Celebrate Christmas 2024 in Malta with these events
Celebrating Christmas in Malta can be a wonderful experience, as the Maltese islands are known for their rich cultural and religious traditions.
While specific events may vary from year to year, here are some traditional and popular activities and events you can typically enjoy during the Christmas season in Malta.
- Christmas Markets & Villages – visit local Christmas markets to shop for unique gifts such as Natalis Notabilis in Rabat, Fairyland in Valletta, and The Magical Illuminated Trail & Christmas Village at Verdala Palace.
- Musical Performances – the Malta International Christmas Choir Festival, Joseph Calleja and Il Volo and the Do-Re-Mi concert will provide the Christmas spirit through music and singing.
- Nativity – the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem exhibition in Gozo will take you on a trip to the Nativity. This event only takes place on certain days – more details below.
- New Year’s Eve – to conclude the festive season, the annual Valletta NYE Celebrations, which are always highly attended, will surely help you ring in the new year in the best way possible!
Christmas Markets & Villages
1. The Magical Illuminated Trail - 4th November 2024 to 4th January 2025
📍Where: Verdala Palace, Buskett, Rabat
From 4th December 2024 to 4th January 2025, Verdala Palace in Buskett will host a light show, which is described as “a spectacular walkabout journey through the walkways of one of Malta’s National Historic Gems”. Once again, this event will consist of larger-than-life sculptures and not to mention, a Christmas Village, where you can purchase Christmas décor, food and drink and of course Christmas treats for the whole family to enjoy.
This event is ideal for those who love selfies and colourful lights. It will take place outdoors, so you must dress up for the chilly nights!
Book your tickets here.
2. Natalis Notabilis 2024 – 6th to 15th December 2024
📍Where: Rabat, Malta
Malta’s largest Christmas village, the iconic Natalis Notabilis, is back!
This long-awaited event is organised by an NGO with the same name, whose aim is to organise fundraising events for the conservation and restoration of Maltese heritage, as well as raise awareness about the matter.
Expect to see the narrow streets of the old town of Rabat turn into a Christmas village, said to be Malta’s largest one (VisitMalta). In addition, historic buildings within the area will hold various Christmas-related activities including a nativity, a crib exhibition and much more. There will also be a Christmas market selling artisanal products, food and drink.
3. Fairyland – Santa’s City - 6th December 2024 to 5th January 2025
📍Where: Triton Square, Valletta
This year, you will be able to feel the magic of Christmas in the capital city! Fairyland – Santa’s City is back with a bang, where the Triton Fountain Square will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland from the 6th of December 2024 to 5th January 2025.
The capital will be greatly illuminated and highly decorated for the festive season. Expect to see a larger-than-life Ferris wheel, an ice-skating rink, a carousel, and German-style markets selling delicious food and beverages, not to mention mulled wine.
Entrance is free, however some activities such as the Ice Rink and Big Wheel will need to be booked beforehand here.
Musical Performances
4. The Malta international Christmas Choir Festival – 6th to 8th December 2024
📍Where: Various locations in the South of Malta (Qormi, Birzebbugia, Marsa, Gudja, Luqa, Ghaxaq, Santa Venera, and Zejtun)
Sicilian-based EuroArt Productions, in collaboration with Leon Promotions Malta, will present the third edition of The Malta International Christmas Choir Festival. It will be held between the 6th and 8th December 2024 in various locations around the Maltese Islands.
Various choirs will participate in this festival, ranging from male, female, youth, gospel to folk choirs.
For further information click here.
5. Joseph Calleja Christmas Special with Il Volo – 20th December 2024
📍Where: MFCC, Ta’ Qali
World-renowned Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja will hold a special Christmas concert on Friday, 20th December 2024, with special guests, Italian tenors Il Volo!
Tickets available here: https://www.showshappening.com/Mint-Media/Joseph-Calleja-Christmas-Special-with-Il-Volo
6. Do-Re-Mi goes Christmas – 22nd December 2024
📍Where: Robert Samut Hall, Floriana
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a special Christmas concert, accompanied by Roderick Bugeja on the trombone. Do-Re-Mi is a children’s project which introduces children to the world of classical music in a lively and captivating manner. This show is guaranteed to bring the magic of Christmas to children of all ages.
Nativity
7. Bethlehem f'Għajnsielem Gozo (selected days) – 15th December 2024 to 5th January 2025
📍 Where: Ghajnsielem, Gozo
On selected days in December, the town of Ghajnsielem on our sister island of Gozo usually turns into the Nativity.
Now in its 15th edition, this event has been one of the most popular Christmas events around the islands and you will experience a live animated nativity scene over 20,000 square metres of land.
Dates and timings of animation are as follows:
Sunday 15th December – 15:00 – 19:00
Thursday 19th December – 9:30 – 12:00 (for schools)
Saturday 21st December – 16:00 – 19:30
Sunday 22nd December – 15:00 – 19:00
Wednesday 25th December – 16:00 – 19:00
Thursday 26th December – 14:30 – 19:00
Friday 27th December – 16:00 – 19:00
Saturday 28th December – 16:00 – 19:00
Sunday 29th December – 15:00 – 19:00
Wednesday 1st January – 15:00 – 19:00
Sunday 5th January – 14:30 – 17:00 (Adoration of the Magi)
For further information call the Għajnsielem Local Council on +356 21561515 or visit their Facebook page.
https://eventsingozo.com/event/bethlehem-fghajnsielem-2024/
New Year's Eve
8. Valletta NYE – 31st December 2024
📍Where: Pjazza San Gorg, Valletta, Malta
The annual New Year’s Eve special in the heart of Valletta is back with a bang! This event is being organised in collaboration with the Valletta Cultural Agency.
Valletta will turn into one big party with performances by local Maltese talent, to ring in the new year. Performers will include Ira Losco, Red Electric and Shaun Farrugia, and headliner will be German dance sensation Cascada, known for “Everytime we Touch” and “Evacuate the Dancefloor”. The main events will take place in St. George’s Square from 10pm onwards.
There will also be a spectacular fireworks display over the Grand Harbour!
Entrance is free.
Would you like to combine your Christmas break with a language course? Book now to avoid disappointment.
Focus on Fluency
- The festive season (idiom) — an informal name for the period leading up to and including the holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day
- Holiday cheer (idiom) — the joyful and generous attitude expected of people at Christmas
- There’s no doubt (idiom) — probably, most likely, without a question
- Renowned (adjective) – celebrated, famous
- Larger-than-life (adjective) – attracting special attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance
- Ferris wheel (noun) — an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, they are kept upright, usually by gravity
- Illuminated (adjective) – lit with bright lights
- Rink (noun) – an enclosed area of ice for skating as well as ice hockey
- Artisanal (adjective)– relating to or characteristic of an artisan (noun) — a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.
- Fellow (noun) – companion
- Back with a bang (idiom, informal) – when something starts in a very exciting and noticeable way
- Ring in the new year (idiom) – to mark the end of the previous year and the start of a new one, typically with a party or other celebration
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