Malta has 14 official public holidays in 2026, established under Chapter 252 of the Laws of Malta (The National Holidays and Other Public Holidays Act). Five are national/civil holidays; nine are religious feasts. All 14 are paid non-working days for employees. Unlike the UK, Malta does not move holidays to the following Monday when they fall on a weekend — the day is observed on its actual date, and workers are entitled to an additional day of annual leave if a public holiday falls on their scheduled rest day.
2026 note: Three public holidays fall on weekends in 2026 — Sette Giugno (Sunday 7 June), Assumption (Saturday 15 August), and Republic Day (Sunday 13 December). Workers who would have had these as working days are entitled to a substitute day of leave.
Malta Public Holidays 2026 — Full List
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| 19 February | Thursday | Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck | Public (Religious) |
| 19 March | Thursday | Feast of St Joseph | Public (Religious) |
| 31 March | Tuesday | Freedom Day (Jum il-Ħelsien) | National |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday | Public (Religious) |
| 1 May | Friday | Workers' Day | Public |
| 7 June | Sunday | Sette Giugno | National |
| 29 June | Monday | Feast of SS Peter & Paul (Mnarja) | Public (Religious) |
| 15 August | Saturday | Assumption of Our Lady | Public (Religious) |
| 8 September | Tuesday | Victory Day (Jum il-Vitorja) | National |
| 21 September | Monday | Independence Day | National |
| 8 December | Tuesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Public (Religious) |
| 13 December | Sunday | Republic Day (Jum ir-Repubblika) | National |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | Public (Religious) |
Best Long-Weekend Opportunities in 2026
Workers' Day (Friday 1 May), Good Friday (Friday 3 April), Independence Day (Monday 21 September), Mnarja (Monday 29 June), and Christmas Day (Friday 25 December) all create natural 3-day weekends. These are the windows when flights from Malta and domestic travel bookings spike — plan ahead and book accommodation or travel tickets early if timing your holiday around these dates.
What Actually Happens on Public Holidays in Malta
Most government offices, banks, and many businesses close. Supermarkets: large chains (Lidl, PAVI) typically remain open on public holidays with reduced hours. Restaurants and cafés in tourist areas (Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's) generally stay open. Public transport (Tallinja buses) runs on a Sunday/holiday schedule — fewer services, check the timetable. The Sliema–Valletta ferry runs on reduced Sunday hours.
The national holidays (Freedom Day, Sette Giugno, Victory Day, Independence Day, Republic Day) are accompanied by ceremonies, military parades, and regattas. Victory Day (8 September) is particularly worth experiencing — traditional boat races in the Grand Harbour with village rowing teams competing in centuries-old decorated boats.
