saints in Maltese religious tradition, St. Peter and St. Paul. In Malta, it takes place in Buskett Gardens, about 1 km from Rabat, where the Maltese come to spend the afternoon amidst traditional singers. The liturgical ceremony takes place in Mdina Cathedral. On Gozo, it takes place in Nadur.

It's the same concept as the Paris All-Nighter. On this occasion, state palaces, museums and art stores remain open until the early hours of the morning, accessible to all visitors. Streets and cultural venues also play host to a whole range of performances: visual art exhibitions, street theater and open-air live concerts. Cafés and restaurants also remain open. La Notte Bianca takes place mainly in Valletta, although events are organized all over the island in the same spirit.

This cycling race is intended to be a meeting place for all cycling enthusiasts, rather than a professional race where money is very much involved. It is divided into four stages, which take you around the Maltese islands, passing through Mtarfa, Saint-Paul, Zebbug and San-Martin. This stage takes place on the San-Martin circuit, reputed to be one of the most difficult on the island. Every year, more than 130 riders take part, divided into different categories: masters, juniors, elite and women.

In this village, whose name "Zejtun" means olive in Arabic, the beginning of the olive harvesting and oil pressing season is celebrated with a festival dedicated to this noble fruit associated with the island of Malta since Roman times. The focal point of the festival is the blessing of the olives carried by local farmers, followed by a free tasting of Maltese ftajjar (bread baked in a wood-fired oven), accompanied by freshly pressed olive oil. Folk music, singing and dancing are also on the programme.

Founded in 1907, Emmanuel Delicata is the oldest family wine producer in Malta and is now in his fourth generation at the helm of a company that has won many awards, including in France, and has sought to play an active role in cultural activities. With this in mind, tastings of the company's wines and live concerts are offered every evening in the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta and another edition is held in Nadur, on Gozo. These celebrations coincide with the beginning and end of the Maltese grape harvest.

An excellent classical music festival that takes place at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta just after Easter. This festival is organised by the young composer Karl Fiorini, a Maltese French-speaking and Parisian by adoption, a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London. On the programme, a wide repertoire including the most avant-garde works: concerts, recitals and chamber music performed by local and internationally renowned artists.

This "victory day" is also a holiday. And it is the occasion to celebrate the end of three sieges: the one ending with the victory of Malta in the Great Siege of the Turks in 1565, but also the end of the French occupation in 1800 and also the end of the Axis reign during the Second World War in 1943. On this day, colourful boat regattas are held in the large harbour in the afternoon and processions celebrate the Virgin Mary in Senglea (Isla), Naxar, Mellielha in Malta and Xaghra in Gozo.

Here's a unique opportunity to discover ghana (pronounced "ana"), traditional Maltese music blending lyrical songs with rhyming and verse protrusions and musical accompaniment. In particular, theiz-zaqq, the Maltese bagpipe, has been brought up to date. This is the theme of three days of Maltese and Mediterranean folk music at the Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana. There will also be a series of workshops on traditional instruments and a special program for children.

Created in 2006, it offers tastings of Marsovin brand wines, accompanied by classical music concerts, all in the beautiful setting of Valletta's Hastings Gardens. The music has diversified over the years, with more contemporary music performed by emerging Maltese groups. The stars, however, remain the wines. You'll be able to choose from around 30 wine tastings from vineyards across Malta and Gozo. To mark the occasion, various restaurants and caterers present a small selection of their dishes.