For some, summer in Gozo is about new adventures, while for others, it’s about reliving childhood memories at the beach or attending the village festa.  Whatever the case, there is no doubt the summer season in Gozo is the most exciting and colourful time of the year.  The Mediterranean summer lifestyle is not only about beach days and lazy afternoon siestas but is also wrapped up in a vibrant events calendar that celebrates traditional religious and cultural feasts, music, and the arts.

As a starting point, Gozo’s summer calendar is an upbeat one aimed at ensuring that there’s never a dull evening! A series of events occur every week during the summer.      Marsalforn Mondays involve live shows in Marsalforn with a dynamic mix of different genres; City Tuesdays bring musical magic to Victoria’s picturesque squares, while Midweek Summer Vibe alternates between Xagħra and Qala Square, bringing top local performers to the summer crowd.    The Mġarr harbour ambience is challenging to beat, and a lineup of talented artists will be performing at Mġarr Fridays throughout the summer months.  On the other side of the island, I Love Xlendi is a weekend evening activity where the traditional fjakkolata lights up the bay’s cliffs on Saturdays, and live music happens every Sunday.    Saturdays are usually busy, with various events being held at different spots.   Summer in the Square takes place every Saturday under the shadow of the Xewkija rotunda church. Likewise, Nadur Saturdays takes place in the Nadur’s main square.    Other events, such as Iljieli Sajfin, take place at the Għajnsielem centre every Saturday and Sunday. These are typical community activities, including quizzes, tombola, music concerts, and open-air cinemas.  Similarly, Funland Thursdays at Marsalforn Front are aimed at families and kids and Starlit Nights at Għarb promise to be evenings of classic arts, music, dance, drama and storytelling.  Morning activities for young children will be held at the Gozo Central Public Library in Victoria.

Beyond doubt, the Gozitan feasts provide some of the most flamboyant entertainment. Villages typically organise evening activities throughout the festa week, culminating in bigger celebrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Village dinners in the main square, formal band concerts, band marches along the village streets, and fireworks shows are typical of nearly all the villages. The main village feast activity on Saturdays is usually a ground fireworks show, where fireworks are synchronised to music. On Sundays, the highlight is the procession of the patron saint, accompanied by band marches and also by noisy and colourful petards. Some feasts are more notorious than others, and possibly among the top Gozo’s summer feasts are St. George’s feast (celebrated in the middle of July) and the Assumption of Mary into Heaven (celebrated in the middle of August). Both are celebrated in the town of Victoria, where a spirited dose of rivalry between the two factions fuels elaborate celebrations every year! Likewise, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem at the end of August draws big crowds, too! However, the other villages also organise a big spectacle, with different villages known for various facets, such as impressive street decorations, over-the-top fireworks displays, street parties, or unique traditions like the infiorata or the traditional horse races.

Held in July, the Victoria International Arts Festival is always welcomed by music lovers. This festival is a celebration of many music performances and concerts by world-renowned musicians, including Local ones.  This year, Schola Cantorum Jubilate will be performing Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living at the unique T’Għammar amphitheatre on 5th July.   Another special musical evening of operatic arias and pop arrangements will be Opera Vs Pop Under the Stars by the Gozo Youth Orchestra on 28th July.  August bursts with a variety of musical evenings catering for different tastes.   DCapitals stages its 10th edition at the Citadel Ditch, featuring Kevin Borg as an extraordinary guest singer.  For an evening of folk music or għana, head to San Lawrence on August 4th, and rockers will take note of the Rock Legends Concert in Mġarr on August 8th.  Feel the Magic of Musicals will be a musical event for the whole family. Taking place at Villa Rundle on 25th August and 26th   this year, Chorus Urbanus Junior Choir will present The Little Mermaid.   A mix of music and art will be presented at ‘Life Imitates Art’ at Villa Rundle on August 28th.  On the 9th and 11th of September, Villa Rundle will host the Gozo Theatre Festival.  As summer starts to wind down, the Levant Gozo Music Festival will be held on 13th September in Xewkija, and a concert showcasing trumpet virtuoso and local brass musicians will be held at Nadur on 19th September. Another folk event will hosted in Santa Lucija Square on 20th September, and the summer music scene will come to a close with the Independence Day Concert on 21st September.

When it comes to art, the exhibition “Mystery and Modernity” by Carmelo Mangion, one of Malta’s leading pioneers of modern art, will be on display from July to September at Il-Ħaġar in Victoria.   Earth & Fire: An open art studio event featuring Victor Agius will be held at Terae Gallery in Xagħra from July to September.  During August, one can also visit the Ceramic Art Collective Exhibition at the Citadel Cultural Centre and the Gozo Ceramics Festival, which will be held in Xlendi Bay on August 2nd.  Mosaics by Mary Portelli will be featured in an exhibition at Il-Ħaġar from September to November. Art…e Gallery will feature impressionist and abstract paintings in the exhibition “Moments in Time” during September and October.

Other summer activities not to be missed include Ħondoq by Night, a night featuring top talent and a lineup of DJs;  the Good Food Festival in Xewkija, where visitors can taste dishes from 10 different countries; the screening of the classic Singin’ in the Rain in Victoria’s old narrow streets; Qala Auto Fest including classic cars, sports cars and customised models; L’ Assedju t’Għawdex, a special event commemmorating the 1551 Gozo Siege and the third edition of the Xwejni Music Fest.

August, the month of the feast of Santa Marija, is tied to many events, and this year marks the 170th anniversary of the Gozo Traditional, Agricultural, and Industrial Fair, held from August 13th to 15th.   August is also the month of many festivals, such as the Xlendi Sunset Festival (9th August), a musical festival typically aimed at youths and the young at heart; the Ta’ Sannat Beer Festival (16th August) that will be organised in the village’s main square and the Delicata Classic Wine Festival will be held in Nadur from the 22nd to the 23 of August.  The Gozo Film Festival will be held from 22nd to 24th August at the Cittadella and will feature films, shorts, animations, hands-on workshops, and a kids’ programme.     For a dose of folk, check out the Fiori d’Argento Folk Festival in Xewkija  (28th, 29th August).   More folk can be enjoyed in September when Qala promises a folk fusion on the 12th and 13th of September.   The festival lineup continues in September and includes the Youth for Youths, a youth festival organised by the OASI Foundation on September 18th, and the Fontana Wine Festival on September 19th.  The International Puppet Festival in Għarb, another family-friendly event, will take place from September 26th to 28th. More local traditions can be explored and enjoyed at the Traditions: Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey Festival in Għasri on September 20th.

Beyond the sunny days and golden evenings and a calendar that’s busier than a swarming beehive with events, summer in Gozo offers many occasions pulsating with life – just the right kind of moments for joy, connection, and celebration. Gozo invites you to be part of its 2025 summer story.

The full calendar of events can be accessed online here.