When are the public holidays in Malta?
Malta celebrates 14 Public Holidays, five of which are National Holidays. Spread throughout the year, these holidays mark religious, historical and special events. Schools, offices, and a number of shops are closed on such days.
Malta’s Public Holidays in 2024:
- 1 January – New Year’s Day
- 10 February – Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck
- 19 March – Feast of St. Joseph
- 29 March – Good Friday (date changes every year)
- 31 March – Freedom Day (coincides with Easter Sunday in 2024)
- 1 May – Workers’ Day
- 7 June – Commemoration of the 1919 Riot / Sette Giugno
- 29 June – Feast of St Peter and St Paul / Mnarja
- 15 August – Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady / Santa Marija
- 8 September – Feast of Our Lady of Victories / Victory Day
- 21 September – Independence Day
- 8 December – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- 13 December – Republic Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
Things to do in Malta during a Public Holiday
You may be thinking, “what am I going to do during a public holiday?”, or “What if things are closed?”. Don’t worry, businesses such as tourist attractions, shops and restaurants remain open on most public holidays, except for Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. A public holiday presents you the perfect opportunity to discover more of Malta. Whether you visit one of Malta’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the City of Valletta, the Megalithic Temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum or attend a special event, or just relax at the beach, be certain that you will surely not be disappointed!
You may choose to combine your English language programme with one of Malta’s Public Holidays so that you may benefit from learning more about the history of Malta whilst benefitting from improving your English language skills!
What happens at ESE when there is a public holiday?
The ESE school is always closed when there is a public holiday, thus no lessons take place; however, lessons are partially made up during that same week.
Should you wish to study at ESE close to a Maltese Public Holiday, book your course by clicking here.
Focus on Fluency
- Public Holidays (noun): a nationally recognized day when most businesses and other institutions are closed.
- Religious (adjective): relating to or believing in a religion.
- Historical (adjective): relating to or about history.
- Partially (adverb): only in part; to a limited extent.
- UNESCO (abbreviation): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which aims to create world peace and security.
- Megalithic (adjective): relating to or denoting prehistoric monuments made of or containing large stones.
- Shipwreck (noun): the destruction of a ship at sea by sinking or breaking up, such as during a storm.
- Commemoration (noun): the action or fact of celebrating a dead person or past event.
- Assumption (noun): the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into heaven.
- Republic (noun): a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives rather than a king or queen.
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Malta Events to look forward to in 2024
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A Guide to the Public Holidays in Malta
The island nation of Malta has the most public holidays in the European Union. These hold both national and religious importance to Malta as they commemorate historical events, including the birth of the Church in Malta, the departure of Malta’s colonisers, Christianity in Malta and other significant moments.
