Electronic music and Malta go together like pastizzi and te fit-tazza, and now, the whole world is starting to realise. Ahead of a third highly-anticipated edition, Glitch Festival has taken its hype train beyond our shores, making it to British magazine Mixmag.

A Guide To A New Dance Music Destination: Malta tells the story of our tiny Mediterranean island’s recent efforts to become the hot new place to be for partygoers this side of the hemisphere, and the relatively young music festival was hailed as being “at the forefront of this dance revolution.”

“Ibiza has long been considered the world’s number one destination for dance music fans, packing a wealth of world class clubs onto a Mediterranean paradise,” the Mixmag feature starts. “But in recent years, new contenders for the crown are emerging. Croatia has won attention with its booming festival scene, and now, Malta is firmly establishing itself on the map a go-to getaway for banging raves in a blissed-out setting.”

Mixmag has been one of the biggest electronic dance and clubbing magazine ever since its first issue 35 years ago. The London-based magazine had gone from a DJ newsletter in the 80s to a magazine covering all dance music and club culture, reaching a circulation of up to 70,000 copies in the early 90s.

This week’s feature on the Maltese festival goes on to detail the story of the people behind Glitch, a troupe of promoters who have all been very instrumental in the local underground scene over the last decade and a half (think legendary club Liquid).

Moving to Santa Marija weekend for this year, Glitch is all geared up for three intense days of pool parties, clubbing and good old fun in the sun. In the words of Mixmag, “for dance music highs and serene surroundings, Malta is hard to beat”.

Beyond the stellar lineup gracing Glitch’s multiple stages this year, the Mixmag article also goes on to praise the actual location itself; Malta. Once again, Gianpula Village will be hosting the ever-growing music festival, with its multiple clubs all gearing up for another big one. Beyond the insane Fortress main stage, Glitch will also direct clubbers to the Ballantine’s Hydro Stage, the Cosmic Stage, and the newly-announced Vaults stage, a raw underground cave which will be hosting Detroit electro legends Dopplereffekt performing live.

Speaking of new stages… there’s also going to be a Lovin Malta one!

Yep, you read that right.

For this year’s edition of the festival, the Gianpula rooftop is going to be a laid-back stage clad in all things Lovin Malta. Recognise the colours, hear the great tunes, spot us chilling, and come say hi!

Last year’s Glitch saw the Rooftop hosting pool parties, Italo-disco afterparties, and a memorable set by DJ Seinfeld. This year, even more artists have been confirmed for the Lovin Malta Rooftop takeover, so you best be ready!

Tickets for the big weekend have been selling like hotcakes, so you’d better hurry

Last year’s Glitch Festival hosted 4,000 people from over 50 different countries, and this year sees the gates of the ‘house and techno fortress’ reopen for even more people.

June kicked off with all day tickets being absolutely sold out, and seeing as there’s just over two months to go, you know it’s going to be huge.

Block tickets are still available, but with the huge international coverage this Maltese festival has been getting on a regular basis, don’t be surprised if they’re soon gone. Remember, this is the same music festival that saw one Irish clubber getting the actual logo tattooed on his wrist.

This year sees an insane 26 DJs grace the three-day music festival, with huge names like Nina Kraviz, Jeff Mills, Floorplan, Rødhåd, Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou, Hunee and Motor City Drum Ensemble all throw in the mix.

Glitch Festival will also be featuring some of the biggest local names, like ethereal house producer Jupiter Jax and local techno heavyweight Cain and the underground master Manthrax.

Tag someone who still needs to buy a ticket for Glitch!

READ NEXT: EXCLUSIVE: Massive 26 DJ Lineup Including Nina Kraviz, Jeff Mills And Amelie Lens Revealed For This Year’s Glitch Festival

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).