Christmas in Malta: Markets, Events and Traditions

Christmas in Malta is not about snow: it is about lights strung across village streets, nativity scenes in every church, warm chestnut drinks after Midnight Mass and families gathering for long lunches. Malta is a deeply Catholic country and keeps traditions you will not find elsewhere in Europe, from the child preacher at Midnight Mass to the pale wheat shoots (gulbiena) placed around the crib. Here is our local guide to the 2026 season and how to enjoy it from a base in St. Paul's Bay.

Christmas 2026 in Malta at a glance

Dates below are those listed by organisers and event guides on 4 November 2026. Several events publish their final programme only in late November, so always check before you go.

Natalis Notabilis in Rabat

Natalis Notabilis takes its name from Notabile, the old name of Mdina and Rabat. For ten days the historic centre of Rabat, a few minutes' walk from the gates of Mdina, becomes a Christmas village spread through its streets and squares: stalls with handmade gifts and crafts, festive food and warm drinks, traditional cribs, choirs and live entertainment. The 2026 edition is listed for Friday 4 to Sunday 13 December.

Go in the late afternoon, when the lights come on, and combine it with a walk through Mdina, magical in the dark and almost empty in winter. Parking in Rabat is very limited, so the bus or a taxi is easier; in past years a park-and-ride service was organised. From St. Paul's Bay, Rabat and Mdina are about 15 minutes by car.

Valletta: Christmas in the Capital

From 25 November the capital switches into Christmas mode with decorated streets, a large nativity crib and the giant Christmas tree, in recent years set up in front of Auberge de Castille. Republic Street and Merchants Street are lovely for an evening stroll and some Christmas shopping, followed by a drink in one of the cafés tucked into the old palazzi.

Just outside the City Gate, around the Triton Fountain, the Malta Tourism Authority sets up a Christmas village with an illuminated Ferris wheel, rides for children and market stalls. Entry has been free in past editions, with rides paid separately. Valletta is about 25 minutes by bus from Bugibba.

Bethlehem f'Għajnsielem: a living nativity in Gozo

This is one of the most special Christmas experiences in the Maltese islands. In the fields of Ta' Passi in Għajnsielem, the village above Mġarr harbour where the ferry from Malta arrives, volunteers recreate the village of Bethlehem: around a hundred costumed actors, animals, traditional crafts and small food stalls, all leading to the Holy Family in the grotto. Entry is free.

It opens on selected afternoons from mid-December to early January (last season it ran from 14 December to 4 January, with special events on Epiphany). The 2026 dates had not yet been announced at the time of writing. From St. Paul's Bay it makes a perfect day trip: bus or car to the Ċirkewwa ferry, 25 minutes of crossing, and you are there.

Cribs, gulbiena and other Maltese traditions

The crib (presepju) is the heart of a Maltese Christmas. Cribs arrived in Malta in the 17th century, introduced by the Dominican friars in Rabat, and today hundreds are displayed in churches, homes and exhibitions around the islands, often with miniature Maltese farmhouses, windmills and landscapes. In Gozo, the village of Qala is known for its trail of cribs (listed from 13 December 2026 to 3 January 2027).

Gulbiena are pots of wheat, vetch or grain sown in early December and kept in the dark, so they grow into pale, almost white shoots that decorate the crib on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve processions: in several parishes children dressed as shepherds and angels carry lanterns and a statue of the Baby Jesus through the streets, singing carols on the way to church. The tradition was started in Ħamrun by St George Preca, the founder of the MUSEUM catechism society.

Midnight Mass and the Priedka tat-Tifel: at Midnight Mass on 24 December the sermon is given not by the priest but by a child of about seven to ten years old. The custom started in Luqa in 1883 and is still followed in parishes across Malta. Even if you are not religious, it is a moving moment, and the baroque churches are at their most beautiful.

Lights in the villages: many towns decorate their main streets with arches of lights in the weeks before Christmas, as on Sanctuary Street in Żabbar.

Traditional Christmas food in Malta

The Maltese Christmas table mixes British and Mediterranean habits: turkey and Christmas pudding sit beside baked dishes such as timpana. The real seasonal treats are made with chestnuts and treacle:

• Imbuljuta tal-qastan: a warm chestnut and cocoa drink, flavoured with orange and clove, traditionally served after Midnight Mass.
• Qagħaq tal-għasel: honey rings, a dough ring filled with a dark treacle and spice filling, sold in every bakery.

For more local dishes, see our guide to Maltese food.

New Year's Eve in Malta

On 31 December the national celebration fills St George's Square in Valletta with a free concert, followed by fireworks over the Grand Harbour at midnight. It gets very busy: arrive early and plan your journey home in advance.

Practical tips for Christmas in Malta

• Weather. December is mild: afternoons usually around 15–18°C, about five hours of sunshine a day and a sea still close to 18°C. Bring a light waterproof jacket for the odd shower. Sunset is just before 5pm.
• Public holidays. 8 December (Immaculate Conception), 13 December (Republic Day) and 25 December are public holidays. Many shops close on Christmas Day, and Heritage Malta sites are closed on 24 and 25 December.
• Buses on Christmas Day run a reduced service (in recent years with a break in the middle of the day); check the Malta Public Transport timetable a few days before.
• Christmas lunch. Many restaurants serve a set menu on 25 December and book up early. With an apartment, you can also cook your own Christmas lunch.
• Book early. Flights and accommodation fill up quickly for the weeks around Christmas and New Year.

Read next: Malta in Winter: What to Expect · How to Get Around Malta Without a Car

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