Where the big concerts happen
These names come from the last season. Use them to get a feel for each venue, not as a promise that anyone is coming back.
- Gianpula Village (Żebbuġ): the busiest open-air site, with Steve Aoki, World Wide Wonders, Morad, Sfera Ebbasta and Guè on recent bills.
- Café del Mar (St Paul's Bay): a poolside venue on the bay that has hosted Bob Sinclar, Claptone and Deborah de Luca.
- Fort Manoel (Manoel Island): a Knights-era fortress facing Valletta, where HUGEL played.
- The Ditch (Valletta): the moat beneath the city walls, home to nights like Adriatique.
- The Granaries (Floriana): the huge square just outside the capital, where the 105 Summer Festival took place.
What the music is like
Two main lines run through the calendar. One is house and techno from international DJs such as Claptone, Deborah de Luca and Adriatique. The other is Spanish and Italian rap and urban, with Morad, Sfera Ebbasta and Guè. Some events also step outside the usual venues: Zamna on the Beach ran at Palm Beach in Armier, and BRESH landed at Toy Room.
When line-ups drop and how to buy
Names don't land all at once. They trickle out in the months before summer and some arrive once the season has started, so keep an eye on the festival listings for confirmed dates and prices.
Each show sells in batches (Early Bird, First Batch, VIP and so on) and the price rises as they sell out, so buying early usually costs less. You pay on the official sales platform, the ticket reaches your inbox straight away and you show it on your phone at the door.
Carnival and festas: the island's other calendar
Not everything happens behind a fence. Carnival fills Valletta with floats and dancers in the days before Lent, while Nadur, on Gozo, does a looser and darker version.
Through the summer, each parish honours its patron saint with marching bands, a decorated church and fireworks, many of them made by local enthusiasts. Festas take place in the street and need no ticket. Several fall together on 15 August, and if your trip lands around then, one makes a great start to a night out.
