Malta Public Holidays 2027: Full List and Long Weekends

Short answer: Malta has 14 public holidays a year (on top of Sundays, which also count as public holidays in law): five National Holidays and nine other public holidays, set by the National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act (Chapter 252 of the Laws of Malta). In 2027 they fall on 1 January (Friday), 10 February (Wednesday), 19 March (Friday), 26 March (Good Friday), 31 March (Wednesday), 1 May (Saturday), 7 June (Monday), 29 June (Tuesday), 15 August (Sunday), 8 September (Wednesday), 21 September (Tuesday), 8 December (Wednesday), 13 December (Monday) and 25 December (Saturday). Malta doesn’t move a holiday to the Monday when it falls on a weekend; instead, since 2021, workers get an extra day of vacation leave. The best long weekends of 2027 are New Year, St Joseph and Good Friday in March, Sette Giugno in June and Republic Day in December.

Still in 2026? The remaining holidays this year are Tuesday 8 December, Sunday 13 December and Friday 25 December. They’re covered at the end of this page.

Malta public holidays 2027: full list

Dates come from Chapter 252 (fixed dates), with Good Friday following the Easter calendar (Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027). Weekdays calculated for 2027; last checked October 2026.

Source: National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act, Cap. 252 (legislation.mt). The government’s public holidays page on gov.mt also publishes the yearly list; check it for any extra holiday ordered by notice in the Government Gazette, which the Act allows.

What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend?

This is the question everyone asks in Malta, and the answer changed in 2021. Under Chapter 252, a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is not moved to the Monday. Instead, from 1 January 2021, it counts towards an extra day of vacation leave added to your annual entitlement. Between 2005 and 2020, weekend holidays didn’t earn that extra day.

In 2027, three holidays fall on a weekend: Workers’ Day (Saturday 1 May), Santa Marija (Sunday 15 August) and Christmas Day (Saturday 25 December). So there’s no day off in the week, but employees should see those days reflected in their leave. If you’re unsure how it applies to your contract, ask your HR department or check with the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations.

Long weekends in 2027

Here’s how the 2027 calendar works out for weekends away and plans with friends. “Bridge day” means one day of leave turns it into a four-day weekend.

The best one: Easter week

March 2027 is unusually good. St Joseph gives you a three-day weekend from 19 to 21 March, then Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Sunday make another, and Freedom Day falls on Wednesday 31 March. Take Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 March off and you have six days in a row from Good Friday to Freedom Day, with just two days of leave.

Summer: Imnarja and Independence

Imnarja on Tuesday 29 June and Independence Day on Tuesday 21 September both become four-day weekends with one day of leave on the Monday. Late June and late September are both great times to be in Malta (or to leave it, before or after the peak heat).

December: two weekends

In December 2027, the Immaculate Conception falls on a Wednesday and Republic Day on Monday 13 December, giving a three-day weekend from Saturday 11 to Monday 13 December. Christmas Day is a Saturday, so no weekday off for it.

Plan ideas for each long weekend

• New Year (1–3 January): a slow New Year’s Day walk along the coast, then the Valletta Baroque Festival, which Festivals Malta lists from 7 to 24 January 2027.
• Carnival and St Paul’s Shipwreck (5–10 February): Carnival parades in Valletta and Floriana, then Valletta’s big winter feast on 10 February. Book restaurants early.
• St Joseph (19–21 March): spring walks, when the countryside is at its greenest. The Ramblers’ Association of Malta runs regular walks open to guests.
• Easter (26–28 March): Good Friday processions in towns and villages are solemn and very well attended; Easter Sunday morning brings the “running” statue of the Risen Christ in several localities.
• Freedom Day (31 March): traditionally marked in Birgu, at the Freedom Monument, and with a rowing regatta in the Grand Harbour. Check the official programme closer to the date.
• Sette Giugno (5–7 June): the start of beach season. Go early in the day to avoid the crowds.
• Imnarja (26–29 June): the traditional Imnarja celebrations at Buskett are one of the oldest folk festivals on the island, with food and folk music. Check local listings for the 2027 programme.
• Santa Marija (15 August): a Sunday in 2027, but still the biggest festa weekend of the year, with several villages celebrating at once.
• Victory Day (8 September): traditionally marked with a regatta in the Grand Harbour.
• Independence (18–21 September): the last warm swims of the year, or a weekend in Gozo.
• Republic Day weekend (11–13 December): Christmas markets and lights, if they follow the usual pattern.

What’s open and what closes on public holidays

• Government offices: closed on public holidays, under Chapter 252 (with some exceptions directed by the Prime Minister).
• Shops: many close or open shorter hours, especially on Christmas Day, Good Friday and New Year’s Day. Supermarkets and convenience stores in tourist areas are more likely to open.
• Restaurants and bars: mostly open, and busy. Book for big holidays.
• Buses: run, but check the tallinja app for the timetable on the day.
• Ferries: the Valletta ferries publish a separate timetable for Sundays and public holidays on Valletta Ferry Services.
• Museums and sites: opening varies by site; check Heritage Malta for the day you want to go.

The five National Holidays, briefly

Chapter 252 distinguishes five National Holidays, on which the national flag is flown on public buildings:

• Freedom Day (31 March): marks the departure of the last British forces in 1979.
• Sette Giugno (7 June): commemorates the riots of 7 June 1919.
• Victory Day (8 September): marks the end of the Great Siege of 1565 and other sieges; it’s also the feast of Our Lady of Victories.
• Independence Day (21 September): Malta became independent in 1964.
• Republic Day (13 December): Malta became a republic in 1974.

What a Maltese public holiday actually feels like

If you’re new to Malta, a holiday here isn’t a quiet day. On a warm-weather holiday, the whole island heads to the same beaches and the same restaurants, roads to the north get slow by mid-morning, and car parks at popular bays fill early. On religious holidays such as Good Friday, Santa Marija and Christmas, families come first: many people spend the day at home or at church, and some smaller businesses close entirely.

A few things that make holidays easier:

• Start early. Beaches, walks and markets are at their best before 10:00 on a holiday.
• Book lunch. Holiday lunches are a big deal in Malta, and good restaurants fill up days ahead.
• Use the bus or walk. Parking near Valletta, Mellieħa and the popular bays is hard on holidays.
• Go against the flow. When everyone goes north to the beaches, the south, the Three Cities and Valletta are often quieter.

Remaining public holidays in 2026

• Tuesday 8 December 2026: Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Take Monday 7 December off for a four-day weekend.
• Sunday 13 December 2026: Republic Day, on a Sunday this year (so it counts towards an extra leave day rather than a weekday off).
• Friday 25 December 2026: Christmas Day, giving a three-day Christmas weekend.

For what’s on around those dates, see the Malta events calendar, and for the month before, events in Malta in November.

Planning a long weekend with friends

Long weekends fill up fast in Malta: restaurants, Gozo accommodation and ferries all get busy. A few tips:

• Book early for Easter, Imnarja and the September weekends, especially in Gozo.
• Check flights before you promise visitors a long weekend. Winter and summer schedules differ; see Malta airport new routes.
• Keep one free day in the plan. The free things to do in Malta list has walks, viewpoints and beaches that cost nothing.
• Agree who pays for shared things (car hire, a holiday flat, a group dinner) before you book, not after.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does Malta have?

Fourteen: five National Holidays (31 March, 7 June, 8 September, 21 September and 13 December) and nine other public holidays listed in the Schedule to Chapter 252, including Good Friday.

What are the public holidays in Malta in 2027?

1 January, 10 February, 19 March, 26 March (Good Friday), 31 March, 1 May, 7 June, 29 June, 15 August, 8 September, 21 September, 8 December, 13 December and 25 December 2027.

If a public holiday falls on a weekend in Malta, do you get the Monday off?

No. Malta doesn’t move holidays to the Monday. Since 1 January 2021, a holiday falling on a Saturday or Sunday gives employees an extra day of vacation leave instead. In 2027, that applies to 1 May, 15 August and 25 December.

What are the long weekends in Malta in 2027?

New Year (1–3 January), St Joseph (19–21 March), Good Friday and Easter (26–28 March), Sette Giugno (5–7 June) and Republic Day (11–13 December) need no leave. Imnarja (29 June) and Independence Day (21 September) become four-day weekends with one day of leave.

Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Malta?

No. Good Friday is a public holiday, but Easter Monday is not on the list in Chapter 252.

Are shops open on public holidays in Malta?

Many close or open shorter hours, especially on Christmas Day, Good Friday and New Year’s Day. Restaurants and bars mostly stay open, and buses run. Government offices close.

Turn a long weekend into a plan

A long weekend is the easiest excuse to get people together: a walk, a long lunch, a day in Gozo. Pick the date early, and you will have the restaurant, the ferry and the people sorted before the rush.