Hi,

This is one of the most extraordinary weeks on the Maltese calendar - and I mean that without exaggeration. It starts tomorrow with the National Regatta on Freedom Day, those traditional rowing boats racing through the Grand Harbour with the bastions of Valletta as a backdrop. Then Good Friday arrives and the islands turn solemn and beautiful, with processions weaving through villages after dark. If you have never seen Holy Week in Malta, this is the year.

This Week In Malta

• Freedom Day falls on Tuesday, a public holiday - the National Regatta kicks off from around 12:30 PM in the Grand Harbour and is completely free to watch from the bastions. Over 200 oarsmen, seven localities, ten races. Get there early for a good spot.
• Holy Week runs all the way through Sunday, meaning churches across Malta and Gozo are open late on Thursday for the Seba' Vizti tradition - locals visiting seven churches in one evening to pray at decorated Altars of Repose. Worth joining even if you are not religious.
• Spring is properly here now and the wildflowers are still out along the cliff paths. The Dingli Cliffs walk is at its best this week - cool enough to walk comfortably, green enough to actually look spectacular.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK: THE GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSIONS

Good Friday in Malta is unlike anything else. This Friday, 3 April, villages across the islands carry life-size religious statues through narrow streets while bands play, biblical figures walk in costume, and candlelit crowds follow in near-silence. It is dramatic, ancient, and deeply Maltese.

Zebburg is the one I would head for if you can only pick one - the procession starts at 17:30 and features Romans on horseback, chained and masked penitents in a tradition stretching back centuries, and the village band playing the whole route. Birgu is the oldest procession on the island, dating to the early 17th century, also starting at 17:30, with the added drama of those Three Cities streets. If you are new to Malta or have expat friends visiting this week, this is the thing to take them to. No tickets, no queue, just show up and find a spot along the route before 17:00. Processions can run three and a half to five hours, so pace yourself.

Details: Friday 3 April, from 16:30 across multiple towns (Zebburg and Birgu both at 17:30; Valletta at 18:00) - streets across Malta and Gozo - full schedule and routes at maltainfoguide.com/good-friday-processions-malta.html

WHAT'S ON: 3 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

1. NATIONAL REGATTA, FREEDOM DAY - traditional Maltese rowing boats racing through the Grand Harbour on one of Malta's most emotionally charged public holidays.

  When: Tuesday 31 March, races from approximately 12:30 PM

  Where: Grand Harbour, Valletta and Birgu waterfront

  Cost: Free

  Tickets/info: sportmalta.mt/events/traditional-regatta/

  Why go: The view from the bastions with seven localities competing in ten races is genuinely breathtaking - and the whole of Malta comes out for it.

2. FREEDOM DAY AT FORT ST ANGELO - watch the Regatta from one of the best vantage points in the harbour, with In Guardia re-enactors and a family art activity running from 10:00 AM.

  When: Tuesday 31 March, 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (last admission)

  Where: Fort St Angelo, Birgu waterfront

  Cost: Standard Heritage Malta admissionheritagemalta.mt/whats-on/freedom-day-regatta/ - children under 12 free)

  Why go: The best seat in the house for the Regatta, plus you get the fort itself - it is one of those days that combines history, spectacle and a great afternoon out in one.

3. SEBA' VIZTI - SEVEN CHURCH VISITS ON MAUNDY THURSDAY - on Thursday evening, join locals in visiting seven parish churches to pray at beautifully decorated Altars of Repose, a tradition that is quietly one of the most moving things you can do in Malta.

  When: Thursday 2 April, from evening (churches open late)

  Where: Parish churches across Malta and Gozo - pick any seven in your area

  Cost: Free

  Tickets/info: sthotelsmalta.com/easter-malta-2026-guide-to-holy-week-and-local-traditions/

  Why go: It is a genuinely intimate window into Maltese culture - no crowds, no barriers, just candlelit churches and locals going about a centuries-old ritual.

Tip: Save or screenshot this section so you've got your week sorted in 10 seconds.

COMING UP - BOOK AHEAD

1. MALTA SPRING FESTIVAL 2026 - classical and contemporary music in Valletta's finest venues, and it sells out every year with a loyal local audience, so book now while tickets are available.

  When: Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 April 2026

  Where: Various venues, Valletta

  Tickets: Price TBC - check the website for programme and pricing

  Book: maltaspringfestival.com

  Note: Likely to sell out - the festival's intimate venues fill up fast and the programming is always a surprise worth discovering blind.

2. BLOOM FESTIVAL MALTA 2026 - three days of Reggae, Dub, House, Techno and live bands at Ta' Qali National Park, with camping on-site and under-16s free when accompanied by a parent.

  When: Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April 2026

  Where: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard

  Tickets: 3-day camping passes available; check full pricing and options at the link below

  Book: showshappening.com/bloom-festival/bloom-festival-malta-2026/

  Note: One of the fastest-selling events on the Malta calendar every year - Phase 1 lineup is already announced and early tickets will not last.

WHERE TO GO: LEVEL NINE AT THE GRAND IN MGARR HARBOUR, GOZO

This is the one getting serious attention right now. Level Nine sits on the top floor of the Grand Hotel Gozo, looking directly over Mgarr Harbour, and the kitchen is run by George Attard - who just picked up the MICHELIN Young Chef Award for 2026 at age 31, having come home to Gozo after building his career abroad. Contemporary Mediterranean cooking with a strong local ingredient story and, on a clear evening, a view that does most of the work before the food even arrives.

It is ideal for a Gozo day trip with a proper reason to stay for dinner, or for anyone who wants to eat somewhere genuinely exciting without heading back to Valletta. Book ahead - the MICHELIN recognition will fill those tables fast.

Location: Grand Hotel Gozo, Mgarr Harbour, Gozo

Hours: Check with the hotel directly for current service times

Find them: on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/levelnine_gozo/

GET INVOLVED: HERITAGE MALTA IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS ACROSS ALL THEIR SITES

Heritage Malta runs Malta's national museums, archaeological sites, and cultural collections - and they take on volunteers for a genuinely wide range of roles, from answering visitor questions and helping with digitisation projects to running craft workshops for families and assisting with underwater cultural heritage work. There is also archive cataloguing, social media, carpentry support, and retail - something for almost every skill set and interest level.

Hours are flexible to suit your lifestyle, and you can try different roles before settling into one. It is a particularly good fit for expats who want to connect with the islands' history, retirees looking for a purposeful weekly commitment, or anyone who has always wanted access to the behind-the-scenes side of Malta's heritage sites.

How to join: Email [email protected] to register your interest and ask about current openings.

QUICK HITS

- Good Friday is a public holiday this Friday 3 April - most shops, supermarkets, and businesses will be closed or running reduced hours. Stock up on Thursday if you need supplies for the weekend.

- Save the date: Festa Frawli, the Mgarr Strawberry Festival, is confirmed for Sunday 12 April - fresh strawberry produce, artisan stalls, food and entertainment, free entry, and the village gets packed, so arrive early and plan for parking.

- Local gem: If you are watching the Freedom Day Regatta tomorrow from the Valletta side, walk up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens by 12:00 PM to claim a spot along the balustrade - it gives you a straight sightline down into the Grand Harbour with the Three Cities directly opposite, and it costs nothing.

YOUR TURN

Know a great event, venue, or community project that should be here next week?

-> Just hit reply and tell me in 1-2 sentences.

Want MaltaLife to feature your business or event?

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Question of the week:

Good Friday processions - are you a Birgu person, a Zebburg person, or do you have a favourite village procession that most people overlook?

-> Hit reply - I'll feature the best answers (first name only) next week.

Cheers,

Simone

MaltaLife - bringing Malta's best to your inbox every Monday

Instagram: @maltalifenews

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