There’s jamming this weekend:

Friday, 4th May-Saturday, 5th May, 7pm-11pm and Sunday, 6th May, 1pm-11pm: Simon's Pub Music Festival 2018 – Simon’s Pub, St Julian’s. 

A staple on any music aficionado’s diary, Simon’s Pub Music Festival returns with another line-up to keep the punters coming, bopping and drinking lots of beer. The pub is usually packed on festival nights – but thankfully, you have three days to enjoy the event, which will feature some 28 of Malta’s best local talent, such as Red Electrick, The Crowns and Purple Haze Malta, with the proceeds going to Inspire Foundation. 

Friday, 4th May at 8:30pm: Bridge Bar live Jazz sessions – Bridge Bar, Valletta.

It’s Bridge Bar time! Yes, the time of year has once again returned when you can settle on the steps of St Ursula Street in Valletta, near the stunning St Barbara Bastions, have a drink and listen to some funky jazz. Extremely popular with all types of crowds, this will make you scream ‘I’ll be there every Friday night!’

Friday, 4th May: The Travellers Live in Concert - Market Square, Zejtun. 

The Beland Music Festival, taking place in the market square in Zejtun, has an impressive line-up of bands and musicians, ready to rock the crowd. On Friday, check out Gozitan band The Travellers whose hit tracks - which include Semplicità, Dak li Int, Xemx u Xita and their latest Hafi Paci Kuluri – have made it on most local hit lists!

Saturday, 5th May, 7:30pm-10:30pm: Carlos Bojarski + Tact – Bacchus, Mdina.

For something a bit more mellow from slightly further afield, Maestro Carlos Eduardo Bojarski, an accomplished Argentinean musician, will be playing at Bacchus in Mdina, an event which forms part of the Valletta 2018 programme. Maestro Bojarski is renowned for his inquisitive bent, a trait which he employs in his live interpretations, making each of his performances one-of-a-kind.

Partyin’ as the sun goes down:

Friday, 4th May: Social Affair - Week II – Surfside, Sliema & All weekend: AMP Lost & Found Festival 2018 – various locations around the island. 

As the weather gets warmer, it’s definitely more satisfying to say TGIF! And this weekend is no different (though the skies don’t look very bright at the moment!) On Friday night, Surfside is hosting Social Affair Week II, their night of sunset, sea, cocktails and house music. But if you’re up for something even wilder, head to the Annie Mac Presents: Lost & Found Festival, one of Europe's best pre-summer parties, which brings together the best of the UK dance scene alongside sprinkles of grime and hip-hop. This weekend's lineup includes Jamie xx, Bicep, J Hus and Mike Skinner.

And a lot of art and culture:

Saturday, 5th May, 4pm–6pm: Art Additives | Fluid Space - Artist Talk - The Mill Art, Culture and Crafts Centre, Birkirkara.

Art Additives continues this weekend with a talk by artists Nikki Petroni, Raffaella Zammit, Duska Malesevic and Aidan Celeste focusing on space, place and the bringing of four spaces together in one place through the artists' application of their artwork. 

Sunday, 6th May, 9am–4pm: Open Day: Palace State Rooms & Armoury + Picasso and Miró exhibition – Grandmaster’s Palace, Valletta. 

The highly-anticipated exhibition, Picasso and Miró: The Flesh & the Spirit, should be on your must-visit list, whether you live on the island or you’re here for just a short time. And now, Heritage Malta has just made it easier to view the stunning works – and the stunning palace which hosts them. This Sunday, admission to view the exhibition and the Palace State Rooms will be free of charge, with guided tours taking place at 10:30am and 2pm. See – now you have absolutely no excuse!

Even if you’re young and young-at-heart:

Friday, 4th May–Sunday 6th May, 6:30pm: Nuna Palk - Land of the Big Word Factory - Teatru Salesjan, Sliema & Sunday, 6th May, 9am–9pm: Young Audience Awards - Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta. 

Take your kids to the theatre this weekend to watch the latest in the Nuna Palk series of theatrical performances, aiming to fire up the imagination of kids and their families. Land of the Big Word Factory is being performed by one of Malta’s most innovative theatre companies Theatre Anon. An English adaptation of the album La grande fabrique de mots, the inventive performance features beautiful puppetry, music and live projections. And for passionate young film buffs, there’s nothing which can compare to the Young Audience Awards, taking place, once again, at Spazju Kreattiv. Participating audiences between the ages of 12 and 14 will have the opportunity to experience three great YA films – Wallay, Girl in Flight and Hobbyhorse Revolution – voting for their favourite at the end. 

As well as reliving the Medieval past:

Saturday 5th–Sunday 6th May, 10am–7pm: Medieval Mdina Festival 2018 - Mdina.

For the 10th year in a row, the Mdina Medieval Festival will be transforming the Medieval capital into – yes, you guessed it – a Medieval wonderland! Actors and performers will re-enact battles, skirmishes and scenes from the period including sword fighting, archery, parades and flag throwing shows. And, if you’d love to learn a little more about the times, lectures on different themes will be taking place, as well as guides around the city.