The 11th edition of Malta’s Isle of MTV music festival is finally here, and tomorrow will see tens of thousands of people flock to Floriana’s Granaries for a jam-packed lineup. 

Whether this’ll be your first time attending the free festival or you can’t remember how you got ready for the last time you went, here’s everything you need to know about the big day.

Getting in to the Granaries

The festival starts at 5:30pm, but gates to the Floriana Granaries will be open as of 3pm. The following items are not allowed inside the gates:

• Rucksacks or bags over A4 / Magazine Size
• Glass bottles (including perfume bottles)
• No alcohol if under the age of 17
• No illegal substances
• No drones
• No fireworks
• No professional audio / visual recording equipment
• No objects with sharp edges (including screwdrivers, scissors, etc.)
• No flags on poles
• No laser pens
• No selfie-sticks
• No umbrellas

Once you’re in…

If you’ve never been, just a heads up; the Granaries are big. We’re talking political mass meetings and 10 consecutive (and highly successful) Isle of MTV concerts levels of big. So we’d recommend picking a spot, sticking to it if you’re happy with the distance from the stage (or the huge screens in the middle of the Granaries), and having a nearby point of reference for friends who’d be coming late (or that one friend who’ll probably get lost). Speaking of which, you might consider colour-cordinating some unique (or bright) outfits to make sure you don’t get separated from your squad. 

If you’re good with crowds and decide to brave the front areas, be aware of your surroundings and see which is the easiest route to make it out in case you feel too hot or hungry. If you manage to make it to the very front, don’t press on the metal barrier and respect everyone else who’s behind you. You’ve successfully gotten as close to physically possible to the artists, enjoy it and let everyone else enjoy it with you.

There will be food and drink stalls all around the Granaries’ perimeter, with an area dedicated to some delicious snacks towards the back (near the Floriana Church).

The one vital thing to remember is to be respectful of each other; this is a free concert and everyone will be there to enjoy themselves. 

What should you wear?

Well, anything goes, there isn’t a particular dress code. But it is going to get hot this week. With temperatures that will feel like 35°C, nighttime lows in the mid 20s, and a late sunset at 8:22pm (not to mention a lot of people), think summer for your outfit. If you’re going up early, we can’t recommend suncream enough. Having said that, opt for comfy and closed for shoes.

Photo by Ray Attard

Getting to Floriana

The concert will be going down a couple of metres away from the capital city’s bus terminus, so it’s not even worth using your car to get there (also, the traffic jams are the stuff of nightmares). More buses will be running on the night, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be full anyway. So remember to move back once you’re on the bus. 

Getting back home

This is the exact moment you’ll be grateful you left your car at home. Malta Public Transport will be operating 11 Special Service routes to make your life way easier:

S10 – Departing from Valletta at 23:00, 23:45, and 00:30, from Bay A1

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Blata L-Bajda – Marsa Triq Aldo Moro – Paola Square – Ghan Dwieli – Isla Terminus – Bormla Pjazza Gavino Gulia – Bormla Xatt – Birgu Café Riche – Kapuccini – Xghajra Church – Xghajra Xatt – Kalkara Ta Bighi – Kalkara Xatt

S13 – Operated according to demand, from Bays A11, A12 and A13

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Pieta – Msida – Gzira Rue D’Argens – Gzira Triq Testaferrata – Sliema Ferries – Sliema Tower Road – Spinola – St. Julians – Paceville – Pembroke P&R

S20 – Departure time from Valletta every 30 minutes from 23:00 till 00:30, from Bay A2 

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Pieta – Msida – Gzira Rue D’Argens –Mrabat – San Gwann Church – San Gwann Ta Zwjt – Kappara – Kappara roundabaout (tal-gas) – Qroqq Skatepark – Msida

S30 – Departure from Valletta every 15 minutes from 23:00 till 01:00, from Bay A3

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Pieta – Msida – Qroqq Skatepark – Birkirkara By-Pass – Lija Roundabaout – Iklin – Gharghur – Naxxar – Mosta Technopark – Mosta Rotunda – Targa Gap – Burmarrad – Bugibba Pionner Road – Bugibba Terminus

S40 – Departure from Valletta at 23:00, 23:45 and 00:30, from Bay A10

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Pieta – Msida – Valley Road B’Kara – Birkirkara Lija Roundabout – Mosta Technopark – Mosta Rotunda – Targa Gap – Mgarr – Manikata – Ghajn Tuffieha

S41 – Departure from Valletta every 15 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:30, from Bay A4

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Pieta – Msida – Qroqq Skatepark – Birkirkara By-Pass – Lija Roundabaout – Iklin – Gharghur – Naxxar – Mosta Technopark – Mosta Rotunda – Targa Gap – Burmarrad – St. Paul’s Bay – Xemxija – Mellieha Interchange – Mellieha Village – Ghadira Bay – Cirkewwa

S50 – Departure from Valletta every 15 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:30, from Bay A5

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Hamrun – Santa Venera – Mriehel – Attard Warda Interchange – Ta Qali Interchange – Sqqajja – Rabat Interchange – Mtarfa – Rabat Vjal il-Haddiem – Dingli – Rabat Triq N. Saura

S60 – Departure from Valletta every 20 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:00 and last trip at 00:30, from Bay A6

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Hamrun – Marsa P&R – Qormi San Sebastjan – Qormi Triq San Edwardu – Qormi Polyclinic – Mdina Road Qormi – Zebbug Terminus – Siggiewi Center

S70 – Departure from Valletta every 20 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:00 and last trip at 00:30, from Bay A7

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Blata I-Bajda – Marsa Triq Aldo Moro – St. Vincent De Paul – Luqa – Kirkop – Safi – Vjal ix-Xarolla Zurrieq – Vjal il-Blue Grotto – Zurrieq – Qrendi – Mqabba

S80 – Departure from Valletta every 20 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:40m from Bay A8

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Blata L-Bajda – Marsa P&R – Marsa Triq Aldo Moro – Paola Square – Tarxien – Bulebel – Zejtun Terminus – Bir-id-Deheb – Ghaxaq – Gudja

S90 – Departure from Valletta every 20 minutes, from 23:00 till 00:40, from Bay A9

Valletta – Floriana Triq Sant Anna – Bombi – Blata L-Bajda – Marsa Triq Aldo Moro – Paola Square Fgura – Hompesch Gate – Zabbar Center – Marsaskala Triq Il-Qaliet – Marsaskala Terminus

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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).