Short answer: the confirmed events in Malta in November 2026 are the Malta Book Festival at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali (Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November), Heritage Malta’s In Guardia re-enactment at Fort St Elmo (Sundays 1 and 15 November, 11:00), the tail end of the Three Palaces Festival (listed to 1 November), and Brikkuni closing the Teatru Salesjan Rock Series in Sliema (Saturday 28 November). Two practical changes shape the month: the Valletta ferries switch to their winter timetable on 1 November, and the bus winter schedule applies at weekends from Saturday 7 November. Christmas lights and markets usually start late in the month, but their 2026 dates hadn’t been announced when I checked.
November is one of my favourite months here. The heat has gone, the sea is still swimmable on a good day, prices drop, and the island is mostly locals again. The flip side: it’s also the month the first proper storms tend to roll in, so every plan below has an indoor fallback.
November 2026 at a glance
Last verified 10 October 2026. “Not yet announced” means I couldn’t find an official 2026 date, not that the event is cancelled.
| Date | Place | What | Cost | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Sun 1 Nov | Historic palaces and residences (venues vary) | Three Palaces Festival (listed 27 October – 1 November 2026) | Ticketed per event | Depends on the venue: check the programme |
| Sun 1 Nov, 11:00 | Fort St Elmo, Valletta | In Guardia military re-enactment | €10 adults; €17 with the fort and National War Museum | 15-minute walk from the Valletta terminus |
| Sun 1 Nov | Sliema, Valletta, Three Cities | Valletta ferries start the winter timetable (earlier last sailings) | €3.00 single by day | Plan buses for the way home |
| Wed 4 – Sun 8 Nov | MFCC, Ta’ Qali | Malta Book Festival, 47th edition | Check the National Book Council | Bus towards Ta’ Qali; parking fills up at weekends |
| Sat 7 Nov | Island-wide | Bus winter schedule starts applying at weekends | €2.00–€2.50 single (check the current season) | Check the tallinja app |
| Around 8–11 Nov | Baħrija | Feast of St Martin (11 November) and its traditional fair | Free | Rural village: car or bus via Rabat; 2026 fair date not yet announced |
| Sun 15 Nov, 11:00 | Fort St Elmo, Valletta | In Guardia military re-enactment | €10 adults | Walk from the Valletta terminus |
| Late Nov | Valletta, towns and villages | Christmas lights and first markets | Usually free | 2026 dates not yet announced |
| Sat 28 Nov | Teatru Salesjan, Sliema | Rock Series 2026 finale: Brikkuni, with supporting acts | Ticketed | Bus to Sliema; taxi or night bus home |
Sources: National Book Council, Heritage Malta, APS Bank (Rock Series announcement), Valletta Ferry Services, Malta Public Transport.
Week by week
Week 1 (Sunday 1 – Sunday 8 November): the busiest week
The month starts with a lot happening at once. The Three Palaces Festival, Festivals Malta’s chamber-music festival in historic palaces, is listed by event guides from 27 October to 1 November 2026, so its last concerts fall on the first day of the month. Check Festivals Malta for the programme and tickets.
On Sunday 1 November at 11:00, Heritage Malta’s In Guardia fills the Piazza d’Armi of Fort St Elmo with a re-enactment of a Knights-era military parade and inspection. The entrance opens at 10:00. Tickets cost €10 for adults (€7.50 seniors and students, €5 children), or €17 if you add Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, which opens at 12:00. HM Passports and discount cards don’t apply.
From Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November, the Malta Book Festival takes over the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre at Ta’ Qali. It’s the 47th edition, organised by the National Book Council, with the 2026 tagline “Uncover the Story”. Expect publishers’ stands, launches, author talks and children’s events in Maltese and English. The organiser says last year’s festival drew more than 40,000 visitors, so weekday evenings are calmer than the weekend.
Two transport changes land this week. The Valletta ferries switch to their winter timetable on 1 November, so evening crossings end much earlier. And from Saturday 7 November, the bus winter schedule also applies at weekends. If you’re planning a Saturday evening in Valletta from Sliema, the bus is now the realistic way home.
Week 2 (Monday 9 – Sunday 15 November): St Martin and In Guardia
The feast of St Martin falls on Wednesday 11 November. In Baħrija, a small rural village beyond Rabat, St Martin is the patron saint, and the feast traditionally comes with a fair of local produce, animals and lucky draws, plus the old custom of bags of nuts and dried fruit for children. The fair is usually held on the Sunday before the feast, which would point to Sunday 8 November in 2026, but the parish hadn’t published a 2026 date when I checked. Confirm before you drive out: Baħrija is small, parking is limited and buses are infrequent.
On Sunday 15 November, In Guardia returns to Fort St Elmo at 11:00, the last November date before the December shows (6 and 13 December). If you missed it on the 1st, this is a good Sunday-morning plan to pair with lunch in Valletta.
Week 3 (Monday 16 – Sunday 22 November): a quieter week
I couldn’t find a major confirmed event this week, which is normal for mid-November. It’s a good week for the things that don’t need a festival: a group walk (the Ramblers’ Association of Malta publishes its programme month by month, so check for November dates), a bouldering session, a dance social in Sliema, or a long lunch somewhere with a view. Ideas that cost nothing are in free things to do in Malta.
Week 4 (Monday 23 – Monday 30 November): rock and the run-up to Christmas
On Saturday 28 November, Brikkuni, one of Malta’s best-known alternative bands, closes the Teatru Salesjan Rock Series 2026 in Sliema, with supporting acts on the night. The series is supported by APS Bank; tickets are sold online through the theatre’s ticketing page. It’s a good group night out: dinner in Sliema first, then the gig.
Late November is also when Christmas starts to show. Towns put up lights, and the first Christmas markets usually open in the last weekend of the month or early December. None of the 2026 dates had been announced when I checked, so I’m not listing any. I’ll add them here once organisers publish them; for Valletta’s winter programme, see the Valletta cultural agenda.
Three ready-made November weekends
If you want to turn the dates above into actual plans with friends, here’s how I’d group them.
Weekend of 7–8 November: books and a village feast
Saturday afternoon at the Malta Book Festival in Ta’ Qali, when you can browse for an hour and catch a talk, then dinner in nearby Attard or Mosta rather than battling back to the coast. On Sunday, if the Baħrija parish confirms its St Martin fair for that day, drive out for a slow morning in the countryside. Who pays: pay your own at the festival, split the fuel to Baħrija.
Weekend of 14–15 November: Valletta on a Sunday
Sunday 15 November is the last In Guardia show of the month. Arrive at Fort St Elmo for 10:30, watch the 11:00 re-enactment, and decide on the spot whether to add the War Museum (the combined ticket is €17). Then walk back along the bastions to Upper Barrakka and find lunch. Who pays: pay your own tickets; split lunch.
Weekend of 28–29 November: a gig and the first lights
Saturday 28 November: dinner in Sliema, then Brikkuni at Teatru Salesjan. Check the last bus or book a taxi in advance, because the ferries finish early in winter. On Sunday, if the Christmas lights are up by then, a walk down Republic Street in Valletta is a free and easy way to start the season. Who pays: pay your own concert tickets; host pays for the post-gig chips.
What November weather means for plans
Expect a mix. Many November days are mild and sunny, good enough for a walk or even a swim, but the month also brings the first serious storms of the season, with strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas. Storms can disrupt ferries and cancel outdoor events with little warning. My rule: book indoor events with confidence, treat outdoor ones as “probably”, and always have a café or museum nearby as plan B.
Free events in November
- The St Martin feast and fair in Baħrija: free to visit; bring cash for the stalls.
- Christmas lights: free, from late November (2026 dates to be confirmed).
- Church concerts and band club events: many parishes hold free or donation-based concerts as Advent approaches. Check parish noticeboards and Facebook pages.
- Walks and sunsets: November light is beautiful, and sunset comes early after the clocks change on 25 October, so a sunset walk fits easily after work.
Indoor and rainy-day options
November storms can cancel outdoor plans at short notice. Good indoor fallbacks:
- The Malta Book Festival (4–8 November), under one roof at the MFCC.
- Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum: the In Guardia show is outdoors, but the museum is inside.
- Bowling and cinema at The Eden in St Julian’s (bowling €9.95 per adult, per its site).
- Bouldering at Crashpad in Qormi, open until 23:00 on weekdays.
- Theatre and concerts at Teatru Manoel in Valletta and Teatru Salesjan in Sliema: check their programmes for November.
Getting there and home in November
November is when transport catches people out, because two seasonal changes happen in the same week.
- Ferries: from 1 November, the Valletta–Sliema and Valletta–Three Cities ferries run their winter timetable, with service ending in the early evening. Adult fares are €3.00 single by day and €3.50 from 19:30.
- Buses: the winter schedule applies on weekdays already and at weekends from Saturday 7 November. Day-route singles are €2.50 in summer and €2.00 in winter, €3.00 on night routes (check which season applies; the official 2026 winter-fare date wasn’t on the fares page when checked).
- Night buses: night routes from Valletta, including N3, N52, N71 and the frequent N13, are listed on Malta Public Transport’s site. Current detours are in Malta roadworks and bus detours.
- Taxis: book from a quieter street after big events, and check the in-app estimate.
For an evening out after an event, the Valletta nightlife guide helps you pick somewhere that suits the group and the way home.
Going to events with new people
Frequently asked questions
What events are on in Malta in November 2026?
The Malta Book Festival at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali (4–8 November), In Guardia at Fort St Elmo (Sundays 1 and 15 November, 11:00), the last day of the Three Palaces Festival (1 November), the St Martin feast in Baħrija (11 November), and Brikkuni at Teatru Salesjan in Sliema (28 November). Christmas lights and markets start late in the month; 2026 dates were not yet announced in October.
When is the Malta Book Festival 2026?
Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November 2026, at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali. It’s the 47th edition, organised by the National Book Council.
Is November a good time to visit Malta?
For many people, yes: it’s cooler, quieter and cheaper than summer, and there are still sunny days warm enough for the beach. The downsides are shorter days, the occasional storm and earlier ferry times.
Do the Valletta ferries run in November?
Yes, but on the winter timetable from 1 November, with service ending in the early evening. Plan a bus or taxi for the way back after dinner or drinks.
Are there Christmas markets in Malta in November?
Some usually open in the last weekend of November, with most running in December. The 2026 dates had not been announced when this guide was checked in October, so check organisers’ pages from mid-November.
Is the weather in November good for outdoor events?
Often, but not reliably. November usually mixes mild, sunny days with storms. Follow the organiser for last-minute changes and keep an indoor plan in reserve.
Make November a month of plans
November is short on giant festivals and long on good small plans: a Sunday re-enactment, a book festival evening, a rock gig in Sliema, a village feast. Pick one, find two or three people to go with, and sort the way home before you leave.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live in Malta now on the web, with the iPhone and Android apps coming to the App Store and Google Play soon: open MeetNow and see this week’s plans in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s.
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