Date Last Updated: 25th May 2022
Carnival Malta is the oldest historical festival during the month of February, which is usually always held during this time as is the custom. Three main venues are held across the islands where it is celebrated in the streets of Valletta, Nadur, and Victoria Gozo.
This is one of the most popular events during February in Malta amongst other events being held during this month.
Program will be added close to the date.
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There are many shops in Malta that offer carnival costumes. Visit their store or see what they have online.
You will notice several people especially children dressed in fancy costumes and adults impersonating popular characters attracting the attention of the crowd making the atmosphere livelier.
Here are some suggestions
Carnival in Malta is always celebrated at the following locations. For this year it is slightly different. Please follow the program above.
Transport for both Rabat and Nadur: If you are coming from Malta you have to prepare to come early with the ferry. Be prepared to queue for the boat for quite some time.
It is well expected by numerous enthusiasts, cause for several months before artistic companies prepare their extravagantly artistic coloured floats which are erected on lorries and trailers, costumes and dances.
It is a deep traditional merry making aspect of the population that attract your attention with their artistic imagination and colours apart from the mingling of ideas interwoven within the same float.
In the evening during the defile’ another aspect of the floats emerge when they are lit up with LED lighting changing the dimension of the float to a different atmosphere of colours.
Take the opportunity to enjoy these occasions with your family especially with your children.
Carnival Malta dates back to the time of the Knights of St. John when Grand Master Pietro de Ponte in 1535, just five years when they arrived in Malta making this festival almost 500 years old. It is always held during the week just before Ash Wednesday.
It is also said that back to the early 1400 carnival was celebrated locally. There are records showing directives issued by the Universita’ authorities about the prices of meat to be sold during carnival.
But then during the time of the Knights it started to be held officially at Birgu since the knights had their Auberges and administrative buildings located here.
Nadur Spontaneous Carnival is held every year attracting around 25,000 visitors especially youths who come over from Malta.
The most popular is the spontaneous defile’ held after sunset where everyone can participate and dress in all sort of costumes made up from any materials to imaginative ideas.
The streets are thronged with people wearing funny, grotesque masks to macabre masks and costumes.
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