Malta has 14 paid public holidays every year, including five officially designated national holidays. Together they reflect key moments in Maltese history and the islands' religious traditions. This guide focuses on the 2027 calendar: every date with its weekday, the long weekends worth knowing about and what workers, families and visitors should keep in mind when planning ahead.
Key Takeaways
- 📅 Malta has 14 public holidays in 2027: 5 national holidays, 7 religious feasts and 2 general public holidays.¹
- 🏖️ Five holidays fall on a Friday or Monday, giving you ready-made long weekends without using any leave.
- 🗓️ Three holidays fall on a weekend in 2027: Workers' Day, the Feast of the Assumption and Christmas Day.
- 💼 Full-time employees receive an additional day of vacation leave when a public or national holiday falls on a Saturday, Sunday or weekly day of rest.²
- 🗺️ Public holidays apply across Malta, Gozo and Comino, all 14 are paid holidays.
Every Holiday Date for 2027 at a Glance
Public holidays in Malta are set by law and apply across the country, including Gozo and Comino. The dates of most holidays stay the same every year, while Good Friday moves with the Easter calendar. In 2027, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March, so Good Friday lands on 26 March 2027. Here is the complete calendar for the year.¹
| Date | Day | Holiday | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day | General |
| 10 February 2027 | Wednesday | Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck | Religious |
| 19 March 2027 | Friday | Feast of St Joseph | Religious |
| 26 March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| 31 March 2027 | Wednesday | Freedom Day | National |
| 1 May 2027 | Saturday | Workers’ Day | General |
| 7 June 2027 | Monday | Sette Giugno | National |
| 29 June 2027 | Tuesday | Feast of St Peter and St Paul (l-Imnarja) | Religious |
| 15 August 2027 | Sunday | Feast of the Assumption (Santa Marija) | Religious |
| 8 September 2027 | Wednesday | Victory Day | National |
| 21 September 2027 | Tuesday | Independence Day | National |
| 8 December 2027 | Wednesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Religious |
| 13 December 2027 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| 25 December 2027 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Religious |
Malta's calendar is busiest in spring and late summer. March alone has three public holidays in 2027, and September brings two national holidays less than a fortnight apart. If you are planning trips, renovations or big family events, these are the months to look at first.
Public Holidays vs National Holidays
In everyday conversation, people in Malta often use "public holiday" and "national holiday" interchangeably, but officially they are not the same thing. Malta has 14 public holidays in total, and every one of them is a paid day off. Five of these are designated national holidays, which commemorate milestones in the country's political history. The remaining nine are made up of seven religious feasts and two general holidays, New Year's Day and Workers' Day.
For most practical purposes, such as leave entitlements and planning your year, all 14 days work in the same way. The distinction matters more for how each day is marked. National holidays usually come with state ceremonies, wreath laying and official speeches, while religious holidays centre on church services and parish traditions.
National Holidays in Malta
Five of Malta's 14 public holidays are officially designated national holidays. Each one marks a milestone on the road to independence and self-government, and the full story behind these national holidays in Malta is closely tied to the islands' modern history.
- 🇲🇹 Freedom Day (31 March, Wednesday): marks the departure of the last British military forces from Malta in 1979.
- ✊ Sette Giugno (7 June, Monday): remembers the riots of 7 June 1919, when Maltese civilians lost their lives in Valletta. The events contributed to the constitutional developments that led to self-government under the 1921 Constitution.
- 🛡️ Victory Day (8 September, Wednesday): recalls the end of the Great Siege of 1565, the French blockade in 1800 and Malta's Second World War siege in 1943.
- 🏛️ Independence Day (21 September, Tuesday): celebrates Malta's independence from Britain in 1964.
- ⭐ Republic Day (13 December, Monday): marks the day Malta became a republic in 1974.
New Year's Day (1 January) and Workers' Day (1 May) are neither national holidays nor religious feasts, but they are full public holidays in Malta. In 2027, New Year's Day falls on a Friday and Workers' Day falls on a Saturday.
Religious Holidays in Malta
Seven public holidays are Catholic feast days, reflecting the central place of faith in Maltese life. Many carry traditions unique to the islands, and the customs behind these religious holidays in Malta go back centuries.
- ⛵ Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck (10 February, Wednesday): marks the shipwreck of St Paul on Malta around AD 60.
- 🔨 Feast of St Joseph (19 March, Friday): honours the patron saint of workers and families.
- ✝️ Good Friday (26 March, Friday): the most solemn day of Holy Week, marked by processions across Malta and Gozo.
- 🌾 Feast of St Peter and St Paul (29 June, Tuesday): also known as l-Imnarja.
- ☀️ Feast of the Assumption (15 August, Sunday): known locally as Santa Marija.
- 🕊️ Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December, Wednesday): seen by many families as the start of the Christmas season.
- 🎄 Christmas Day (25 December, Saturday): one of the most important family days of the year in Malta.
Long Weekends: Holidays in Malta 2027
2027 is a good year for long weekends in Malta. Five public holidays fall on a Friday or a Monday, so you get three days off in a row without booking any leave. March is especially generous, with St Joseph and Good Friday on back to back Fridays, and December ends on a high note, with Republic Day on a Monday shortly before the Christmas period.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday | Friday to Sunday |
| Feast of St Joseph | 19 March 2027 | Friday | Friday to Sunday |
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Friday | Friday to Sunday |
| Sette Giugno | 7 June 2027 | Monday | Saturday to Monday |
| Republic Day | 13 December 2027 | Monday | Saturday to Monday |
A few mid week holidays also offer smart bridging opportunities. Book one day of leave and you can stretch a single holiday into four days off:
- 🌿 L-Imnarja: take Monday 28 June off for a Saturday to Tuesday break.
- 🇲🇹 Independence Day: take Monday 20 September off for a Saturday to Tuesday break.
- 🐣 Easter period: with Good Friday on 26 March and Freedom Day on 31 March, three days of leave can give you seven consecutive days off.
What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
In 2027, three public holidays fall on a weekend: Workers' Day on Saturday 1 May, the Feast of the Assumption on Sunday 15 August and Christmas Day on Saturday 25 December. For whole-time employees, these holidays are not lost.
Since 1 January 2021, when a public or national holiday falls on a Saturday, Sunday or another weekly day of rest, whole-time employees are entitled to an additional day of vacation leave in the same calendar year.² Pay rates and sector arrangements vary, and the rules on public holiday pay in Malta explain how this works in practice.
How to Plan Your Year Around the Holidays
Public holidays can affect work schedules, school routines, opening hours and transport. Here is what to keep in mind depending on your situation.
For Workers
Planning annual leave around the 2027 calendar is the simplest way to get more time off. Pairing one day of leave with a Tuesday or Wednesday holiday stretches a single holiday into a four day break, and the Easter period offers a full week off for just three days of leave. Check your workplace arrangements early, as some sectors operate on public holidays and leave requests around popular dates such as Easter, August and Christmas tend to fill up quickly. Agreeing your plans with your employer at the start of the year makes it easier to secure the dates you want.
For Families
Public holidays can affect school schedules, but parents should check the official school calendar and their school's notices for the exact closure dates. Public holidays and school holidays in Malta are not the same thing, so a mid week holiday during term time may mean arranging childcare for a single day.
For Visitors
Opening hours vary on public holidays. Government offices are generally closed, while many restaurants, cafés and attractions stay open, so it is worth checking ahead before you go. Bus timetables can change on holidays, so check the Malta Public Transport website before travelling, and expect busier Gozo ferry crossings over long weekends.
Good Friday is the only public holiday in Malta without a fixed date. It moves each year with Easter, which is why it falls on 26 March in 2027, eight days earlier than in 2026.
Making the Most of Malta's 2027 Holiday Calendar
Malta's 2027 calendar brings 14 public holidays, five ready-made long weekends and three weekend holidays that give whole-time employees an additional day of vacation leave.
Mark the key dates early, check your work and school arrangements, and plan your annual leave around the Tuesday and Wednesday holidays to make every day off count.
References
- Government of Malta. "Public Holidays." gov.mt, https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Public%20Holidays.aspx. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.
- Department for Industrial and Employment Relations. "Vacation Leave." dier.gov.mt, https://dier.gov.mt/en/services/employment-conditions/leave/vacation-leave/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.
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