Browse the full food and drink calendar for everything that is currently confirmed.
Farsons Beer Festival
Malta's largest annual event, running from 23 July to 2 August at Ta' Qali National Park. Over ten days, the park is transformed into an outdoor festival site with multiple stages for live music, hundreds of beer and food stalls, and a crowd that ranges from families in the early evening to serious revellers as the night goes on. Entry is free; you buy beer tokens on site. The Farsons festival has been running for over thirty years. Go on a weeknight if you want breathing room, weekends are considerably busier but have the better live acts.
Marsaxlokk Fish Market
Every Sunday morning, the harbour at Marsaxlokk fills with the week's catch, fishing boats in their traditional luzzu colours and a general atmosphere that has barely changed in decades. You can buy fresh fish directly from the fishermen and have breakfast at one of the restaurants along the waterfront. There is nothing to buy a ticket for. Get there early: by midday the fish is mostly gone and the atmosphere has shifted. One of the most atmospheric free mornings on the island.
Delicata Classic Wine Festival
Malta's grandest wine celebration takes place at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta across several evenings in August. The setting, a formal garden with panoramic views over the Grand Harbour, is one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the capital. Entry is free; you purchase wine coins at the gate and exchange them at the Delicata stalls. Live music runs through the evening. For more outdoor events in Valletta, see our local Valletta guide.
Malta International Food Festival
An annual celebration of local produce, street food and culinary culture at the Granaries in Floriana. Dozens of vendors representing Malta's food scene gather across a long weekend, with cooking demonstrations, tastings and live entertainment. Entry from EUR 4.50.
Artisan Markets
Malta Artisan Markets rotate around several venues throughout the year, bringing together small-batch makers, food producers, ceramicists and jewellers in a consistent format. The eco markets at the Phoenicia gardens in Floriana lean toward organic, sustainable and locally sourced goods and run throughout the year.
Village beer festivals
Alongside the Farsons behemoth, several villages run their own beer festivals through the summer, typically tied to the parish festa programme. The Zabbar Beer Fest in early July is the most notable. The formula is the same across all of them: outdoor, free entry, beer and food stalls, live music, a village crowd that includes everyone from teenagers to grandparents. Browse the community events calendar for a full list of village festivals.
Cooking classes and experiences
For those who would rather make the food than just eat it, GoGather's workshops calendar lists a full programme of cooking classes across the island. The Mediterranean Culinary Academy in Naxxar runs the most comprehensive programme, from traditional Maltese dishes and handmade pasta to couples' date-night menus. For families, their summer kids' cooking clubs run through July and August. Read more in our kids' school holiday guide.
Staying up to date
Malta's food events calendar is seasonal and shifts as new festivals and pop-ups are announced through spring and summer. The GoGather food section keeps a running list of confirmed events with dates, venues and prices. Check back before you plan a weekend around eating well, which on this island is always a reasonable thing to do.