If you are visiting Gozo during the Easter period take advantage of a 10% discount on car hire. Book online and in the discount code field, insert the following code: easter26
The Holy Week and Easter is one of the most culturally rich times on Malta and Gozo. All the religious heritage with its emotion and remarkable dedication comes to life, often to amazement of tourists. The Holy Week is celebrated throughout all Malta and Gozo with many processions, exhibitions, pilgrimages and other activities.
The churches often hold exhibitions of miniature statues of the Passion of Christ, or set up elaborate Last Supper displays. Sometimes, you will see the hallways of private houses decorated in liturgical purple, with crucifixes or statues of the Passion on show.
For processions, the devotees wear costumes of the participants of the drama. They are dressed as apostles or Roman soldiers. Children often carry replicas of the elements of the Passion – a bag with money, nails, water to wash hands, a crown of thorns, or boards with the final utterances of Jesus.
The three main statues are those of Christ wearing a crown of thorns, Christ carrying the cross and Veronica holding the cloth with the face of Jesus imprinted on it. These images would be familiar to every Catholic through meditations on the stations of the Cross that are done throughout Lent.
Key Dates – Easter 2026
- Palm Sunday: 29 March 2026 — The beginning of Holy Week, marked by blessed palm fronds and festive processions throughout Gozo.
- Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday): 2 April 2026 — it is a popular Catholic custom to make a pilgrimage to seven churches after Mass. The Mass on Holy Thursday includes the traditional washing of the feet, a commemoration of the act of service that Jesus performed for his Apostles. After Mass, the priest places the consecrated host, which Catholics believe to be the Body of Christ, on a side altar, called the Altar of Repose, lavishly decorated for the occasion.
- Good Friday: 3 April 2026 — Solemn processions commemorating the Passion of Christ take place in villages across Gozo.
- Holy Saturday: 4 April 2026 — Preparation for Easter and Easter Vigil services.
- Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026 — Celebration of the Resurrection, with joyful processions of the Risen Christ.
- Easter Monday: 6 April 2026 — A public holiday in Malta & Gozo, often marked with family gatherings and continued festivities.
The visits to the altars commemorate the night in Jerusalem before the crucifixion, when Jesus was led from the Garden of Gethsemane to prison. It is also a reminiscence of his exhortation to the apostles to watch and pray.
The churches are open until late at night, exhibiting Last Supper displays and Passion statues in their parish halls. The most elaborate Last Supper display on the islands is set up in St Dominic’s church in Valletta, Malta. The food used in these displays is later distributed among the families in need.
In Gozo, several exhibitions of the Last Supper featuring life-size statues will be taking place in several localities and on different dates.
Several villages hold processions with statues and crosses on Good Friday, to commemorate the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. On Gozo, the most popular Good Friday processions are in Xaghra and Victoria. With brass bands playing funeral marches, hooded men walking barefoot with chains on their feet, life-sized statues and the sombre mood, the processions touch upon universal themes of betrayal, suffering and liberation.
Good Friday – 3 April 2026
Good Friday is the most solemn day of Holy Week. Throughout Gozo, life-sized statues of the Passion are carried through the streets in dramatic processions, accompanied by brass bands playing funeral marches and devoted locals in traditional biblical and Roman soldier attire.
Some of the most moving processions take place in:
- Victoria (St George’s Cathedral)
- Nadur
- Xagħra
- Żebbuġ
All processions traditionally begin around 18:00hrs, drawing large crowds of locals and visitors alike.
Processions are also held on Easter Sunday with the statue of the Risen Christ. In some villages, you will see the bearers run with the statue on Sunday morning to celebrate the victory of Christ over death.
🍰 Easter Treats – Try Figolli!
A must-try sweet during the Easter season are figolli — traditional Maltese Easter pastries made with sweet almond paste and shaped into festive motifs like hearts, fish, bunnies or birds. They are widely available in confectioneries across Gozo and Malta throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday
Cultural Traditions & Highlights
🖼️ Exhibitions & Art
Gozo’s churches and village piazzas host a variety of religious exhibitions during Holy Week. These include sacred art installations, Passion tableaux, floral displays and devotional spaces designed for reflection and prayer. Examples from the 2026 programme include:
- In Finem Dilexit Eos – a sacred concert of reflective music
- Lux Lucernae – Holy Week prayer and light walk in Fontana
- Ave Crux Spes Unica – an exhibition centered on the Cross
- I Fiori Della Passione – a floral Passion installation
- Il-Passjoni Quddiemna – interactive Passion workshop (including children’s activities)
These events combine art, faith and community, offering visitors a deeper engagement with Holy Week themes
Tips for Visiting
- Church Schedules: Many parish churches hold multiple services throughout Holy Week, and churches stay open late on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday for prayer and exhibitions.
- Procession Times: Processions generally start in the early evening on Good Friday, but Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday processions tend to be in the morning or early afternoon.
- Local Traditions: Expect to see hooded penitents, barefoot participants, slow drumbeats and solemn brass bands during Good Friday processions — a powerful expression of local devotion and heritage.
English Speaking Catholic Community in Gozo:
The English speaking Catholic community normally has masses at the chapel of the Seminary in Gozo, as well as in Ta Pinu church once a month. For updated situation on masses and events, it is always best to check with them directly: http://www.esccgozo.org/
You can also always refer to the complete Mass Schedule in English across all Malta and Gozo.
Visiting Gozo for Holy Week?
If you’re planning to be on the island during Holy Week or Easter, Gozo offers a uniquely authentic and moving cultural experience — combining spirituality, tradition and community celebration.
🚗 Special Easter Discount on Car Hire!
Enjoy a 10% discount on car hire during the Easter period.
Book online and enter discount code: EASTER26 in the discount code field at checkout.