Notte Bianca

Notte Bianca, the white night, turns Valletta into an open-air arts venue for one evening each autumn. It is organised by Festivals Malta. The 2026 edition took place on Saturday 3 October with more than 50 projects spread over four zones of the city, from the City Gate entrance to the Castille, Hastings and St George's areas, and closed with a concert in St George's Square. The 2027 date has not been announced; recent editions have fallen in early October.

The appeal is wandering. Theatre, dance, choirs, music stages and art installations take over streets, churches and palaces, and buildings that are usually closed in the evening open their doors. Many performances repeat through the night, so you can plan a loose route rather than race between fixed start times. Expect large crowds in the main streets and quieter corners in the side lanes.

Getting there and back

Valletta closes to most traffic for the night, so public transport is the way in. In 2026 vehicles were barred from late afternoon, and harbour ferries to Sliema and the Three Cities ran later than usual, as did the fast ferry to Gozo. Check the organiser's transport notices in the week before.

• Most of the programme is free to walk into; some indoor shows have limited capacity.
• Download the programme map from Festivals Malta before you go.
• Wear comfortable shoes: Valletta's streets are steep and stepped.

Stay nearby to avoid the late journey home; see our where to stay in Malta guide and getting around Malta.