Valletta 2018 closing celebration tonight

An event marking the end of Valletta’s year as European Capital of Culture will take place tonight in the capital.

Valletta 2018’s Closing spectacle, dubbed “L-Aħħar Festa,” promises to be a celebration of community, life and culture in a lively closing event that “pays tribute to the creative diversity that exists on our Islands, in Europe and beyond.”

Those who attend L-Aħħar Festa may benefit from special rates when using sustainable means of transport provided by Nextbike and Tallinja Bikes. Use the code 863386 when renting a Nextbike, for a journey of 60 minutes to or from the city free of charge. The code can be used twice, on two separate trips. Tallinja Bikes will also be available for travel within the city, at a discount of 50%. For more information on logistics and transport arrangements, click here.

View the Programme below:

St George’s Square

Main stage; 6.30pm onwards

Catch a lively mix of music, live acts and light projections that invite everyone to see out the European Capital of Culture year together. Hosted by Svetlana Muscat and Mireille Bonello. Music by DJ NeoX.

From Malta with Love; 7.15pm

A contemporary performance by Moveo Dance Company that explores various elements of Maltese culture through the eyes of four distinct characters.

Commemorating the European Capital of Culture; 8pm

Witness this important moment in the history of the capital city as Valletta passes the European Capital of Culture title on to the next cities, Matera and Plovdiv 2019.

Valletta 2018 Chorus; 8.15pm

The Valletta 2018 chorus shall present a snippet from their fabulous opening ceremony performance with some surprises.

Big Dancers; Triton Square, Great Siege Square, St George’s Square, from 5.30pm onwards

A colorful street performance at the heart of Valletta that’s guaranteed to charm the young and the young at heart, featuring the Big Dancers’ signature giant marionettes.

Tribali; 9pm

Local mainstay Tribali create a kaleidoscopic open-genre musical world at the heart of Valletta, thanks to their unique and eclectic sound.

Ozzy Lino & Brass House Unit; 10.30pm

Singer/songwriter Ozzy Lino and the fresh and funky sounds of the Brass House Unit will be bringing you all the good vibes thanks to a lineup of dynamic, foot tapping and singalong tunes.

More activities in Valletta

Memory Wall; Various sites in Valletta, 9am onwards

Look out for live painting by multidisciplinary artists, who will be offering their own take on different aspects of Valletta 2018 and an artistic rendering of the passage to the next European Capital of Culture.

Not Just the City; Spazju Kreattiv, 10am onwards

This exhibition emerged from a collaborative international programme of artists’ residencies coordinated by Valletta 2018 and Fondazzjoni Kreattivitá.

MUŻA Open Day; Auberge d’Italie, 10am onwards

Go for coffee or lunch at our café or courtyard restaurant, catch up on holiday shopping at our MUŻA concept store … but most of all don’t forget to visit our galleries for that very personal dose of MUŻA.

Sempre Viva; Courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, 10am onwards

Named for the hardy, indigenous plant that clings to the rocky shoreline of the Maltese Islands, Sempre Viva is a new work drawn from material collected by artist Charlie Cauchi’s ongoing transmedia project Latitude 36.

Valletta Design Cluster Open Day, 11am onwards

The Valletta Design Cluster, currently in its regeneration phase from the Old Abattoir site, will open its doors to the general public. Guided tours will be offered from 11am to 3pm, and bookings are mandatory in order to reserve a place. Small groups of max 10 people each will be taken into the building, where a member of the staff will talk about the past, present and future of the Old Abattoir site, providing tips on the future use of the facility and the Valletta Design Cluster vision. To book, please send an email to [email protected]. For more info visit the Facebook event page.

Mewġa Mużika; Freedom Square Pjazza Teatru Rjal, 4.30 and 5.30pm

Numerous members of the Mewġa Mużika orchestra will take on the mantle from Ondamarela and perform together while sharing their love of music with the public.

Magna Żmien; Under the arches in Old Theatre Street, 5pm onwards

Don’t miss this chance to watch the visual narratives produced throughout the Magna Żmien project. You can also interact with the Magnificent Memory Machine aka Kapsula Merill.

Ballroom; Is-Suq, 6pm

This collaborative performance between ŻfinMalta and Valletta 2018 is inspired by the outreach projects Jump and Dance4All. Contemporary dance, performing arts and dialogue combine to offer a rich ballroom experience.