Malta in December 2026: Weather, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and What to Wear

Malta in December combines a mild Mediterranean winter with one of the most heartfelt Christmas seasons in Europe. Daytime temperatures average around 17°C, the islands are lit up from Valletta to the smallest village, and every parish prepares its crib for Christmas. For temperatures, rainfall and sea conditions across the whole year, my Malta weather by month guide sets December alongside every other month, which makes it easy to compare winter with the shoulder seasons.

Christmas is the heart of the month. Valletta’s streets are strung with lights, festive markets and family events run through December, and the season ends with the national New Year’s Eve celebration in St George’s Square. My Malta Christmas markets page covers the markets themselves in detail, from Valletta to Rabat. Around the markets, the season is built on older traditions: nativity cribs in every parish, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and long family lunches on Christmas Day, followed a week later by fireworks over the Grand Harbour.

December is also one of the best months for value outside the Christmas and New Year week itself. Sights are quiet in the first half of the month, the weather is good for walking and sightseeing, and the islands feel genuinely local rather than tourist-focused. Rain falls on about ten days, usually in short, heavy showers, so a flexible plan and a warm layer are all you need to enjoy a December break.

Malta Weather in December: Temperature, Rain and Sunshine

The weather in Malta in December is mild and changeable. Long-term records for Luqa show an average daily high of 17.2°C and an average low of 11.8°C, measured over 1991 to 2020, which makes Malta one of the warmest places in Europe at Christmas. Sunny days are common, with around five hours of sunshine a day on average, and a bright December afternoon in a sheltered spot can feel like a spring day in northern Europe.

December is also one of Malta’s wettest months, with about 94mm of rain falling on roughly ten days. The rain tends to come in bursts, often with strong winds from the north-west, and is followed by clear, fresh weather. Days are short, with under ten hours of daylight and sunset well before 5pm, so it pays to start sightseeing early and keep the evenings for dinner, Christmas lights and a quiet night in.

Snow and frost are almost unheard of at sea level in Malta, and the average December night stays at around 12°C, milder than many British spring days. The bigger difference from home is indoors: Maltese buildings are designed to stay cool, so stone houses can feel chilly on damp evenings. Aster House has underfloor heating throughout, which keeps the rooms comfortable on the coolest December nights.

Is Malta Warm in December? Sea Temperature and Daylight

Malta is warm in December compared with the rest of Europe, though not hot. Highs of around 17°C are roughly double those in London, Berlin or Amsterdam at the same time of year, and lunch outside in the sun is a real possibility on calm days. Mornings and evenings are cool, around 12°C, so the comfortable rule is a jumper by day and a proper jacket after dark.

The sea cools to around 18°C in December, too cold for most visitors to swim for long, although a dedicated group of locals keeps swimming from the Sliema rocks all winter. If you do go in, choose a calm day, swim close to shore and keep it short. There are no lifeguards on duty in winter, and the sea can turn rough quickly when the wind picks up.

Daylight is the main limit in December, at under ten hours a day. The light itself is lovely, low and golden in the afternoons, and Valletta’s limestone glows in the hour before sunset. Plan the bigger outings such as Gozo, Mdina or a coastal walk for the morning, and enjoy the lights, markets and restaurants in the early evening when the streets are at their most festive.

Valletta Weather in December

The weather in Valletta in December follows the island pattern, with daytime highs around 17°C and cool evenings. Because the city sits on a peninsula between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour, it can be breezy along the bastions and in the gardens, so a scarf and a windproof layer make evening walks more comfortable. On calm, clear evenings, the views across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities are spectacular.

December is when Valletta is at its most festive. Last year the Valletta Cultural Agency switched on the Christmas lights on Republic Street and the tree in Freedom Square on 25 November, and the Christmas in the Capital programme of events ran until 31 December. Around City Gate, families gather for carousel rides and Christmas stalls, and the streets stay busy well into the evening.

Valletta is also an easy place to shelter from a passing shower. St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grandmaster’s Palace and the National Museum of Archaeology are all close together, and there are cafés on almost every corner. From Sliema, the ferry across Marsamxett Harbour takes around ten minutes, so you can visit for the afternoon and be back at Aster House for a quiet dinner.

What to Wear in Malta in December

What to wear in Malta in December is similar to a mild spring in the UK. Pack jeans or trousers, long-sleeved tops and a warm jumper or fleece for the daytime, and a proper jacket for the evenings, when the temperature falls towards 12°C and the wind can make it feel cooler. A scarf is useful for walks along the seafront and the bastions, and for a Christmas Eve Mass in a cool stone church.

Rain and wind are the two things to plan for. A waterproof jacket with a hood is more useful than an umbrella on blustery days, and shoes with a good grip are essential, because Malta’s limestone streets become slippery when wet. You will not need heavy winter boots or a thick coat, but a warm layer for New Year’s Eve in Valletta is worth packing, since you will be standing outside until well after midnight.

For families, layers work best for children too, because a sunny afternoon at the Valletta waterfront can feel very different from an evening at a Christmas village. Aster House has underfloor heating and a washing machine, so you can pack lighter and wash clothes during your stay rather than bringing a case full of winter wear.

Christmas in Malta: Traditions and What to Celebrate

Christmas in Malta is a deeply rooted religious and family celebration. The most cherished tradition is the presepju, the nativity crib, which ranges from a simple scene on a sideboard to vast landscapes with hills, windmills, water features and hundreds of tiny figures. Parishes and local groups open crib exhibitions throughout December, and many families decorate their cribs with gulbiena, pale shoots of wheat or vetch grown in the dark in the weeks before Christmas.

Christmas Eve centres on Midnight Mass, when churches across the islands are packed and beautifully decorated. A much-loved custom is the Christmas sermon given by a young child, a tradition that families come out specifically to hear. Afterwards, many households gather for a warming bowl of imbuljuta, a hot drink of chestnuts, cocoa, orange and spices, while Christmas Day itself is about a long family lunch with relatives gathered around the table.

Outside the churches, Christmas in Malta means lights, music and family outings. Valletta’s Christmas in the Capital programme brings carols, decorations and family events to the city, Rabat holds the Natalis Notabilis Christmas festival in early December (the 2025 edition ran from 5 to 14 December), and the living nativity village of Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem on Gozo opens on selected dates from mid-December. For the full rundown of markets and festive villages, my Malta Christmas markets guide lists the venues and how to reach them from Sliema.

Malta in December 2026: Events and Public Holidays

Malta in December 2026 has three public holidays. Tuesday 8 December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a religious holiday with church services across the islands. Sunday 13 December is Republic Day, marking the day Malta became a republic in 1974, and Friday 25 December is Christmas Day. Boxing Day, 26 December, is not a public holiday in Malta, so most shops and businesses reopen, and New Year’s Day on 1 January is the next public holiday.

Alongside the holidays, the December calendar is full of festive events. AMORA by Cirque du Soleil plays at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta until 18 December 2026, Christmas concerts are held in churches and theatres across the islands, and towns from Valletta to Rabat host markets and family activities. Many of the 2026 dates are confirmed by the organisers in November, so it is worth checking the official listings for exact days and times before you travel.

What Is Open on Christmas Day in Malta?

Christmas Day in Malta is a public holiday and a family day, so it is much quieter than the rest of the season. Heritage Malta closes all of its museums and sites on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January, including the Grandmaster’s Palace, the National Museum of Archaeology and the prehistoric temples. Many shops close too, so stock up on groceries the day before, especially if you plan to cook Christmas lunch yourself.

Public transport runs, but on a reduced timetable. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day 2025, Malta Public Transport operated a Sunday-style service with a break from 12:00 to 15:00 and the last buses finishing at 21:00, and the 2026 timetable is announced in December. If you are heading out for Christmas lunch, plan your journey around that midday break, or book a taxi in advance because demand is high.

Restaurants are the exception. Many in Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta open for Christmas lunch with set menus, but they book up well ahead, so reserve a table in November if you want to eat out. Pharmacies operate a duty rota on public holidays, so there is always one open nearby. For many of our guests, Christmas Day at Aster House is the highlight: a long lunch cooked in the family kitchen, a walk along the seafront and a film in the media room.

New Year’s Eve in Malta: Valletta Celebrations and Fireworks

New Year’s Eve in Malta is celebrated with a free national party in Valletta. The Valletta Cultural Agency hosts the main event in St George’s Square, in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace, with live music and DJs leading up to midnight. For the 2025 celebration the headline act was the British singer John Newman, and the year before more than 60,000 people filled the capital to see in the new year.

At midnight, fireworks light up the Grand Harbour, and the view from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the bastions is one of the best on the island. Arrive early if you want a good spot, wrap up warmly and plan your journey home in advance. In 2025 Malta Public Transport ran extra late-night buses to and from Valletta, with a €3 fare paid on board and free travel for holders of a personalised Tallinja Card.

Sliema is an easy place to celebrate from too. The seafront restaurants and bars host their own New Year’s Eve dinners and parties, and the Sliema promenade has wide views across Marsamxett Harbour towards Valletta. The 2026 line-up and transport arrangements are usually announced in December, so check the Valletta Cultural Agency’s listings before the night, and book any New Year’s Eve dinner well ahead.

Things to Do in Malta in December

The best things to do in Malta in December combine Christmas atmosphere with sightseeing in comfortable weather. Walk Valletta’s Republic Street after dark to see the lights, visit St John’s Co-Cathedral and its Caravaggios without the summer queues, and explore the crib exhibitions in parishes across the island. Mdina is magical on a winter evening, and my guide to things to do in Mdina covers the best streets, viewpoints and cafés in the Silent City.

On Gozo, the living nativity village of Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem recreates a Bethlehem-style village with costumed villagers, craftspeople and animals on selected dates from mid-December into early January. The 2025 edition opened on 14 December, and the 2026 dates are announced by the organisers nearer the time. Combined with a walk around the Citadel in Victoria, it makes a memorable family day out from Sliema via the Cirkewwa ferry.

December is also a good month for walking, food and slow days. Coastal paths are green after the autumn rain, the Marsaxlokk Sunday market is busy with local families, and long lunches are part of the season. For ideas that stretch from December into the rest of the winter, the Malta in winter guide covers the months from December to February, and January’s festivals and weather follow in the Malta in January guide.

Christmas at Aster House in Sliema

Aster House is a restored Art Deco townhouse on a quiet residential street in central Sliema, 150 metres from the sea and a short walk from the Valletta ferry. It sleeps up to nine people in three super-king bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, which makes it a natural choice for families and groups spending Christmas or New Year together in Malta.

The house is built for winter comfort. Underfloor heating keeps the rooms warm on cool evenings, the media room has a 2-metre projector screen for Christmas films, and the family-equipped kitchen and dining area have room for a proper Christmas lunch for nine. On bright December days, the rooftop chillout and the terrace with its gas BBQ are lovely spots for coffee or a drink in the winter sun.

From the front door, Sliema’s restaurants, supermarkets and the seafront promenade are all within easy reach, and Valletta’s lights and New Year’s Eve celebration are a short ferry or taxi ride away. Susan and the Aster House team are on hand throughout your stay with recommendations for Christmas lunch, Midnight Mass and New Year’s Eve. Nightly rates start from €229, and the booking page shows live availability for the festive season.

Image credits via Wikimedia Commons: Luzzu fishing boats: Averater, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Christmas carousel: Godwin Borg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · A traditional Maltese Christmas crib: Godwin Borg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Christmas tree lit up: Godwin Borg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Painted vault inside St John’s Co-Cathedral: Joseolgon, CC BY 4.0 · Fireworks over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities: Marika Caruana, CC BY-SA 4.0 · A costumed villager at the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem living nativity village: Lance Anthony, CC BY-SA 4.0 · A lit Christmas tree beside a Ferris wheel: SharonPisani, CC BY-SA 4.0