70,000 people ring in the new year in Valletta on NYE

Updated 10am

The rain and wind did not deter thousands of people who turned up at Valletta's St George Square and Cospicua's waterfront to ring in the new year.

In Valletta alone, some 70,000 people were out to count down to the new year together.

Photo: MCLG

The Met Office issued an orange warning just after 7pm on Wednesday, forecasting moderate to heavy thundery showers, locally gusty. It also warned of possible hail.

But the concerts by the Valletta Cultural Agency and the Kottonera Foundation went on as planned.

Photos and footage posted by the organisers show that crowds of people - some with umbrellas in hand - turned up for the yearly events.

Photo: Valletta Cultural Agency

In Cospicua, Ira Losco was among the singers who rang in the new year, together with fusion folk band Kantera and Matthew James. The event was hosted by Ray Calleja and Dorianne Mamo.

On the other side of the Grand Harbour, in Pjazza San Ġorġ, hosts Jamie Cardona and Taryn Mamo Cefai got revellers in the mood for new year celebrations.

The Palace String Orchestra gave a live performance featuring, among others, Eurovision singer Miriana Conte, Denise, Gaia, Klinsmann, Aidan Drakard, Karin Duff and Keith Zammit Mintoff.

International star John Newman, known for his global hit Love Me Again, also hit the stage to pump up the energy in the capital.

Photo: MCLG

70,000 in Valletta 

The Culture Ministry on Thursday said some 70,000 people gathered in Valletta - mostly in St George’s Square, Triton Square and along the streets of Grand Harbour where a 25-minute pyrotechnic display welcomed the start of 2026.

"This was the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in Valletta to date, concluding the Valletta Cultural Agency’s programme for 2025, marking a year of successful events organised by the Agency," the ministry said.

The Valletta celebration was organised by G7 Events and made possible through a cultural partnership agreement with the Valletta Cultural Agency within the Culture Ministry. The event was also supported by the Malta Tourism Authority.