Katy Perry 'excited' to headline Isle of MTV festival in July
13-time Grammy-nominated artist will be part of the Isle of MTV lineup
Updated 4.03pm
Pop star Katy Perry will be one of the headliners at this summer's Isle of MTV concert.
The free festival, held on July 22 at Floriana's il-Fosos, will see the 13-time Grammy Award-nominated artist take centre stage.
Times of Malta first revealed the news on Tuesday morning, and Isle of MTV announced it later in the day.
"I’m so excited to be heading to Malta for the very first time to headline Isle of MTV,” Perry said, in a statement released by the Malta Tourism Authority.
On Monday, Tourism Minister Ian Borg hinted on social media about a major act, saying this year's festival might feature “possibly the biggest headliner ever”.
The noughties star is best known for her hits Roar, I Kissed a Girl, California Gurls and Firework.
Perry will be touring Europe during the latter half of the year as part of her Lifetimes Tour, her fifth concert tour, which supports her seventh studio album, 143.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, she ranks as the 13th top digital singles artist in the United States, with around 121.5 million digital single sales.
Over her career, Perry has received five American Music Awards, 14 People’s Choice Awards and a Brit Award. Her album Teenage Dream became the first by a female artist to produce five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and the second overall after Michael Jackson’s Bad.
In May 2024, her song Roar reached four billion views on YouTube, making it the most-viewed music video by a female artist on the platform at the time.
Perry also has a past connection to Malta. Valletta featured in the music video for “Starstrukk” by 3OH!3, in which she appeared, with the capital’s skyline used as a backdrop.
In recent years, Perry has also attracted attention for her personal life. In 2025, she and five other women travelled to space aboard Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket and returned safely to Earth.
During the 11-minute flight, she sang a rendition of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong to fellow passengers, including Bezos’s then fiancée, now wife, Lauren Sanchez, and CBS presenter Gayle King.
Since last year, Perry has been dating former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following her split from British actor Orlando Bloom.
Borg said Perry headlining the festival reflects the government's continued investment in attracting world-renowned artists and major international events.
"Through sustained collaboration and a clear vision for the tourism and cultural sectors, we are committed to creating opportunities that elevate Malta’s global profile, strengthen our events calendar and deliver memorable experiences for both residents and visitors alike," he said.
Carolo Micallef, CEP of the MTA said events such as the Isle of MTV strengthen Malta's position as a leading Mediterranean destination.
"Isle of MTV Malta continues to play a key role in driving quality tourism and showcasing the very best of what our islands have to offer," he said
The Isle of MTV was first held in Malta in 2007 at the Floriana Granaries. Its inaugural edition featured headliners Akon, Maroon 5 and Enrique Iglesias.
Since then, the event has hosted international acts including Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, David Guetta, Nelly Furtado and Jason Derulo.
Alok, Damiano David and Ella Henderson were the main performers at last year's edition.
Other performers joining the 2026 lineup will be revealed at a later date. The festival forms part of Isle of MTV Malta Music Week, a series of club nights and events across the island’s most popular venues from 22 – 26 July 2026.
Tickets for Isle of MTV and Malta Music Week will be available via isleofmtv.com in due course, the MTA said.