Malta festivals are like no other. With blazing sun and picturesque views, one day you can be gliding across crystal clear waters, and partying in awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage sites the next.
The Mediterranean island has become a must-visit festival destination, with events bringing in some of the most esteemed selectors from house, techno and drum and bass.
But with so many choices, it can be tricky to decide on where to go. That’s why we’ve compiled them all into one handy guide. Here are the best music festivals in Malta in 2026.
Image: Defected Records / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th October 2026
Where: Various venues in Malta
2026 lineup: Eats Everything, Eliza Rose, Hot Since 82, Jayda G, Kevin Saunderson, Skream (disco set), Nic Fanciulli, Sidney Charles, Low Steppa, Todd Terry & many more.
Defected is one of house music’s most reputable brands, and since 2022, they’ve been bringing knockout events to the Mediterranean island. The festival returns once again in 2026, and it wouldn’t be a Defected event without an absolutely stacked lineup.
The likes of Eats Everything, Eliza Rose, Hot Since 82 and Jayda G are just a few of the names set to grace the decks, delivering house sermons across the open-air venue UNO, poolside sessions at Cafe del Mar and parties in stunning spaces like The Ditch and Fort St. Elmo.
So, if you’re after a festival with a blockbuster feel and fancy seeing some of the genre’s best, Defected Malta is the place to be this festival season.
Find FAQs and more information about Defected Malta – HERE
Image: Glitch Festival / Facebook.com
When: Wednesday 12th – Saturday 15th August 2026
Where: Gianpula Village in Rabat, Malta
2026 lineup: Ben Klock B2B Rodhad, Amelie Lens, Alarico B2B SHDW, KI/KI, Serafina, Mall Grab, X Club., DJ Nobu B2B Wata Igarashi, Bella Claxton, GiGi FM & many more
Techno fans, take note: Glitch Festival is not one to miss. It boasts an international lineup that includes highlights like Ben Klock B2B Rodhad and DJ Nobu B2B Wata Igarashi, so you know the tunes are going to be next level. But alongside superstar bookings, if there’s one thing Glitch Festival is known for, it’s the setting.
The Cave transforms an old, subterranean stable into a deep techno enclave, while The Cosmic Stage feels like a secret hideaway nestled in the trees. That’s without mentioning that it’s Glitch Festival’s 10th anniversary this year, and with over 95 acts playing across 8 stages, we reckon it’s going to be one of the best festivals in Malta this year.
Find FAQs and more information about Glitch Festival – HERE
When: Thursday 28th May – Monday 1st June 2026
Where: Gianpula Village in Rabat, Malta
2026 lineup: Alex M.O.R.P.H, Asteroid, Collide 1, C-Systems, Dan Stone, Faith Mark, Kyau & Albert, Lostly, MRPHLNDR, The Thrillseekers & many more.
5 days in Malta surrounded by sun, sea and trance bangers. We can all dream, right? Well, actually, you don’t have to, as Euphoria Weekender returns to the island for a five-day celebration in iconic venues like Club Phoenix and Liquid Club.
They’re bringing a pretty hefty lineup with them, too. DJs like Alex M.O.R.P.H, The Thrillseekers and Asteroid will drop euphoric tunes all weekend long, and boat and pool parties will give you the chance to take in Malta’s idyllic surroundings as uplifting music drifts through the speakers. What a way to spend your summer.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about Euphoria Weekender – HERE
Image: ABODE / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st June 2026
Where: Multiple venues in Malta
2026 lineup: Max Dean, Luke Dean, Darius Syrossian, Gaskin, Jamie Jones, Richy Ahmed, Patrick Topping, Kepler, Jammer & many more
Record label and party series ABODE describes itself as ‘the party of the people’, and when you see the lineups for ABODE on the Rock, it’s hard to argue against that. Max Dean, Luke Dean, Gaskin, Jamie Jones and more will bless Malta with the deepest grooves and squelchiest basslines, with the party feeling spreading across the island in abundance.
There are beach parties, boat parties, night events and even castle raves to sink your teeth into across three days in June. If you want to get lost in the sounds of some of the UK’s best house and techno acts, all while being surrounded by sun, sea and smooth sand, ABODE on the Rock is a no-brainer.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about ABODE on the Rock – HERE
Image: Rong Events / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th May 2026
Where: Multiple venues in Malta
2026 lineup: Paul van Dyk, Ben Nicky, Ferry Corsten, Billy Gillies, Aly & Fila, Cosmic Gate, Markus Schulz, Bryan Kearney, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Mauro Picotto, Tall Paul & many more.
Rong Open Air Festival is a trance haven. And if there’s one thing that trance legends excel at, it’s taking you to spectacular heights. Imagine you and all your mates, partying on a boat that sets sail from the deep blue shores of Sliema Bay, all while the euphoric build-ups and drops the genre is known for play out around you.
Throw in a beach party at Little Armier Beach – a brand new addition to the festival for this year – and you’ve got yourself a cracking few days. That’s without mentioning Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz and Mauro Picotto, just a few of the names that will take to the decks at Rong Open Air Festival.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about Rong Open Air Festival – HERE
Image: TRIIP Festival / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 28th – Monday 1st June 2026
Where: Multiple venues in Malta
2026 lineup: Fisher, Eats Everything, KETTAMA, Luuk Van Dijk, Chris Lorenzo, Franky Rizardo, Archie Hamilton, Partiboi69, Salute, SG Lewis & many more.
With TRIIP, the clue is in the name: it’s a psychedelic journey into house, dance, and electronic music, and all their equally delightful subgenres. Plus, it’s all curated by The Fish himself, so you know the vibe will be right.
Areas like The Enchanted Forest are surrounded by trees, emblazoned with trippy decor and off-the-wall lighting, and names like Eats Everything, KETTAMA and Chris Lorenzo are set to deliver all kinds of shenanigans on the decks.
Find FAQs and more information about TRIIP Festival – HERE
Rock The South Malta
Image: Rock The South / Facebook.com
When: Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd May 2026
Where: Zion Bar & Restaurant in Marsaskala, Malta
2026 lineup: TBA
Tired of techno? Haunted by house? Rock The South is for you. While they do showcase electronic music, there’s an absolute shedload of other genres, including reggae, rock, punk and jazz. The festival is now in its twelfth edition, and while there’s no lineup news yet, Rock The South welcomes over 30 local and international artists across multiple stages.
And if you do want to dance, no problem. The festival often holds a silent disco, which by all accounts looks absolutely banging. So, if you’re looking for something with variety but still want to soak up the Maltese sun, head on down. You might just find your new favourite act.
When: Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th May 2026
Where: Multiple venues in Malta
Azyr, Restricted, I Hate Models, Biianco, blk., DJ Hyperdrive, Mandidextrous, Sikoti, Interplanetary Criminal, Alex Farell & more
Hard techno diehards, look no further than XXL. It’s the brainchild of Teletech, Lo-Fi and The Warehouse Project, who first joined forces in 2024 to deliver a supersized techno festival to Malta.
This year, the lineup is stacked. Over 90 techno artists will descend on areas like Fort St. Elmo and The National Park, offering immersive experiences that blend powerful sound with breathtaking scenery. But that’s not all. You’ll be able to party by the sea at The Beach Stage and lose your mind in the iconic walls of UNO Malta, which hosts 5,000 guests, a 3D-mapped stage and a booming Funktion-One soundsystem.
With a massive lineup, loads of sun and more techno than you can imagine, XXL Malta looks like an absolute hoot.
Find FAQs and more information about XXL Malta – HERE
Image: Higher Love / Facebook.com
When: Wednesday 29th April – Monday 4th May 2026
Where: Gianpula Village in Rabat, Malta
2026 lineup: Josh Baker, East End Dubs, Ewan McVicar, Prospa, Rossi., SOSA, ALISHA, Eliza Rose, Kolter, Paige Tomlinson, Sidney Charles & many more.
Higher Love is a house music holiday. Set across the scenic Gianpula Village in Rabat, Malta, it returns to the island for its second year. And if 2025’s festival was anything to go by, this year’s edition should be even better.
You’ve got house and techno heavyweights like Josh Baker, East End Dubs and Ewan McVicar, who’ll each be playing in some of the island’s best venues. It’s a rising festival, so if you want to be ahead of the curve and trade temperamental British weather for spring in Malta, Higher Love is the place to do it.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about Higher Love Malta – HERE
When: Thursday 30th July – Tuesday 4th August 2026
Where: Bora Bora Hotel in St Paul’s Bay, Malta
2026 lineup: Rampage Sound, Mark Radford, Atjazz, Groove Assassin, Sy Sez, Masterstepz, Matt White, MAK 10, DJ Jalen, Solly Brown & many more.
If you’re after a festival a little different to the usual booming main-stage energy, Soul Session is the perfect choice. It’s an extension of the UK party series of the same name, which specialises in soulful and afro-house flavours.
Here, you can expect grown vibes and a crowd ready to groove to rhythmic house for an entire weekend. Plus, it’s set in the vibrant Bora Bora Hotel, where daytime events will take place alongside pool parties and club nights.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about Soul Session Malta – HERE
Image: Worried About Henry / Facebook.com
When: Friday 4th – Sunday 6th September 2026
Where: Uno Malta in Malta
2026 lineup: Shy FX, Hybrid Minds, Hedex, K MOTIONZ, Camo & Krooked, D Double E, Flava D, Emily Makis, Kasra and many more
We’ve covered house, techno and even festivals that span reggae to rock. But you know what we haven’t covered? Drum & bass. And for us, there’s only one place in Malta to experience mind-bending breakbeats: WAH Malta.
With a top-tier lineup composed of current-day scene superstars, up-and-comers and legends of the game like Shy FX, you won’t want to miss this one. Throw in the sun and the energy that comes with D&B events and you’ve got an absolutely belting festival.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about WAH Malta – HERE
Image: Captured Festival / Facebook.com
When: Thursday 3rd – Sunday 6th September 2026
Where: Gianpula Village in Rabat, Malta
2026 lineup: Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Avalon, Emma Hewitt (live), Sander Van Doorn, The Thrillseekers, John O’Callaghan & many more
Captured Festival gives you loads to do. You’ve got open-air events, huge takeovers from the likes of Judgement Sundays, boat parties on the lush Mediterranean sea and underground club nights to keep you busy.
It’s all centred around the fantastic genre of trance, with heavyweights like Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Sander Van Doorn and more announced on the lineup. So, whether you’re cruising along the sea on the Driftwood Boat Party or raving it up in Gianpula Village, we’re sure you’ll return home with unforgettable memories.
Find FAQs and more information about Captured Festival – HERE
Image: DALMA / Facebook.com
When: Friday 4th – Saturday 5th December 2026
Where: MFCC Arena in Attard, Malta
2026 lineup: TBA
Festival season might be over by the time DALMA Festival rolls around, but who’d say no to spending some of December in a slightly milder climate? We wouldn’t. Lineup news hasn’t been announced yet, but based on the fact that DALMA is hosted in association with Glitch Festival, we’d say it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Plus, previous years have seen Ben Klock, 999999999, Ben Sims and Funk Assault grace the decks, and have you seen the venue? It’s a huge space that feels tailor-made for experiencing the heaviest bass techno has to offer.
Find tickets, FAQs and more information about DALMA Festival – HERE
From huge house brands to underground techno gatherings, euphoric trance weekends and soulful escapes, Malta festivals offer something for every kind of music fan. With world-class lineups, unforgettable venues and sunshine almost guaranteed, it’s easy to see why the island has become a hotspot for dance music lovers. Whether you’re planning a full-on festival holiday or just fancy catching a few days in the Mediterranean, the best music festivals in Malta promise memories you won’t forget anytime soon.
Search Skiddle now to find more festivals in the UK and beyond. Or check out the best festivals in Croatia, Ibiza, and more.
Check out our What’s On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
