From yachts filling the Grand Harbour and kites colouring the Gozitan sky to chocolate in Ħamrun, theatre in Valletta and opera in Victoria, this is an unusually varied weekend across the islands. Here are 12 events worth knowing about, with confirmed dates and links for booking or further information.
Exhibition on Screen: James McNeill Whistler
Art lovers can spend Friday evening exploring the life and work of James McNeill Whistler through this 90-minute film made in collaboration with Tate Britain. The artist behind the famous portrait commonly called Whistler’s Mother was an experimental and famously witty figure who challenged Victorian conventions. The screening takes place at Spazju Kreattiv Cinema in Valletta on Friday 16 October at 7.30pm. Tickets cost €12, or €10 for concessions. spazjukreattiv.org
The Grand Gozo Light It Up
The Citadel in Victoria will glow pink on Friday evening for an event supporting breast cancer awareness. Lights, music and moments of reflection will create a striking setting in which to honour those affected by cancer, remember those lost and celebrate survivors. Organised by the Marigold Foundation and Pink October and Movember Malta, the gathering runs from 7pm until 10pm on Friday 16 October and is free to attend. Events in Gozo
ARTi
Yasmina Reza’s award-winning play Art receives a Maltese staging at Teatru Manoel this weekend. When one of three friends buys an expensive, entirely white painting, arguments about taste expose deeper tensions and insecurities within their longstanding friendship. Albert Marshall directs Ray Calleja, Mikhail Basmadjian and Sean Buhagiar. Performances begin at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Tickets range from €15 to €30, with concessions available. The production is suitable for ages 12 and over. Teatru Manoel
Il-Kelma li ma Tgħidx
This new Maltese-language drama follows police inspector Rose Darmanin as she investigates the sexual assault of a 16-year-old music student. As the case unfolds, past mistakes and difficult questions place both investigator and victim under increasing pressure. Performances at Spazju Kreattiv begin at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday. Saturday’s performance has surtitles. Tickets cost €25 or €20 for concessions. The production is for ages 16 and over and contains partial nudity, violence and distressing themes. spazjukreattiv.org
Information, content guidance and tickets
The Rolex Middle Sea Race
More than 100 yachts representing 26 countries and territories will leave Grand Harbour on Saturday for the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race. The series of starts begins at 11am, with excellent viewing from Valletta’s fortifications and the harbour shoreline. The fleet will tackle a 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily before returning to Malta. Live online coverage starts at 10.30am for anyone unable to reach the harbour, while a race tracker will follow the yachts throughout their journey. Rolex Middle Sea Race
Official spectator and online viewing information
Picnic in the 1800s
Bring a picnic blanket to Borġ in-Nadur in Birżebbuġa for a curious encounter between Malta’s prehistoric past and Regency life. From 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, costumed re-enactors will present period games and dancing, while actor and guide Jeremy Grech plays an eccentric excavator investigating the ancient remains. Afternoon tea includes sandwiches, scones, cakes and a welcoming glass of Prosecco. Tickets cost €55, or €45 for Heritage Malta members. 17 Oct 2026
International Kite and Wind Festival
The San Dimitri area near Għarb becomes a sea of colour on Saturday and Sunday as international kite flyers send enormous and unusually shaped creations into the Gozitan sky. The two-day festival begins at 10am each day and includes wind-inspired activities and family entertainment alongside the flying displays. Organised by Għarb Local Council, it offers an easy outdoor option for visitors of different ages. Entry is free, although the programme may naturally depend on weather conditions. spotlightmalta.com
Little Leprechauns
Children aged four to seven can enter a playful world of Irish folklore at the Studio Theatre in Valletta. TOI TOI’s Little Leprechauns combines dance, puppetry, music and interactive storytelling, encouraging its young audience to follow the rainbow in search of the legendary pot of gold. Performances take place at 3pm and 5pm on Saturday, followed by 2pm and 4pm shows on Sunday. Current ticket prices and availability are provided through the Teatru Manoel booking page. Teatru Manoel
The Ħamrun Chocolate Festival
St Joseph High Street becomes Malta’s sweetest address from 6pm on Saturday. Local and international chocolatiers will present handmade creations, fountains and chocolate from around the world, while more adventurous visitors can investigate cocoa-flavoured pasta, pizza and pastizzi. Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options are also expected. Live music, local band clubs, singers, street theatre and family attractions extend the festival beyond its edible centrepiece. The published event listing does not state an admission charge. spotlightmalta.com
La Traviata
Gozo’s autumn opera season opens in suitably grand style with Verdi’s La Traviata at Teatru tal-Opra Aurora in Victoria. The tragic story of Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry combines intimate emotion with lavish social scenes, famous choruses and some of opera’s most recognisable arias. Colin Attard conducts the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Aurora Opera Chorus. The performance begins at 7.30pm on Saturday 17 October and is expected to finish at approximately 10.50pm. Tickets cost between €60 and €100. Events in Gozo
The Beatles and Beyond
The Rock Troupers Malta celebrate the music of The Beatles and the subsequent solo careers of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison at Teatru Salesjan in Sliema. Moira Stafrace, Lello Ebejer, Mark Spiteri and other performers will be supported by a seven-piece band and string quartet under musical director Joe Brown. Doors open at 7pm and the concert begins at 8pm on Saturday. Ticket prices and remaining availability can be checked through Ticketline. 17 October 2026
Neo-Japanese Pet Art Workshop
Turn a favourite photograph of your pet into a painting inspired by neo-Japanese tattoo art during this guided session at Chrysalis Studio in Xewkija. No finished artwork is expected on arrival: materials and step-by-step instruction are provided, and participants can take their completed painting home. The workshop runs from 3pm to 5pm on Sunday 18 October and costs €50. Advance booking is required, and the pet photograph must be submitted before the session. Events in Gozo
Workshop and booking information
