Holy Week and Easter in Malta are seen as more than a religious period. They’re considered to be a vivid tapestry of faith, culture and community. As the islands come alive with solemn rituals and celebrations, all those visiting get to experience first hand several centuries-old traditions. These continue to thrive in every village and town.
During Holy Week, Malta transforms into a stage of devotion and heritage. Streets fill with processions, churches echo with sacred music, and locals come together. All to honour one of the most important periods in the Christian calendar. From intricate biblical pageants to symbolic Good Friday processions and the Resurrection Sunday festivities, the atmosphere is both reflective and celebratory.
Whether you’re a devotee, interested in learning about the island’s culture, or simply curious to witness Malta at one of its most interesting times, these events are not to be missed. Below is a curated list of Holy Week and Easter happenings across the islands to help you make the most of your visit.
If you’re interested in understanding Malta’s traditions for this period of year, you can check out our recently published article on the topic from here.
The Friday of Our Lady of Sorrows
On Friday 11 April, the day dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, Malta’s streets will experience well over 80 processions. These will be running simultaneously all around Malta and Gozo. The parishes and localities that usually organise processions on this day can be found listed below. Processions tend to start between 4:30pm and 7:30pm and are either before or after a mass celebrating the occasion.
In Gozo there are several localities that host processions. These include Żebbuġ, Xagħra, Nadur, Fontana, Għajnsielem, Rabat, Ta’ Kerċem, Qala, San Lawrenz and Xewkija. One of the main events is of course held in Gozo’s Capital, Rabat, known as Vittoriosa. The event starts with an open air mass in Pjazza Vittoriosa at 6:30pm. This is then followed by the procession with the statue of the Our Lady of Sorrows.
On the other hand, the Parishes that organise the procession in Malta are located in: Baħrija, Pietà, Żejtun, Qawra, Qrendi, Sliema, Żebbuġ, Għaxaq, Għargħur, Ibraġ, Imġarr, San Pawl il-Baħar, Birżebbuġa, Bormla, Balzan, Kirkop, Lija, Qormi, Safi, Tarxien, Balluta (Sliema), Valletta, Ħamrun, Marsa, Mellieħa, Santa Venera, Isla, Żurrieq, Naxxar, Furjana, Raħal Ġdid, Dingli, Żabbar, Fgura, Wied il-Għajn, Siġġiewi, Rabat, San Ġwann, Mosta, San Ġiljan, Marsaxlokk, Imtarfa, Luqa, Attard, Birkirkara, Burmarrad, Swatar, Santa Luċija u Fleur-de-Lys.
The most famous of them all is the one organised by the Franciscan Church of Ta’ Ġieżu in Valletta. This starts at 6pm. Traditionally, several penitents walk barefoot or on their knees as an act of devotion and thanksgiving. Furthermore, this procession is led by the Archbishop of Malta himself.
Palm Sunday
Both Sunday 13 April (Palm Sunday), as well as the day before, see the start of the Passion narrative. In fact parishes organise processions and reenactments of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
In Gozo, there are several localities that host processions all of which happen in the morning. These include: Fontana, Għajnsielem, Għarb, Għasri, Kerċem, Munxar, Nadur, Qala, San Lawrenz, Sannat, Rabat (Victoria), Rabat (Citadel), Xagħra, Xewkija and Żebbuġ. Of course, one of the most beautiful celebrations is held in Gozo’s Cathedral located within the Citadel itself. The celebrations usually start at 9:45am.
There are also several villages in Malta that host processions and events around Palm Sunday. Some of which have multiple processions happening at the same time. The villages organising Palm Sunday processions on Sunday morning are: Attard, Baħrija, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara (4 in total), Birżebbuġa, Bormla, Burmarrad, Dingli, Fgura, Furjana, Fleur-De-Lys, Għargħur, Għaxaq, Gudja, Gwardamanġa, Gżira, Ħamrun (2 in total), Ibraġ, Isla, Iklin, Kalkara, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Mdina, Mellieħa (2 in total), Mġarr, Mqabba, Msida, Marsaskala, Marsa (2 in total), Marsaxlokk, Mosta, Mtarfa, Naxxar, Paola (2 in total), Pembroke, Qawra, Qormi (3 in total), Qrendi, Rabat, Safi, Santa Luċija, Santa Venera (2 in total), Siġġiewi, Sliema (4 in total), St. Julian’s (2 in total), St. Paul’s Bay (2 in total), Swatar, Tarxien, Valletta (6 in total), Xagħjra, Xemxija, Żabbar, Żejtun and Żurrieq.
The exception seems to be Ta’ Xbiex, which organises its Palm Sunday procession in the evening, at around 6pm.
Maundy Thursday
The 17 April is known as Maundy Thursday and it is a night of reflection and reverence. All churches across the islands, especially parish churches, celebrate mass with the scope of remembering Jesus’s last supper. During this mass, they also perform the act of the washing of the feet of pilgrims. The biggest of them all is the one organised at the Saint John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. This is led by the Archbishop of Malta Charles J. Scicluna at 6pm.
This is then followed by the traditional seven visits to seven different churches. This is done with the scope of representing the seven different stops of Jesus Christ before being crucified.
However, there are two other initiatives that make this evening a memorable event. These are the Fjakkolata in Siġġiewi and the Puttinu Cares Walk. Held in Pjazza San Nikola and extending towards the Salib tal-Għolja, the Fjakkolata sees thousands of torches and candles illuminating the village. This event creates a truly reverent atmosphere. It starts with pilgrims illuminating the village square with candles placed in the form of a cross. Then it is followed by a religious walk to The Laferla Cross (Is-Salib tal-Għolja). If you’re interested in attending this event, make sure you’re at the Siġġiewi Square at 8pm.
The second event is The Puttinu Cares Walk. It on Maundy Thursday and leads into the early hours of Good Friday. This fundraising activity starts at 12:00am. Thousands of individuals walk from the Mellieħa Parish Square, all the way down to the granaries in Floriana. This is done with the scope of raising funds for Malta’s main children’s cancer support group.
Good Friday
The 18 April is Good Friday, which is another profoundly solemn day, with some of the most striking processions in Europe being organised right here, in Malta. Several villages organise processions with tens of life-sized statues depicting the Passion of Christ, followed by men, women, and children dressed in biblical costumes.
One unique tradition happens in three specific towns: Victoria, Żebbuġ, and Mosta. As part of their traditional procession, several hooded penitents wear white cloaks and walk barefoot with chains on their feet and some even carry crosses. If you’re interested in seeing one of these processions, we suggest ensuring you’re in the main village square by 5pm. This is around the time when the processions tend to start.
Other villages in Gozo that organise Good Friday processions are: San Lawrenz, Nadur, Xagħra and Żebbuġ.
In the meantime the villages in Malta that organise Good Friday processions are: Birgu, Bormla, Isla, Luqa, Naxxar, Raħal Ġdid, Qormi, Rabat, Valletta, Żebbuġ and Żejtun.
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday, 20 April, there are several processions organised yet again. This time round, these processions feature one statue, that of the Risen Christ (l-Irxoxt) being carried through the streets at a fast pace by young men.
These processions are organised either in the morning or in the evening, depending on the village. The morning processions in Gozo are held in Rabat – San Ġorġ (8:45am) Nadur (9:15am) and Fontana, Qala and Rabat – Cathedral (11am). The afternoon processions in Gozo are held in Żebbuġ (5pm), Għarb and Xagħra (6pm) and Ta’ Kerċem (6:45pm).
In the meantime in Malta there are several other processions organised. During the morning you can experience processions in the streets of the following villages: Bormla, Għargħur, Isla, Paola, Qormi – San Ġorġ and Żebbuġ (9am), Qormi – San Bastjan (9:15am), Luqa (9:30am), Birgu, Gżira, Naxxar, Rabat and Żejtun (10am) and St. Julian’s (10:30am). In the evening, processions are held in the following villages: Sliema (5:30pm), Birkirkara (6pm), Valletta (6:15pm), Kalkara and Mosta (6:30pm), and Birżebbuġa (7pm).
Other Initiatives Organised During Holy Week and Easter
Passion Plays
- Il-Mixja – in the grounds of the Verdala Palace (15, 16, 17 April)
- Ecco Homo – Birkirkara, Valley Road (12 April)
- Nemmen – St. Vincent de Paule Residence, Luqa (12, 13 April)
- Id-Destin – Parish Church Theatre, St. Sebastian’s Church, Qormi (14,15, 16 April)
- Lumen Fidei – Parking lot next to St. Thomas Moore College (14, 15 April)
Holy Week Exhibitions
- Sitio 2025 – Għajnsielem, Gozo
- Eloi, Lema Sabachthani – Archipretal Church, Qala
- Wirja tal-Passjoni – Qormi
- Resurrexit – St. Dominic’s Convent, Qormi
- Ave Crux, Spes Unica – Rabat, Gozo
Note: More detailed lists with timings and exact locations of processions are usually shared by the Parish Churches themselves on Social Media or on the websites of the Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo.
