Browse the full Valletta events calendar for everything currently on in the capital.
The Teatru Manoel
The national theatre is one of Europe's oldest continuously operating venues and one of its most beautiful. Built in 1731, the interior has the intimate horseshoe shape of the great baroque theatres, with gilded boxes stacked four levels high. The programme runs from autumn through to summer and includes productions by ZfinMalta alongside visiting opera, chamber concerts, drama and theatre for children, such as Bach, Mozart and Kreisler. Tickets are remarkably affordable for what the experience delivers. Browse upcoming arts and culture events to see what is on during your visit.
Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Built into the ruins of the Royal Opera House that was bombed in 1942 and never fully rebuilt, the open-air Pjazza Teatru Rjal is a striking outdoor performance space where the missing walls and open sky are part of the aesthetic. Summer concerts, theatre and special events take place here through the warmer months. Check the music calendar for upcoming performances.
Spazju Kreattiv
The contemporary arts centre at St James Cavalier is the counterpoint to the Teatru Manoel's classical programming. Visual art exhibitions, contemporary theatre such as Gimgha l-Habs, film screenings and workshops. The building itself is one of the great bastions of Valletta's fortifications, which gives every exhibition an unusually dramatic physical context. Browse upcoming exhibitions on GoGather.
Notte Bianca
Each autumn, Valletta becomes a different city for one night. Notte Bianca throws open the doors of palaces, museums, churches and galleries until late into the night, filling the streets with live music, art installations and performances. Entry to everything is free. The event regularly draws over 60,000 people. If you are in Malta in early October, arrange to be in Valletta that night.
The Malta Jazz Festival
July brings the Malta Jazz Festival to the Ta' Liesse waterfront at the foot of Valletta's fortifications. The Grand Harbour is directly behind the stage and the combination of serious international jazz, warm summer evenings and that particular light on the water makes for one of the better festival settings anywhere in Europe. Tickets are modest and the dress code is relaxed. If you are planning a romantic evening in Valletta, our date night guide covers this and several other options.
Opera in the Capital
Each summer, St George's Square becomes an open-air opera stage. Opera in the Capital brings Malta's top tenors and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra together for a programme of arias, film music and musical theatre classics in one of the finest baroque squares in the Mediterranean. Tickets from EUR 20.
Valletta Resounds
Valletta Resounds at St John's Co-Cathedral is one of the most atmospheric regular events in the capital. Inside the oratory housing Caravaggio's The Beheading of St John the Baptist, musicians perform baroque works in a 40-minute intimate concert. Tickets from EUR 25. One of the better date night options in Malta. Read more in our date night guide.
Science in the City
Each September, Valletta hosts Science in the City: a free evening festival of interactive experiments, talks and installations spread across the capital's streets and squares. One of the more unusual events on the calendar and one of the few that works equally well for children and adults. Browse our family events guide for more family-friendly options across the island.
Free walking tours
Daily free walking tours run through Valletta led by licensed local guides. The standard tour covers the Knights of St John, the Great Siege, the wartime story and the city's UNESCO designation across about two hours. Donation-based: you pay what you feel the tour was worth at the end. A good way to get oriented before exploring independently.
Eating and drinking in Valletta
The dining scene in Valletta has changed significantly in recent years. The stretch of Merchants Street and the area around Republic Street have the highest concentration of good restaurants, but some of the better places are tucked into the side streets. For a drink with a view, the Upper Barrakka Gardens look out over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. The light in the late afternoon is exceptional.
Planning your visit
GoGather lists everything happening in and around the capital with dates, venue details and ticket prices. Browse the full events calendar or filter by category using the music, arts or community pages. The calendar is updated every week throughout the year.