PRESS RELEASE BY FESTIVALS MALTA - National Independence Day Celebrations 2026
On the occasion of the sixty-second anniversary of Independence Day, Festivals Malta, through the National Festivities Committee, will be organising the following activities.
On Monday, 21 September, at 9:00am, a military march by the Armed Forces of Malta Band will depart from the Parliament of Malta building in Freedom Square and proceed to St John's Square. Upon the arrival of the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, a national salute will be given, followed by an inspection of the Guard of Honour.
At 9:30am, a Pontifical Mass will take place at St John's Co-Cathedral and will conclude with the singing of the Te Deum. The Mass will be broadcast live on Television Malta.
Following the Mass, the country's highest authorities, the President of Malta, the Acting Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, will lay flowers at the Independence Monument in Floriana. A 21-gun salute by the Armed Forces of Malta will be fired beside the same monument.
At 8:00pm, the Independence Day Concert will take place at the Manoel Theatre, featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Mro Michael Laus.
The concert will include works by Maltese composers Steven Psaila and Christopher Muscat. It will also feature musical pieces by Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, Nikos Skalkottas and Jules Massenet. The concert will be broadcast on TVM+ Live at 8:00pm.
