Nothing But the Sea  When: Throughout December  Where: Valletta Contemporary, Valletta

French visual artist Cyril Sancereau brings a quietly powerful exhibition exploring impermanence, isolation and the poetry of seascapes. Working in striking black and white, Sancereau’s photography captures the Mediterranean’s shifting horizons, where sea, sky and stone meet in moments of silence and transformation.

Malta International Organ Festival  When: 1st - 7th December  Where: Various Venues, Valletta

Now in its 12th edition, the Malta International Organ Festival celebrates the grandeur of the “king of instruments” with performances by world-class musicians. This year’s programme brings timeless organ works to life within some of Malta’s most beautiful churches and cathedrals, uniting music, architecture and heritage in one resonant experience.

Borma Tbaqbaq  When: 5th - 7th December  Where: Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, Santa Venera

Three of Malta’s brightest young actors bring this fierce new theatrical piece to life, weaving a courtroom drama of island-identity, colonisation and women’s work. One woman. One murder trial. One ancestral island questioning everything beneath the surface.

Ira Losco: an Evening in Gozo  When: 6th December  Where: Teatru Aurora, Gozo

Malta’s reigning pop queen re-imagines her 24-year catalogue in a spell-binding two-hour concert in Gozo’s operatic Teatru Aurora. Accompanied by her band and a unique ensemble featuring strings, piano, percussion and harp, the evening promises a fresh and captivating musical experience.

Kevin Naudi: Glory Days  When: 12th - 13th December  Where: Teatru Salesjan, Sliema

Kevin Naudi’s sixth stand-up special is a raw, unfiltered ride through life’s chaotic highs and lows. Part comedy, part confession, this show dives deep into growing up, staying true and embracing the glorious mess we all call life.

Snow White Panto  When: 23rd December - 5th January  Where: Teatru Salesjan, Valletta

MADC’s Christmas panto is back, bigger, brighter and cheekier than ever. Written by everyone’s favourite panto dame Alan Montanaro and directed by Stephen Oliver, Snow White promises a glittering mix of music, magic and mischief for the whole family. Expect laughter, sparkle and a quirky dash of holiday chaos.

MYO Christmas Concert  When: 30th December  Where: St Agatha's Auditorium, Rabat

The Malta Youth Orchestra presents its annual Christmas Concert, a celebration of youthful artistry, unwavering dedication and musical excellence. Under the direction of Mro Michael Laus, the orchestra delivers a programme featuring Tchaikovsky’s enchanting Nutcracker Suite, Dvořák’s exhilarating Slavonic Dance No. 8, Camilleri’s evocative Notturno and Waltz from the Malta Suite, and a selection of Strauss masterpieces. This initiative also gives rise to the Junior Malta Youth Orchestra, fostering the continued development of Malta’s emerging musical talent.

NYE26 Concert in Kottonera When: 31st December Where: Bormla Waterfront

Ring in 2026 in style at Cottonera’s free open-air concert! Expect big performances from Ira Losco and Kantera, lively hosting by Dorianne Mamo and Ray Calleja, delicious food stalls, and a dazzling fireworks countdown to midnight. It’s the perfect way to welcome the new year.

Traditions and Heritage

The Maltese Presepju

If you find yourself in Malta during Christmas, don’t miss the chance to experience one of the island’s most heartfelt traditions, the presepju, or nativity crib. Its roots date back to 1617, when the first recorded Maltese crib was created by Jesuit priest Fr Beneditto Papebroch in Valletta. The idea, born from St Francis of Assisi’s 1223 live nativity in Italy, found a natural home here, blending Mediterranean devotion with local artistry.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, these Biblical dioramas adorned churches and noble homes, often imported from Naples, then famed for its ornate baroque cribs. By the 19th century, the tradition had found its way into everyday Maltese households. Families began crafting their own miniature Bethlehems shaped from cardboard and clay, complete with windmills, wells and bridges that mirrored the Maltese countryside.

Figurines known as pasturi, depicting the Holy Family, shepherds, animals, angels and villagers, are modelled by hand, with artisans now adding mechanical touches like spinning windmills, trickling water and flickering lights. For generations, entire garages and spare rooms have transformed into miniature worlds of faith during Advent.

The tradition lives on. Across Malta and Gozo, artisans and hobbyists transform garages and community halls into miniature Bethlehems, often marked outside by small Presepju signs inviting visitors in. Mosta is especially known for its displays, though villages like Żebbuġ, Luqa and Għajnsielem also host beautiful examples. They’re usually free to enter, with small donations welcomed.

For a guide to upcoming religious celebrations and traditional feasts across the Maltese Islands, be sure to visit inkontru.app