Culture
Carnival is coming! 6 ways to enjoy carnival on the Maltese Islands
Here's how to get into the spirit of the Maltese carnival

Melanie Drury

Did you know that the Nadur carnival in Gozo has been listed as one of the top carnival events around the world? And there’s more! Here’s a local insight into celebrating Carnival in Malta. 

1. Spend the weekend in Gozo

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Let’s face it. With most of the carnival parties and the eclectic Nadur carnival happening on the island of Gozo, this is truly the place to be. Spending carnival weekend in Gozo is the absolute local favourite thing-to-do during carnival time, so book your flat, farmhouse or B&B and head over to join the celebrations. Stuck for accommodation and not sure how to manage it? Join a community carnival event sharing a farmhouse in gozo, carnival party and pre-drinks before Nadur.

2. Whatever you do, visit Nadur

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If it’s not for the whole weekend, go to Nadur at least for a night. Although the organised Nadur carnival happens on Sunday 16th, with a delightful programme of hilarious costume dances, bands and floats, the famous spontaneous carnival, with a multitude of masked and hooded creatures wearing funny and grotesque costumes, runs for several days, between the 21st and 25th. Consider going on the weekdays as it’s actually more fun when it’s less crowded. 

3. See the floats in the capitals

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Carnival floats made from papier mache, ridden by people in costume according to the chosen theme of the float, make for an entertaining display of imagination and creativity. Costumed dances add to the colour and activity in the capitals of Malta and Gozo. This is the perfect family event and a joy for all those children in costumes. The events in Valletta, Malta, and Victoria, Gozo, run from Friday 21st until Tuesday 25th February.

4. Go to a dress-up carnival party

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Don your costume and dance the night away. Some of the big Carnival raves in Gozo include the Panthems Carnival 2020 at La Grotta on Thursday 20th; G7 RIO LOCO Carnival GOZO, Carl Bee’s BLACK Carnival Gozo and District goes to Hollywood ~ Gozo Carnival 2020 on Friday 21st; and Carnival Matinee 2020 (afternoon) and Junior B’s Gozo Carnival on Saturday 22nd. In Malta, you might be interested in From Grease to Black Eyed Peas 80’s Carnival PARTY 2020 or Noche Latina 3.0 - Carnival Edition. Teens in Malta, head to Topnotch - Rio Carnival.

5. Join one of the other carnival inspired activities

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From a Live Cuban Concert by Komokuba on Friday 13th to a carnival run for charity on Sunday 23rd, and from concerts for toddlers to children’s workshops, find all the carnival events on Facebook and take your pick!

6. Taste the local carnival sweets

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You absolutely must indulge in Malta’s special carnival sweets. The prinjolata (pronounced prinyolata) is made with sponge cake, almonds, pine nuts, cherries and chocolate in a towering dome coated in icing, while perlini are sugar coated almonds, which were traditionally thrown from atop carnival floats into the hands of expectant children. Well, if you don’t try them, you’re totally missing out!

16th February 2020


Melanie Drury
Written by
Melanie Drury
Melanie was born and raised in Malta and has spent a large chunk of her life travelling solo around the world. Back on the island with a new outlook, she realised just how much wealth her little island home possesses.

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