Twice a year carnival in Malta 2024
On Malta, the “Carnival ta Malta” has been celebrated in February for centuries. The first records of Carnival in Malta date back to 1535 with the Grand Master Piero del Ponte. The Maltese Carnival is thus one of the oldest documented celebrations in Malta. And it will surprise you: The Maltese have been celebrating carnival in February for 489 years. However, there is a second carnival in Buġibba, Birezebbuga and Marsaskala in the middle of summer in August from Friday to Sunday with a big parade.
The Knights of Malta already celebrated carnival in Malta in February
In the times of the Knights of Malta and the Knights of St. John, the decorated galleys passed through the Valletta Grand Harbour during Carnival. Whether this was already the case at the beginning of the carnival in 1535, we were unable to establish beyond doubt. The ships were later replaced by carnival floats. The carnival procession is led by King Carnival.
Usually, parade floats are painted and decorated in extravagant colours. The special Malta costumes are splendid and colourful. The music is accompanied by choreographed dance shows. Music from brass bands and children walk around the streets in fancy costumes. Night owls then often find themselves in Paceville in the clubs and bars. Carnival in every city from Malta is considered one of the most colourful events in the Maltese calendar.
When is the carnival celebrated in Malta, 2024?
Carnival runs from Friday 09 February to Tuesday 13 February 2024, with street parades a week before at Crafts Village in Ta’ Qali and St Joseph High Street in Ħamrun.
Il-Qarċilla fit-Teatru
Date: 08 February 2024​
Time: 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Spazju Kreativ, Valletta
Carnival in Streets of Valletta
Date: 09 February 2024
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm
location: St. George’s Square und Republic Street, Valletta
free
Carnival At Ta’ Qali Crafts Village
Date: 11. February 2024
Time: 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Crafts Village, Ta’ Qali
Carnival At Ta’ Qali Crafts Village
Date: 11. February 2024
Time: 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Crafts Village, Ta’ Qali
Band Parade And Defilé In Ħamrun
Date: 12. February 2024
Time: Start 10:00 am
Location: St Joseph High Street, Ħamrun
Maltas Kinder-Karneval 2024
Date: 10. February 2024
Time: 9:30 am – 11:45 am
Location: St. George’s Square & Republic Street, Valletta
Final Carnival
Date: 13. February 2024
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: St. Anne Street, Floriana
In which places is Carnival celebrated in Malta?
Carnival is mainly celebrated in 3 places in Malta, as well as once again in Buġibba in August. The carnival strongholds are in the capital Valletta, in Nadur on Gozo and the Gozitan island capital Victoria. The events will take place from Friday, February 09 to Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The carnival will take place live in all 3 locations. The highlight will be a magnificent fireworks display on the main street of Floriana. The carnival society publishes a programme for each carnival event every year.
Carnival generally ends on Tuesday with the Arts Council Malta choosing the most creative carnival costume. In Buġibba and Marsascala, there has also been a small but nice summer carnival for a few years now.
Carnival in Valletta
Valletta is considered a carnival stronghold, as well as Floriana, which is located outside the city gate. In Valletta, the carnivalists with their costumes will take place near Parliament in Freedom Square, St. George’s Square and Great Siege Square (next to the Law Courts). The Valletta Carnival parade is one of the most atmospheric on the island.
Carnival in Gozo—However, the carnival capital is Nadur
On the island’s capital, Victoria, the carnival is held in the marketplace it-Tokk. Nadur on Gozo is a village, so the carnival events can be experienced on all the streets there. The carnival in Nadur is considered particularly popular and has a long tradition. In Nadur, the carnival is also called “Il-festa tax-Xitan” (Feast of the Devil).
Therefore, the carnival in Nadur is celebrated in a very macabre and sarcastic way. The carnival celebration is said to reflect the earlier times when rural life on the small, sun-drenched island was considered very hard. Therefore, in Nadur, you will find especially the locals veiled, as well as dressed up in creepy masks and costumes. On youtube, there are some interesting videos from recent years, like the one from the Nadur Spontaneous Carnival 2020.
Side program before carnival
01.03.2024–03.02.2024
Pawlu Curmi ‘Il-Pampalun’ Il-Bniedem, il-Leġġenda
Venue: Atrium, Spazju Kreativ, St. James Cavalier, Valletta
Time: 9:00 am — 9:00 pm
Free of charge is the exhibition of the main protagonists of carnival development in Malta.
03.03.2024
Carnival in Ħamrun
Venue: St. Joseph High Street, Ħamrun
Time: from 10:00 am
In addition to the carnival strongholds of Floriana, Nadur and Valletta, Ħamrun will be celebrating a week earlier! In keeping with the tradition of the Maltese National Carnival program, this year it will take place on Saturday, 3 February, on the main street of Ħamrun. This is where the carnival celebrations in Malta will kick off. The traditional band parade returns after a long break along with grotesque masks, carnival floats and groups of merrymakers.
Hotels, guesthouses and Airbnb are usually fully booked months in advance for the island of Gozo over Carnival. The only option after attending the carnival in Nadur or Victoria is to either sleep on the beach or return by ferry to Valletta or ferry Cirkewwa. It is said that more than 40,000 enthusiastic carnivals flock to Gozo at carnival time.
Costumes and dancing at the Carnival in Malta
Political gloating hardly plays a role in the Maltese Carnival. Carnival in Malta gets a new theme every year. Just like fireworks and rowing, the Maltese localities enter competition mode for the most beautiful homemade costumes and the most fantastic floats.
The weather during the carnival season
Temperatures are often between 14 degrees and 18 degrees during the day at this time of year. With sunshine, a few hours a day above 20 degrees is also possible. At night, 10–13 degrees are common. Intermittent rain is also not uncommon for a few minutes in mid-February. Pleasant temperatures to visit Malta on the great carnival days.
What temperature is expected in Malta in 2024?
Like the last four years, the temperature during the day will be between 16 and 22 degrees. In the late evening and at night, meteorologists expect between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius. (Status 15.1.2024
For more events to enjoy at Carnival in Malta, check out the WoM Events Calendar with WoM 101+ event ideas.
Summer Carnival in Bugibba 2024
Alongside many of Malta’s sights is another sensation: in Bugibba, Birezebbuga and Marsaskala, the carnival is celebrated in August. The summer carnival takes place on the streets. The festivities with swimming, art exhibitions, dance competitions, carnival parades and other carnival activities start on a Friday in mid-August. Details of the Summer Carnival are often only announced a few weeks in advance by the members of the Malta Festival.
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Even as a sales manager for one of the largest British insurance groups, Maximilian Wallenstein was passionate about financial issues and economics. As an honorary lecturer on tax law at the German Employees Academy, he is no stranger to German tax law. As a keynote speaker on the social security system, Maximilian Wallenstein appeared at financial services companies. His personal development was supported for several months by the Dale Carnegie Foundation. Maximilian not only irons his own shirts, but as a certified online copywriter, he also shares his financial knowledge with market-leading financial portals as a guest author and ghostwriter.
Are you a photographer in Malta and have high-quality photos of the carnival? We would be happy to publish a few of your photos and name you as the author. Just aks us, please.
