Public holidays are always great, but throw one in on a summery Friday, and you’re looking at one awesome, long weekend. And with that long weekend comes a list of events fit for the occasion, making the next couple of days the perfect time to be in Malta.

Here are 11 events happening on the island this weekend, starting earlier than usual tonight with the classic eve-of-a-public-holiday event or two. If you’re not into Mnarja events, here are some things to get you (and the party) started.

Thursday 28th June

1. MCAST’s annual exhibition is back with a difference

Last year, the annual exhibition for students of MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts became the ICA Festival, a celebration of all things young, fresh and creative in Malta.

This year’s edition of the festival, R O T O T, sees the students take to some of Malta’s most beautiful exhibition spaces in Valletta, from the Splendid Hotel to the Manoel Theatre.

The opening night will still be held at MCAST’s campus in Mosta, but beyond that, there will be a wide array of exhibitions happening all around the island in the coming week. For more information on all 10 events, check out ICA’s Events section.

2. Young local talent, streamed straight to your ears in an intimate setting

Sliema’s Hole in The Wall is back with its successful series of gigs with a difference. What makes these events stand out, beyond the cosy and intimate setting of the bar, is their idea to have everyone listen to the artists through wireless headphones.

This week, it’s young Maltese singer and songwriter Alex Alden’s turn. There’s really no better way to kick off the long weekend if you’re into some sweet serenading.

If you don’t manage to catch Alden on Thursday, she’ll be putting up another performance on Saturday night, this time at the exciting new Storeroom venue.

Friday 29th June

3. Malta’s newest food court officially opens its doors

With its 11 kitchens and bars, Carob Tree is all set to take over Spinola Park. This Friday, a launch breakfast at 8am will be followed by a whole day’s worth of family activities; from magicians to face painting, live music and – most importantly – mouthwatering food.

4. A grand celebration of all things art kicks off

The Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF) is returning once again, for its 13th edition no less, and it’s jam-packed with two weeks’ worth of activities spread across Valletta and other localities.

Setting the stage for the whole festival (literally), Friday’s opening ceremony will feature Kubu+, a vertical stage poised atop St. George’s Square in Valletta. Kubu+ will be composed of moving structures in a piece that lets the audience appreciate the performance across a three-dimensional setting. Featured artists will include Big Band Brothers performing an original score by Daniel Cauchi and Alex Bezzina.

5. An opportunity to rock the Friday away… twice

If you’d like to discover what the local alternative music scene has got brewing, then Friday is as good of an opportunity as it gets. Two local acts, Eyes to Argus and Goldstein, will be treating the audience to a mix of relentless riffs and melancholic soundscapes. Sounds like a plan!

6. The summer’s biggest weekly clubbing event is back

If you’ve been anywhere close to Malta in the last decade and love clubbing, then you’ll know exactly what the words Sound Salon mean.

This Friday, the ever-so-popular weekly events will be returning, and it’s got a couple of thousands of people hyped and ready to go. Sound Salon are calling it their “biggest summer yet”, and with numbers like that, we wouldn’t be surprised.

7. Berlin and Malta come together for another big night

Constantly shifting between the German capital and his tiny home country, Mato has been a big name in the local clubbing world for years now.

Last week, he presented fans with On The Move, a new weekly appointment at Aria Complex’s Mute club. Now, Friday marks the grand return of the man behind the solid beats.

Saturday 30th June

8. A national demonstration bringing together more than a dozen NGOs

Coming together to lament the way Malta’s environment has been sidelined in recent years, 14 NGOs will be taking to the streets of Valletta for a national demonstration. The Facebook event keeps getting more and more traction, with more than 2,600 people currently showing their interest.

9. Blues is taking over Malta’s university

The Malta Blues Festival is back for a four-guest night featuring artists from Italy, Netherlands, the UK and Malta. Paul Audia, Little Steve & the Big Beat, Grimaud
and Mikaela will be gracing the stage at university’s Sir Temi ?ammit Hall.

Sunday 1st July

10. A morning party to welcome July

If you’re tired of having to wait until 11pm to start partying, then Sunny Side Up are definitely here for you. One year later, SSU are returning with what they do best; Sunday morning clubbing.

That’s right; to welcome the first (Sun)day of July, a party is kicking off at 8am. Get a good sleep and prepare your bodies for a hangover-free (but inducing) Sunday morning.

11. A traditional fig festival in Gozo

If you’re on the sister island this weekend, drop by Xag?ra. Lejla Tina promises “a happy helping of culinary delight, dance seeped in tradition, and music to set the ambience”. As the name implies, it’ll centre around Malta’s beautiful figs.

It’s also obviously kid-friendly thanks to an educational and energy-busting area, so it’s definitely one for all the family.

This will be one day after the Gozitan village gets a proper dose of the classics thanks to Hilltop Rock.

Tag someone who needs to start planning their long weekend ASAP!

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).