The exhibition “Hats Off! Hats at the Turn of the 20th Century” at the Inquisitor’s Palace and the National Museum of Ethnography in Birgu invites visitors to step back in time and explore the fascinating world of headwear.

This elegant showcase delves into how hats, once everyday necessities, served as powerful symbols of style, status, and identity across Europe at the dawn of the modern era.

Far beyond mere fashion, hats were social signifiers. They revealed class, gender, and occupation, shaping how people were perceived in society. In Malta, headwear reflected the island’s distinctive cultural blend; rooted in local traditions, Catholic devotion, and British colonial influence. These influences ensured that many traditional hat styles remained in use well into the 20th century.

The exhibition features exquisite examples from Malta’s national ethnographic collection. Highlights include men’s stately top hats from the late 1800s, early-20th-century boaters and panamas, and later fedoras and trilbies. Women’s headwear is equally striking, with graceful cloche, pillbox, percher, and crescent hats on display, complemented by ornate hatpins and finely crafted hatboxes.

Hats Off! runs until the end of February 2026, with admission included in the standard Inquisitor’s Palace and National Museum of Ethnography ticket. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30) until the end of October.

Will you be visiting this exhibition?