Malta Fast Ferry Gozo 2026: The New Sliema–Buġibba Route

Short answer: Malta fast ferry Gozo services changed in 2026, and the fast ferry no longer leaves only from Valletta. Since 5 May 2026, a second passenger-only fast ferry route links Sliema and Buġibba with Mġarr in Gozo. Sliema to Buġibba takes about 30 minutes, Buġibba to Mġarr about another 30, and the Sliema–Buġibba leg is free with a personalised tallinja card. In its first two months it carried 77,733 passengers, according to the National Statistics Office. The original Valletta–Mġarr fast ferry and the Gozo Channel car ferry from Ċirkewwa still run as before.

This is a news explainer: what changed, who it affects and what to do with it. For full sailing times, always use the operator’s current timetable, because it changes by season.

Last checked: 18 October 2026.

What changed: Malta fast ferry Gozo routes in 2026

Until this year, if you searched for a Malta fast ferry Gozo crossing, there was one answer: Valletta. The new service, launched in May 2026 and operated by Gozo Highspeed (the same operator as the Valletta–Gozo fast ferry), added a northern and a harbour-side departure point:

The new route uses the Sliema Ferries terminal on the Strand, a newly built jetty in Buġibba, and Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. Two vessels run the route, which keeps the frequency reasonable through the day. It is not a car ferry: if you are driving, you still need Ċirkewwa.

The new route was originally expected in 2025 and arrived later than first planned. It also fits into the wider set of 2026 transport changes we covered in our Malta transport changes 2026 explainer.

The first passenger figures (NSO, Q2 2026)

The National Statistics Office’s release on sea transport between Malta and Gozo for April to June 2026, published in July, gave the first numbers for the new route:

• 77,733 passengers on the new Mġarr–Sliema service (via Buġibba) in its first two months, across its four directional routes.
• The busiest legs were Sliema to Mġarr (25,430) and Mġarr to Sliema (24,755). Each Buġibba connection carried roughly 13,770 people.
• Over the same quarter, total Malta–Gozo sea passengers reached 2,037,526, up 5.7% on the year before.
• The Valletta–Mġarr fast ferry carried 319,535 passengers, down 4.8%, while Gozo Channel carried about 1.64 million, still just over 80% of all crossings.

Read together, those figures suggest the new route is adding trips rather than just taking passengers from Valletta: total crossings went up, while the Valletta fast ferry dipped only slightly.

Launch fares

These are the one-way adult fares reported when the service launched. Concession fares exist for students, seniors, children and Gozo residents. Check the operator’s current price list before you travel.

Last checked October 2026. The free Sliema–Buġibba leg for tallinja card holders was announced by the government at launch as a way to get people off the coast road. If you live in Sliema, Gżira or St Julian’s and work or socialise in the north, that is a genuinely useful commuting option, not just a Gozo link.

Summer schedule ends on 31 October

In early September, the harbour ferries and the fast ferries added later trips: three extra trips on each Valletta harbour ferry service, and two extra trips on each fast ferry service from Valletta, Sliema and Buġibba. That extended summer schedule runs until 31 October 2026.

From November, expect the winter timetable to apply, with fewer late sailings. Two things to check in the cooler months:

• The last sailing back. If you are going to Gozo for an evening, check the last fast ferry before you go. If you miss it, the Gozo Channel ferry from Mġarr to Ċirkewwa runs through the night, but you then need a way home from Ċirkewwa.
• Weather. Fast ferries are more sensitive to rough seas than the big Gozo Channel ships, and sailings can be cancelled in strong winds. Our guide to Malta weather warnings explains what each warning level means for plans.

The Valletta–Sliema harbour ferry has its own winter pattern, explained in our Valletta–Sliema ferry guide.

Who the new route helps, and who it doesn’t

It helps:

• People living in Sliema, Gżira and St Julian’s. No more bus to Valletta or Ċirkewwa to reach Gozo. You walk to the Strand and you are on Gozo in about an hour and a quarter.
• The north. Buġibba, Qawra and St Paul’s Bay residents and the many visitors staying there now have a 30-minute crossing to Mġarr, instead of a bus ride to Ċirkewwa or Valletta.
• Groups doing Gozo day trips. Meeting at the Sliema ferries is easier than coordinating a dawn bus to Ċirkewwa. Day hikes along the Gozo coast become simpler to organise; our hiking trails guide includes several Gozo walks.
• Sliema–Buġibba commuters with a tallinja card, for whom the leg is free.

It doesn’t help:

• Drivers. It is foot passengers only. Cars still go via Ċirkewwa.
• Late-night returns in winter. Like the Valletta service, the fast ferry has a last sailing. For a late night in Gozo, the 24-hour Gozo Channel crossing is still the fallback.
• Budget day trips for non-residents without a tallinja card. The Gozo Channel foot-passenger fare is still cheaper, if Ċirkewwa is convenient for you.

Which departure should you use?

With three ways across, the right choice depends on where you start and what you are doing on Gozo. A rough guide:

• You are in Sliema, Gżira, St Julian’s or Ta’ Xbiex: the new Sliema departure is the obvious one. You avoid the bus to Valletta and the long ride north to Ċirkewwa.
• You are in Valletta, Floriana, the Three Cities or the south: the original Valletta fast ferry is still quicker for you, with a direct crossing to Mġarr.
• You are in Buġibba, Qawra, St Paul’s Bay or Mosta: try the Buġibba jetty. It is a short crossing and saves the trip up to Ċirkewwa.
• You are in Mellieħa or the far north, or you are driving: Ċirkewwa and the Gozo Channel ferry remain the simplest option.
• You are coming back late: check the last fast ferry first. If you might miss it, plan around the Gozo Channel ferry, which keeps running through the night, and agree in advance how your group gets home from Ċirkewwa.

One more consideration is luggage and bikes. The fast ferries are passenger boats with limited space for large items, so if you are taking bicycles, diving kit or a lot of luggage, check the operator’s rules first or use the Gozo Channel ferry.

Finally, remember that Mġarr is a harbour, not a destination. From there you will need a bus, a taxi or a hire car to reach Victoria, the beaches or your accommodation. Taxis wait at the harbour, and buses leave from the terminus just above it. On a busy summer Saturday, the queue for both can be long, so a group that has already booked a taxi saves a lot of time.

What to do with it: a simple Gozo plan

The new route makes the classic Gozo day trip easier to arrange with friends. A plan that works: meet at the Sliema ferries mid-morning, take the fast ferry to Mġarr, spend the day in Victoria, the Citadel and a beach or coastal walk, eat in Mġarr or Xlendi, and come back on an early-evening sailing. Split taxis on Gozo between three or four people and the day stays affordable.

Two practical tips. First, buy or check your ticket before you reach the terminal, especially on summer weekends. Second, have a backup: if the fast ferry is full or cancelled, the Gozo Channel ferry from Mġarr to Ċirkewwa is the reliable way back, with buses from Ċirkewwa to the rest of Malta.

Gozo fast ferry FAQ

Is there a fast ferry from Sliema to Gozo?

Yes. Since 5 May 2026, a fast ferry runs from the Sliema Ferries terminal to Mġarr in Gozo, stopping at Buġibba on the way. The trip takes about 75 minutes including the stop.

Is the Sliema to Buġibba ferry free?

The Sliema–Buġibba leg was announced as free for holders of a personalised tallinja card. Without one, the adult fare reported at launch was €6.50 one way.

Can I take my car on the fast ferry?

No. Both fast ferry routes carry foot passengers only. Cars and motorbikes use the Gozo Channel ferry between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr.

Where can I find the fast ferry timetable?

Use the operator’s current timetable. The summer schedule, with extra late trips, runs until 31 October 2026, and a winter timetable applies after that.

Plan a Gozo day with people

A new route is only as useful as the plans you make with it. A Gozo day trip from Sliema is now easy enough to suggest to a group on a Thursday and actually do on Saturday.

Sources: National Statistics Office, “Sea Transport between Malta and Gozo: Q2 2026” (July 2026); Transport Malta and Ministry for Transport announcements at the May 2026 launch; operator fare and timetable information as reported in October 2026.