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Valletta festa 2026

Valletta on Malta has 8 feasts in the 2026 church calendar. Here are the dates, and what to expect.

2026 dates

  • Main feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

    Tuesday, 10 February 2026, Valletta (St Paul) parish

  • Smaller feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of St Vincent Ferrer

    Saturday, 2 May 2026, Valletta (St Dominic) parish

  • Smaller feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of St Rita

    Friday, 22 May 2026, Valletta (St Augustine) parish

  • Main feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

    Thursday, 16 July 2026, Valletta (Mount Carmel) parish

  • Main feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of St Dominic

    Sunday, 2 August 2026, Valletta (St Dominic) parish

  • Smaller feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of Our Lady of Consolation

    Saturday, 5 September 2026, Valletta (St Augustine) parish

  • Main feastAlready happened this year

    Feast of St Augustine

    Sunday, 20 September 2026, Valletta (St Augustine) parish

  • Smaller feast

    Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

    Saturday, 10 October 2026, Valletta (St Dominic) parish

In date order: St Paul's Shipwreck on Tuesday, 10 February 2026; St Vincent Ferrer on Saturday, 2 May 2026 (a smaller, secondary feast); St Rita on Friday, 22 May 2026 (a smaller, secondary feast); Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Thursday, 16 July 2026; St Dominic on Sunday, 2 August 2026; Our Lady of Consolation on Saturday, 5 September 2026 (a smaller, secondary feast); St Augustine on Sunday, 20 September 2026; Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday, 10 October 2026 (a smaller, secondary feast).

The biggest one is the feast of St Paul's Shipwreck, run by the Valletta (St Paul) parish.

And in 2027?

The 2027 date comes when the Archdiocese publishes it. Most feasts move to a Sunday that suits the parish, so we do not guess.

St Paul's Shipwreck is always on the same day of the year, so it should be on Wednesday, 10 February 2027. St Rita is always on the same day of the year, so it should be on Saturday, 22 May 2027. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is always on the same day of the year, so it should be on Friday, 16 July 2027.

What is a festa?

A festa is a village party for the saint of the parish church. The church is lit up with thousands of bulbs and the streets are hung with flags and statues.

The days before the feast are full of band marches. On the eve there are often fireworks. On the day itself the statue of the saint is carried through the streets.

Anyone can go. It is free, it goes on late, and there is usually a stall selling nougat and hot snacks. Wear comfortable shoes and expect crowds near the church in Valletta.

Good to know before you go

Parking near the church is hard on feast days. Take the bus, or leave the car at the edge of Valletta and walk in.

Fireworks are loud, so small children and dogs may not enjoy them. To go inside the church, cover your shoulders and knees.

Times change from year to year. The parish office and the local band club share the full programme a few weeks before the feast.

More to do in and around Valletta

Markets in and near Valletta

Valletta has its own regular market.

  • Is-Suq tal-Belt food marketEvery day, in Valletta. Valletta's old covered market, now a food hall. Lots of small kitchens under one roof.

Local shops and services in Valletta

2 local businesses are listed in Valletta, by trade: cafés (1) and pharmacies (1).

  • Caffè CordinaCafés. Run by the Cordina family since 1837 and on Republic Street since 1944. A standing coffee bar, pasticceria, gelateria and tea room under painted ceilings, opposite the National Library.
  • Collis Williams PharmacyPharmacies. Established in 1860 and known by generations of Maltese simply as the pharmacy in Valletta. Medicines, consultations, toiletries and a perfumery, at the City Gate end of Republic Street.

Other feasts near Valletta in February, May, July, August, September and October

Towns close to Valletta have their own feasts in the same months.

Towns near Valletta with local businesses

More local shops and makers a short trip from Valletta, nearest first.

Every festa, market and event we know about, sorted by date. See what's on in Malta and Gozo

Eat, drink and shop in Valletta

All of Valletta

Dates from the Archdiocese of Malta feasts calendar for 2026, checked on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Parishes sometimes change plans, so check with the parish before you travel.