Public Holidays in Malta 2027: Full List and Long Weekends
Malta has 14 public holidays a year: five national holidays and nine public holidays, most of them religious feasts. In 2027 three of them fall on a weekend, and March has three holidays in less than two weeks. This guide lists every date with its day of the week, the long weekends worth planning around and what each holiday means if you are visiting.
Malta public holidays 2027: full list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day | Public holiday |
| 10 February | Wednesday | Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck | Public holiday |
| 19 March | Friday | Feast of St Joseph | Public holiday |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| 31 March | Wednesday | Freedom Day | National holiday |
| 1 May | Saturday | Workers' Day | Public holiday |
| 7 June | Monday | Sette Giugno | National holiday |
| 29 June | Tuesday | Feast of St Peter and St Paul (Mnarja) | Public holiday |
| 15 August | Sunday | Feast of the Assumption (Santa Marija) | Public holiday |
| 8 September | Wednesday | Victory Day | National holiday |
| 21 September | Tuesday | Independence Day | National holiday |
| 8 December | Wednesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Public holiday |
| 13 December | Monday | Republic Day | National holiday |
| 25 December | Saturday | Christmas Day | Public holiday |
Easter Monday is not a public holiday in Malta. Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027.
Long weekends in 2027
- 1 to 3 January: New Year's Day is a Friday, so the year starts with a three-day weekend.
- 19 to 21 March: St Joseph falls on a Friday.
- 26 to 28 March: the Easter weekend, from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Freedom Day follows on Wednesday 31 March.
- 5 to 7 June: Sette Giugno is a Monday.
- 26 to 29 June: Mnarja falls on a Tuesday. With one day off on Monday 28 June it becomes a four-day break.
- 18 to 21 September: Independence Day is a Tuesday. With Monday 20 September off you get four days, in one of the best months for the sea.
- 11 to 13 December: Republic Day is a Monday.
What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend
In 2027, Workers' Day (Saturday 1 May), Santa Marija (Sunday 15 August) and Christmas Day (Saturday 25 December) fall on a weekend. Malta does not move them to a weekday. Since 2021, employees get an extra day of annual leave for each public holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday. For visitors nothing changes: shops and services work as on any other weekend.
What each holiday means if you visit
- Freedom Day and Victory Day are the days of the traditional regatta, a rowing race in the Grand Harbour.
- Mnarja is one of the oldest feasts on the island, with folk music and food in Buskett Gardens on the evening of 28 June.
- Santa Marija is the peak of summer. Several villages hold their feast, including Mosta and Victoria in Gozo, and many Italian visitors arrive for Ferragosto. Book boat parties and accommodation early for that week.
- Independence Day and Republic Day are marked with official ceremonies in and around Valletta.
- Christmas and New Year bring Christmas lights to Valletta and the free national New Year's Eve celebration in St George's Square.
Do shops and offices close?
Government offices, banks and many businesses close on public holidays. Restaurants, bars, beach clubs and most shops in tourist areas usually stay open, and buses follow a holiday timetable. Clubs in Paceville and St Julian's are busiest on the night before a holiday.
Plan your trip around the holidays
The party season runs from June to September, and the long weekends of June and September are some of the busiest dates of the year. Check what is on in our Malta events calendar, read the best time to visit Malta, or see how the island welcomes the new year on our New Year's Eve page.
FAQ: Malta public holidays 2027
How many public holidays does Malta have in 2027?
Fourteen: five national holidays and nine public holidays.
Which are the national holidays?
Freedom Day (31 March), Sette Giugno (7 June), Victory Day (8 September), Independence Day (21 September) and Republic Day (13 December).
Is Easter Monday a holiday in Malta?
No. Good Friday is a public holiday, but Easter Monday is a normal working day.
Which holidays fall on a weekend in 2027?
Workers' Day on Saturday 1 May, Santa Marija on Sunday 15 August and Christmas Day on Saturday 25 December.