Things to do in Marsaxlokk & the south 2026
Marsaxlokk is Malta's picture-postcard fishing village — a sheltered bay on the south-east coast lined with brightly painted luzzu boats and famous for its Sunday fish market, the island's best seafood lunch and a slower, traditional pace away from the resorts.
Quick answer
Marsaxlokk is Malta's picture-postcard fishing village — a sheltered bay on the south-east coast lined with brightly painted luzzu boats and famous for its Sunday fish market, the island's best seafood lunch and a slower, traditional pace away from the resorts.
The 2026 calendar across Malta's south is built on the great summer village festas: the Feast of Our Lady of Pompei in Marsaxlokk itself, alongside the headline feasts of nearby Mqabba, Żejtun, Qrendi, Birżebbuġa, Żurrieq, Gudja and Ħal Safi — each with brass bands, fireworks and street food.
What's on around Marsaxlokk 2026
- Feast of Our Lady of Pompei, Marsaxlokk (1 Aug) — the fishing village's headline festa.
- Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (15 Aug) — celebrated across Mqabba, Qrendi and Ħal Għaxaq.
- Feast of St Peter in Chains, Birżebbuġa (1 Aug) — south-coast village festa.
- Feast of St Catherine, Żejtun & Żurrieq (Jun–Sep) — two of the south's biggest banda feasts.
- Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Gudja (4 Oct) — closing out the southern festa season.
Why visit Marsaxlokk & the south
Come for the Sunday market: from early morning the Marsaxlokk waterfront fills with fish stalls, produce and crafts, and the restaurants behind serve the day's catch. The bay's luzzu boats — each with the painted Eye of Osiris on the bow — are one of Malta's signature sights.
The south pairs the village with St Peter's Pool (a natural rock swimming spot a short walk away), the Marnisi and Delimara coast, and the prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra near Qrendi. Summer here is festa season — most weekends a different village lights up with fireworks and brass bands.
FAQ
- What is there to do in Marsaxlokk in 2026?
- Marsaxlokk's 2026 highlights include the famous Sunday fish market, the Feast of Our Lady of Pompei (1 Aug) and the summer village festas across the south — Mqabba, Żejtun, Qrendi and Birżebbuġa. Nearby: St Peter's Pool and the Ħaġar Qim temples.
- When is the Marsaxlokk fish market?
- The famous Marsaxlokk market runs every Sunday morning along the waterfront, with fish stalls and the freshest catch; a smaller general market also operates on other mornings.
- How do I get to Marsaxlokk?
- Marsaxlokk is on Malta's south-east coast, about 25–30 minutes by bus or car from Valletta, near the airport and Birżebbuġa.
