Malta Public Holidays 2026: Complete List of Dates

Planning a trip to Malta in 2026? Malta has 14 national and public holidays during 2026, including religious feast days, national celebrations and Christmas Day.

Public holidays can affect opening hours for shops, government offices and some services, while several of Malta's national holidays are also an opportunity to see ceremonies and local celebrations.

Here is the complete Malta public holidays 2026 calendar.

Malta Public Holidays 2026

Quick answer: Malta has 14 national and public holidays in 2026. Several fall next to or close to weekends, making them particularly important dates to know when planning a Malta holiday.

Last updated: August 2026. Dates sourced from the Government of Malta official public holiday list.

Malta's National Holidays in 2026

Five dates have particular national significance in Malta.

Freedom Day — 31 March 2026

Freedom Day, or Jum il-Ħelsien, commemorates the departure of the last British military forces from Malta on 31 March 1979.

Official ceremonies traditionally form part of the commemorations, and the date is particularly associated with the Grand Harbour area.

Sette Giugno — 7 June 2026

Sette Giugno commemorates events that took place on 7 June 1919 during a period of political and social unrest in Malta.

In 2026, Sette Giugno falls on a Sunday.

Victory Day — 8 September 2026

Victory Day is celebrated on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

The date has several layers of historical significance in Malta and is also associated with the traditional feast of Our Lady of Victories.

Visitors may encounter ceremonies and celebrations associated with the holiday.

Independence Day — 21 September 2026

Malta celebrates Independence Day on Monday, 21 September 2026.

It commemorates Malta gaining independence from Britain in 1964.

For visitors, the Monday date also creates a three-day weekend for many people in Malta.

Republic Day — 13 December 2026

Republic Day commemorates Malta becoming a republic in 1974.

In 2026, Republic Day falls on a Sunday.

Religious Public Holidays in Malta

Malta's calendar reflects the country's strong Catholic heritage, and several important religious celebrations are official public holidays.

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck — 10 February

St Paul has an important place in Maltese history and tradition.

The Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck is celebrated on Tuesday, 10 February 2026.

Valletta is particularly associated with celebrations surrounding this feast.

Feast of St Joseph — 19 March

The Feast of St Joseph falls on Thursday, 19 March 2026.

Good Friday — 3 April

Good Friday falls on Friday, 3 April 2026.

Easter is an important period in Malta, and visitors may encounter religious processions and events around the islands.

If you are visiting Malta over Easter, check opening hours and transport arrangements in advance.

Feast of St Peter and St Paul — 29 June

Known locally as L-Imnarja, the Feast of St Peter and St Paul falls on Monday, 29 June 2026.

It is one of Malta's traditional summer celebrations.

Feast of the Assumption — 15 August

The Feast of the Assumption, commonly known in Malta as Santa Marija, falls on Saturday, 15 August 2026.

This is one of the major dates in Malta's summer festa season.

August is already one of Malta's busiest tourism periods, so visitors travelling around this date should consider booking accommodation, activities and transport early.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception — 8 December

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.

Christmas Day — 25 December

Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026, creating a Christmas weekend.

Malta celebrates Christmas extensively, with decorations, church services, events and festive activities taking place throughout December.

Malta Public Holiday Long Weekends in 2026

Several public holidays create particularly useful long weekends in 2026.

Good Friday Weekend

Friday 3 April – Sunday 5 April

Good Friday creates a three-day Easter weekend.

Workers' Day Weekend

Friday 1 May – Sunday 3 May

Workers' Day falls on a Friday in 2026.

Feast of St Peter and St Paul Weekend

Saturday 27 June – Monday 29 June

The public holiday falls on Monday 29 June.

Independence Day Weekend

Saturday 19 September – Monday 21 September

Independence Day falls on a Monday.

Christmas Weekend

Friday 25 December – Sunday 27 December

Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026.

These weekends may mean increased domestic travel, events and demand for restaurants, accommodation and activities.

Are Shops Open on Public Holidays in Malta?

Opening hours vary.

Tourist areas generally continue to operate, and many restaurants, cafés, attractions and convenience stores may remain open.

However, individual businesses can operate reduced or different hours on public holidays.

Government offices and some other services may be closed.

If there is somewhere specific you want to visit, check its current opening hours before travelling.

Do Buses Run on Public Holidays in Malta?

Public transport generally continues to operate, but schedules can differ on certain holidays and major events.

Visitors should check current timetable information before travelling, particularly when attending large celebrations or travelling early in the morning or late at night.

For full details on fares, routes and tickets, see our Malta Public Transport Guide.

Are Restaurants Open on Malta Public Holidays?

Many restaurants in Malta's main tourist areas remain open on public holidays, particularly in destinations such as Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's, St Paul's Bay and other popular visitor areas.

However, opening hours vary by restaurant.

For major holidays such as Christmas and Easter, booking ahead is advisable if you have a particular restaurant in mind.

See our full Best Restaurants in Malta guide for recommended spots.

Is Malta Busy During Public Holidays?

It depends on the holiday.

Public holidays falling during the summer can coincide with Malta's busiest tourism season as well as local celebrations.

Dates such as Santa Marija on 15 August fall during peak summer, when Malta is already busy.

Other holidays can create long weekends when residents have more free time, potentially increasing demand for beaches, restaurants, boat trips and attractions.

Visitors travelling on these dates should consider reserving popular activities in advance.

Visiting Malta During a Public Holiday

A public holiday shouldn't normally put you off visiting Malta.

In fact, some holidays can make a visit more interesting because you may experience ceremonies, religious traditions or local celebrations that you wouldn't see on an ordinary day.

A few simple precautions help:

• Check attraction opening hours.
• Reserve popular restaurants in advance.
• Check public transport schedules.
• Expect some government services and offices to be closed.
• Allow extra time around major events and celebrations.
• Book popular summer activities ahead during peak periods.

Visiting Malta in Summer?

Several important public holidays fall during the period when visitors are most likely to be enjoying Malta's beaches, Gozo and Comino.

If you're visiting during the summer, you may also want to explore:

• Malta Weather by Month
• Best Time to Visit Malta
• Best Beaches in Malta
• Blue Lagoon Malta Guide
• 25 Best Things to Do in Malta
• Malta Boat Hire

Plan Your Malta Trip

Public holidays are just one thing worth considering when choosing when to visit Malta.

Use our Malta travel guides to plan the rest of your trip:

• Best Time to Visit Malta
• Malta Weather
• Where to Stay in Malta
• Malta Public Transport
• 25 Best Things to Do in Malta
• Blue Lagoon Malta
• Malta Boat Hire