In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in Malta: the Manoel’s panto, the Nutcracker and Christmas in the churches
Malta keeps Christmas as a religious feast and a family one. The churches of Valletta and the villages fill for the services, the Manoel Theatre stages its Christmas shows, and the mild December weather makes it a lovely time to walk the bastions.
Updated October 2026
Christmas at the Manoel Theatre
Malta’s eighteenth-century theatre puts on its Christmas shows in December: the Manoel’s 2026–27 season lists The Nutcracker and The Great Little Panto Show, alongside its concerts and opera (teatrumanoel.mt). Book early: the pantomime is a family favourite.
Christmas in the churches
Malta’s parish churches and its two cathedrals, St John’s in Valletta and St Paul’s in Mdina, are at the heart of the island’s Christmas. Services are for worshippers first: dress modestly, and check the times with each parish.
What is open
The Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna’s sites, among them the Lascaris War Rooms, the Saluting Battery and Fort Rinella, are closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January (wirtartna.org). Check Heritage Malta’s site for its museums’ holiday hours.
Questions and answers
Is there a pantomime in Malta at Christmas?
Yes. The Manoel Theatre’s 2026–27 season includes The Great Little Panto Show (teatrumanoel.mt).