Tag: Music

Things to Do in Malta This October 2026
October is one of the busiest months of the year in Malta, with warm evenings, big festivals and an international line-up of music, sport and culture. Here’s everything worth knowing about, week by week, with dates, prices and where to get tickets.

Early October (1-4 October)
- Malta v Gibraltar and Malta v Andorra: UEFA Nations League at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali, on Thursday 1 October (20:45) and Sunday 4 October (18:00). Tickets from €8: Malta v Gibraltar · Malta v Andorra · our guide.
- Malta Classic & Mdina Grand Prix: historic cars racing beneath Mdina’s walls, 1-4 October, with the Grand Prix on 3-4 October. Tickets from €15.75 · our guide.
- Notte Bianca: Saturday 3 October. Valletta’s free all-night arts festival celebrates its 20th edition with more than 50 projects across the city, closing with a Malta Philharmonic Orchestra concert in St George’s Square. Valletta closes to traffic from 16:30.
- Boozy Bingo: Golden Oldies: Sunday afternoons at Gianpula from 4 October. Tickets €21.40.
Mid October (8-18 October)
- BLAST Slam VIII: the world’s best Dota 2 teams battle for $750,000 at BLAST Arena Studios Malta, 8-11 October. Day tickets from €10.80 · our guide.
- VBET Malta Premier League: the league returns after the international break, 9-14 October, including Birkirkara v Valletta at Ta’ Qali on 10 October. Adult tickets €10 · fixtures and tickets.
- Malta Comic Con 2026: comics, cosplay and gaming at the MFCC, 10-11 October. Early bird from €16.20, children 10 and under free · our guide.
- Dash Berlin at UNO Malta: Saturday 17 October, 22:00-04:00. Tickets from €21.20 · our guide.
- Rolex Middle Sea Race: the 47th edition of the 606-nautical-mile offshore classic starts from the Grand Harbour on Saturday 17 October. Watching from the bastions of Valletta and Birgu is free.
- Opera in Gozo: La Traviata at the Aurora Theatre, Victoria, on 17 October (19:30), in the theatre’s 50th anniversary year; tickets through the theatre.
Late October (23-31 October)
- Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Malta hosts Europe’s young singers at the MFCC: Jury Final on 23 October, live Final on 24 October. Tickets from €16.20 · our guide.
- Pro Wrestling Malta: Fall Brawl: Saturday 24 October at Montekristo Estate. Tickets from €8.64 · our guide.
- DJ Sue’s Disco Fever: 60s, 70s and 80s classics at Tigullio, St Julian’s, on Saturday 24 October. Early bird from €10.80.
- Three Palaces Festival: classical, contemporary and experimental music in historic palaces around Malta, 28 October to 1 November.
- Madama Butterfly: at the Astra Theatre, Victoria, Gozo, on 29 and 31 October (19:30); tickets through the theatre.
- Boozy Bingo Halloween Special: Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November at Gianpula; dress code Heroes & Villains. Tickets €21.40 · our guide.
FAQ

What’s on in Malta in October 2026?

Highlights include Notte Bianca (3 October), BLAST Slam VIII (8-11 October), Malta Comic Con (10-11 October), the Rolex Middle Sea Race start (17 October) and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (23-24 October).

When is Notte Bianca 2026?

Saturday 3 October 2026, across Valletta. It’s free to attend.

Where can I watch the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race?

From the bastions around the Grand Harbour in Valletta and Birgu, on Saturday 17 October 2026, and it is free of charge.

Which October events are free?

Notte Bianca, watching the Rolex Middle Sea Race start, and the Malta Classic Hill Climb and Style & Elegance events are all free.
September 30, 2026
Malta Events in November 2026: Metal, Gaming, Comedy and More
November in Malta brings some of the year’s biggest indoor events: three nights of metal, a free gaming festival, the island’s largest book fair and plenty of Sunday afternoon fun. Here’s what’s on, with dates and tickets.

Music
- Malta Metal Weekend: 13-15 November at Eden Arena, InterContinental Malta, St Julian’s: Kreator and Paradise Lost (Friday), Doro, Dirkschneider and Candlemass (Saturday), Europe and Vandenberg (Sunday). Day tickets €81, 3-day €216 · our guide.
- An Afternoon with Nicko McBrain: Iron Maiden’s longtime drummer in conversation on Sunday 15 November at 15:00, part of Malta Metal Weekend.
- The Return of the Legends: Jaycee & Terra: old-school favourites reunite at Westend Terrace, Xewkija, Gozo, on Saturday 14 November, in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. Free Entry Invite.
Gaming
- PLAYCON 2026: Malta’s gaming and esports festival returns to the MFCC, 19-22 November, with free entry on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November and a Friday-evening Mythic Pass from €10.80. Get your ticket · our guide.
- PLAYCON Summit 2026: the industry side of PLAYCON for gaming professionals, 18-19 November. Summit tickets.
Comedy
- Max Amini Live in Malta: the comedy star plays the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, with four shows on 21 and 22 November. All four are sold out.
Culture and sport
- Malta Book Festival: the 47th edition, 4-8 November at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali: author talks, workshops and family events. Free entry.
- Malta Open & Malta Masters darts: a World Darts Federation ranking event in Tarxien, 6-8 November, with men’s, women’s and youth competitions.
- Żurrieq Half Marathon & 10K: Sunday 15 November, starting and finishing in Żurrieq’s main square; registration closes on 1 November.
Sunday afternoons: Boozy Bingo

The Halloween Special closes on Sunday 1 November, Golden Oldies returns on 8 November, and the Pyjama Drama shows run on 15, 22 and 29 November at Gianpula. Standing tickets €21.40 · all the dates.

FAQ

What’s on in Malta in November 2026?

Malta Metal Weekend (13-15 November), PLAYCON (19-22 November), the Malta Book Festival (4-8 November), Max Amini (21-22 November, sold out) and the Żurrieq Half Marathon (15 November) are among the highlights.

Is PLAYCON 2026 free?

Yes, weekend entry on 21 and 22 November is free; the Friday Mythic Pass is from €10.80.

When is the Malta Book Festival 2026?

4-8 November 2026 at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali, with free entry.
September 30, 2026
Dash Berlin Returns: Trance Night at UNO Malta on 17 October
One of trance music’s best-loved names is heading to Malta. Dash Berlin plays UNO Malta on Saturday 17 October 2026, from 22:00 until 04:00, presented by One Off Events & Global Dance Events.

Who is Dash Berlin?

Dash Berlin is a Dutch trance act from The Hague, formed in 2007 and fronted by DJ Jeffrey Sutorius. The breakthrough came with “Till the Sky Falls Down” (2007), followed by fan favourites like “Waiting” featuring Emma Hewitt and “Man on the Run”. At their peak, Dash Berlin climbed to No. 7 in the DJ Mag Top 100 in 2012.

Why this tour matters

After a trademark dispute, Sutorius left the project in 2018 and spent several years performing under his own name. In January 2026 a Dutch appeals court ruled he could use the Dash Berlin name again, and in July he played his first show back as Dash Berlin on the main stage at Ultra Europe in Split. For trance fans in Malta, this is a chance to hear the classics from the man behind them, under the name they were made famous by.

The venue

UNO Malta is a club in the Crafts Village at Ta’ Qali, in the centre of the island near Attard, easy to reach from anywhere in Malta, with the night running until 04:00.

Tickets

Tickets are released in batches, and the early-bird and early batches have already sold out. At the time of writing, these are available (booking fee included):
- General Admission (third batch): €21.20
- VIP: €58.30
- Backstage Pass: €63.60
Prices go up as each batch sells out, so it pays to book early.

FAQ

When does Dash Berlin play in Malta?

Saturday 17 October 2026 at UNO Malta, from 22:00 to 04:00.

How much are Dash Berlin Malta tickets?

General Admission is currently €21.20, VIP €58.30 and the Backstage Pass €63.60, booking fee included.

Is it the real Dash Berlin?

Yes, it’s Jeffrey Sutorius, the DJ who fronted Dash Berlin from the start and won back the right to use the name in 2026.
September 30, 2026
Malta Metal Weekend 2026: Kreator, Doro, Europe and More in St Julian’s
After a first edition in July 2025 headlined by Dream Theater and Opeth, Malta Metal Weekend is back for three nights, 13-15 November 2026, at Eden Arena within the InterContinental Malta in St George’s Bay, St Julian’s. Doors open at 17:00 each day.

The line-up, day by day

Friday 13 November

Kreator: German thrash legends from Essen, formed in 1982 and one of the “Big Four” of Teutonic thrash, plus Paradise Lost, the Halifax band whose 1991 album Gothic helped invent gothic metal. With Omnium Gatherum and Angelcrypt.

Saturday 14 November

Doro, the “Metal Queen” and former Warlock singer; Dirkschneider, Accept co-founder Udo Dirkschneider playing Accept’s 1983 album Balls to the Wall in full; and Swedish epic doom masters Candlemass. With Anvil and Anchorite.

Sunday 15 November

Europe (yes, the “The Final Countdown” band) on their 40th anniversary tour, and Vandenberg: former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg revisiting his Whitesnake years, with Mats Levén on vocals. Plus Gus G with Ronnie Romero, and Atomic Flame.

An Afternoon with Nicko McBrain

On Sunday 15 November at 15:00, Iron Maiden’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain, who played his final Maiden show in December 2024, hosts a spoken-word afternoon in the InterContinental’s CDC Hall.

Tickets
- Day ticket (Friday, Saturday or Sunday): €81
- 3-Day Block ticket: €216
- An Afternoon with Nicko McBrain: €38.50
- Holiday packages (3 nights + 3-day ticket): from €486 at Holiday Inn Express, or €648 at the InterContinental or voco
Accessibility tickets are available for every option. Prices include the booking fee.

FAQ

When and where is Malta Metal Weekend 2026?

13-15 November 2026 at Eden Arena, InterContinental Malta, St George’s Bay, St Julian’s. Doors 17:00 each day.

Who is headlining?

Kreator and Paradise Lost on Friday, Doro, Dirkschneider and Candlemass on Saturday, and Europe and Vandenberg on Sunday.

How much is a weekend ticket?

The 3-Day Block ticket is €216; day tickets are €81, booking fee included.
September 30, 2026
Junior Eurovision 2026 in Malta: Dates, Tickets and Everything You Need to Know
Europe’s biggest music contest for young singers is coming to Malta. The 24th Junior Eurovision Song Contest takes place on Saturday 24 October 2026 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster PBS. It’s the third time Malta has hosted the contest, after 2014 and 2016, and the first time the contest has ever been held in October.

A Maltese “festa” on stage

PBS is transforming the MFCC into a Eurovision Festa Village, inspired by Malta’s village feasts, with colourful façades and traditional balconies built into the stage design. Expect the energy of a summer festa, packed into one night of live television.

Presented by two Maltese winners

The show will be hosted by Gaia Cauchi, who won Junior Eurovision for Malta in 2013, Destiny Chukunyere, who won it in 2015, and Keane Cutajar. Having two former winners on stage says a lot about Malta’s proud record in the contest.

Who’s competing

Sixteen countries will take part: Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Ukraine. Performers are aged between 9 and 14.

Malta will be represented by Beppe (Beppe Caruana), the 11-year-old winner of The Voice Kids on TVM, with “Blue Bird”: a song about finding magic in simple things, listening to your heart and feeling connected to nature, which Beppe co-wrote.

Tickets: Jury Final and Final

There are two shows you can attend at the MFCC:
- Jury Final, Friday 23 October, 18:30: the dress rehearsal on which the professional juries vote. Tickets from €16.20 (General Standing), with Tiered Back seats at €27 and Side Seats at €37.80.
- Final, Saturday 24 October, 18:30: the live broadcast. Tickets from €27 (General Standing), with Tiered Back seats at €37.80 and Side Seated at €48.60.
All prices include the booking fee. Accessibility tickets are available for both shows. The Jury Final is a great-value way to see the full show and a popular option for families.

FAQ

When is Junior Eurovision 2026?

The Final is on Saturday 24 October 2026. The Jury Final is the evening before, Friday 23 October. Both start at 18:30.

Where is Junior Eurovision 2026 being held?

At the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali, Malta.

Who is representing Malta at Junior Eurovision 2026?

Beppe, with the song “Blue Bird”.

How much are Junior Eurovision tickets?

From €16.20 for the Jury Final and from €27 for the Final, up to €48.60 for side seats at the Final, booking fee included.
September 30, 2026