As Summer 2023 finally comes to an end (despite the forecast suggesting otherwise), we reflect on the spectacular series of festivals that graced our beloved island. Afro Island played a central role in five major events throughout the season. Here’s a glimpse of what went down… PIONEER PLAYS The festival season kicked off in May with the iconic Pioneer Plays, curated by the renowned DJ Pioneer. This festival blended the best of House, Bashment, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and R&B—a relatively new sound for the locals in Malta, yet one that resonated deeply, finding its place within the local music scene, thanks......
Every summer in Malta is special, but 2025 is set to be unforgettable. With over two million additional tourists expected to visit, most are coming for one main reason—the best music festivals in Malta!
Whether you’ve been part of the scene for years (shoutout to the day ones), are just joining in (welcome!), or still considering it, one thing is for sure: we all share the same goal—to experience Malta’s top party venues and enjoy the music we love.
Malta has established itself as the ultimate European island getaway. With the global rise of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Black entertainment, the island’s festival scene is thriving. While Malta has hosted festivals for years, recent shifts have expanded beyond the usual House & Techno genres, creating a more inclusive and diverse party experience.
A quick scroll through #Malta2025 on TikTok showcases the worldwide hype. And as UncleEli famously asked, “When did Malta become the international hub for Black people?”
With thousands of festival-goers arriving, Malta’s nightlife scene has leveled up. The island has always boasted stunning party locations, with legendary venues like Numero Uno, Gianpula, and Café del Mar leading the way. But as demand grows, so do the venues.
In 2024, Malta unveiled a new outdoor festival arena, introduced Toy Room—a high-end superclub in Paceville, and transformed MedAsia Beach Club into a premium VIP party hub. Tigullio, one of Malta’s largest and oldest nightclubs, is also now undergoing a massive refurbishment to cater to international festivals. Beyond clubs, Malta’s breathtaking natural venues have become festival hotspots. Armeria Bay in Mellieħa provides a stunning backdrop for performances—especially when artists like Asake headline! Meanwhile, Fort St. Elmo remains an iconic party destination, where R&B Slow Jams 2025 will set feature this summer. And let’s not forget last year’s unforgettable Defected Festival in Valletta Ditch, which raised the bar for what’s to come!
Best Festivals in Malta 2025 – The Ultimate Party Season!
Malta’s festival lineup just keeps getting bigger! With a mix of returning favorites and brand-new music events, the variety of genres, artists, and entertainment continues to expand. The summer festival season in Malta is more exciting than ever.
Top Urban Festivals in Malta 2025:
✅ Summer in Malta Festival(May 29 – June 2, 2025) ✅ DLT Malta(June 5 – June 9, 2025) ✅ We Outside Malta(June 12 – June 16, 2025) ✅ Pioneer Plays Festival(July 3 – July 7, 2025) ✅ Soulful Sessions Malta(August 14 – August 19, 2025) ✅ R&B Slow Jams Malta(September 11 – September 15, 2025) ✅ Sidewinder Festival Malta(September 19 – September 21, 2025) ✅ Caribbean Rocks Malta(September 25 – September 29, 2025)
Only the most dedicated festival lovers will survive the full season! But with such an incredible lineup, both locals and tourists will be making memories that last a lifetime.
Afro Island – Your Gateway to the Best Festivals in Malta
Afro Island has once again partnered with top festivals in Malta to create unforgettable experiences for party-goers. Stay tuned as we reveal our official 2025 festival partners!
For the latest festival updates, VIP party packages, and exclusive tickets, follow us—don’t miss out on the hottest music festivals in Malta 2025!
Malta Festival 2025 – Full Guide & Ticket Info
Summer In Malta 2025
📍 Location: Saint Julian’s, Malta 📅 Dates: May 29–June 2, 2025 🎉 Events: Themed parties, pool gatherings, boat parties, and top DJs 🎶 Genres: Afrobeats, R&B, Dancehall, Amapiano & more 🔗 More Info:
DLT Malta 2025
📍 Location: St. Paul’s Bay, Malta 📅 Dates: June 5–9, 2025 🏨 Venue: Bora Bora Ibiza-Malta Resort 🎶 Genres: Afrobeats, R&B, Dancehall, Amapiano 🔞 Age: 21+ (Valid ID Required) 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
We Outside Malta 2025
📍 Location: St. Julian’s, Malta 📅 Dates: June 12–16, 2025 🎉 Events: Yacht, beach, pool, rooftop, and club parties 🎶 Genres: R&B, Amapiano, Hip Hop, Dancehall, Soca, Afrobeats, House, Funky, Trap 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
Pioneer Plays Malta 2025
📍 Location: Bora Bora Malta Resort, St. Paul’s Bay 📅 Dates: July 3–7, 2025 🔞 Age: 18+ (Valid ID Required) 🎶 Lineup: Capleton, DJ Pioneer, Bucie, Chelsea Como, and more 🎶 Genres: Afrohouse, Amapiano, House, Funky, R&B 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
Soulful Sessions Malta 2025
📍 Location: St. Paul’s Bay, Malta 📅 Dates: August 14–19, 2025 🎶 Genres: Soulful House, Afro House, Amapiano, UK Garage 🎟️ Tickets: From £311.10 (Excludes Boat Party) 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
R&B Slow Jams Malta 2025
📍 Location: Malta 📅 Dates: September 11–15, 2025 🎤 Curated by: Chuckie & Tazer 🎶 Experience: Immersive R&B and Slow Jams festival 🔗 More Info & Sign-up:
Sidewinder Malta 2025
📍 Location: Multiple Venues, Malta 📅 Dates: September 19–21, 2025 🎶 Performers: 50+ Acts Across Multiple Genres 🎉 Events: Boat & Pool Parties + Outdoor Festival 🎟️ Tickets: Early Bird from £99 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
Caribbean Rocks Malta 2025
📍 Location: Various Venues (St. Paul’s Bay) 📅 Dates: September 25–29, 2025 🎉 Events: Pool parties, beach festivals, boat parties, themed nights 🎟️ Tickets: From £249.41 (Boat Parties Sold Separately) 🔗 More Info & Tickets:
Don’t miss the biggest music festivals in Malta 2025—secure your tickets now and experience an unforgettable summer in Malta!
Asake in Malta! Yes that's right DLT Malta 23 saw its closing night headlined by the one and only Asake! Here's a review from our media team Laura Chianese!...
What Went Down at the Reggae Brunch x Afro Island All White BBQ Brunch – We outside Malta !
To conclude the month of July with a bang, the last weekend in Malta got fiery, as the Afro Island x Reggae Brunch BBQ day party took place under the local sunny skies. The festival’s second edition on the rock, featured a 3-day weekend which closed on a high, thanks to the joint effort with Afro Island. For those still unaware, Reggae Brunch has placed itself as one of the biggest party brunch organisers in the UK, hosting hundreds of attendees monthly, across cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester. This year’s edition in Malta featured an all-white secret garden party that welcomed attendees at the beautiful Treehaus venue at UNO, bringing infinite vibes and delicious chops to the guests.
Numerous DJs played the best afrobeats, dancehall, soca, amapiano, and reggae tunes back to back. Starting at 12, as people gathered under the palm trees and the tropical setting of the venue, the smell of jerk chicken mingled in the air. On the menu was a choice of delicious Jamaican / Guyanese dishes: mouth-watering veg curry, tantalizing grilled fish and jerk chicken accompanied by fragrant rice & peas, and a zesty salad. Those present at the Afro Island boat BBQ last summer, like myself, knew they could not miss out on the Caribbean delicacies made by Odessa’s, the only authentic Caribbean caterer based here in Malta. Those wise enough ensured to secure their tickets asap, for the rest, if you were not there for all that deliciousness, your taste buds missed out!
The lineup was composed of talent from both event organisers. Afro Island flew out DNA to headline their bill and brought their favourite local DJ residents Veloso, Dado, Shay Who, and DJ M Funky, with the latter two giving us an epic B2B set. Reggae Brunch showed the local crowd how things go down in the UK bringing DJs Dean EG and Suave, and the phenomenal MCs Sillky,A Star, and Tubby.
The crowd looking bright, in their all-white attire, made the gathering almost look like a Sunday congregation, but some of the dance moves displayed were far from holy. The place got heated figuratively and literally as the party advanced. Many gyals came prepared, equipped with their hand fans to stay cool on the dance floor. Despite the heat, the energy was ecstatic, people socialized, danced, dutty whined, bruk it down, Willie bounced, signaled the plane and all. The beautiful smiles seen in every corner were proof of the enthusiasm and the good vibes of the people.
Among the guests was also Saga, one of season 6’s Big Brother Naija housemates, coming all the way from Lagos. During his time on the island, he showed us his take on Adekunle Gold’s TikTok challenge for his latest single Ogaranya. The video, which made more than half a million views on Instagram, featured clips of local partygoers dancing and singing along to the lyrics of the new song.
Once again music proved to be the language we all speak, helping bring together people from the African diaspora, the Caribbean, and Europe. As someone who has seen the island grow as a place where African and Caribbean music is increasingly being celebrated thanks to the recent festivals, it makes me shed a tear of joy, as this community of partygoers is becoming like a family. This was certainly a milestone for Afro Island and also foreshadows a more eventful future for the local party scene and talent. As usual, it is a pleasure to see the unity of people celebrating music and culture, so if you don’t want to miss out, make sure to be ready on the 12th of August, which brings another eventful day with Pitch Malta and Afro Island.
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