Żebbuġ Feast 2026: The Festa of Santa Marija
Żebbuġ celebrates the Assumption of Our Lady on Sunday 23 August 2026, and it’s one to plan around if fireworks are the draw. The village sits on the highest ground on Gozo, so its festa pyrotechnics are visible well beyond the square itself, along the coast at Marsalforn and Qbajjar below. This guide covers the confirmed dates for 2026, what to expect, and how to plan your visit.
When Is the Żebbuġ Feast 2026?
The feast day itself falls on Sunday 23 August 2026, the first Sunday after the 15th, when the Church marks the Assumption. As with most Gozo festas, the days beforehand carry the real weight of the celebrations, building to the feast day’s morning mass, band marches and evening procession through the decorated streets.
Top Tip: the fireworks in the nights before the feast are often as good a reason to visit as the feast day itself, so don’t plan your trip around the Sunday alone.
Confirmed 2026 Dates So Far
Friday 21 August, 11.30pm: Silent Heroes, an initiative from the Żebbuġ Youth Organisation celebrating past and present volunteers, in Żebbuġ Square.
Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm: Hill of Light, a synchronised pyromusical and traditional aerial fireworks display in Żebbuġ Square, organised by Għaqda Nar Marija Assunta, Żebbuġ Għawdex. Free Park & Ride is available for the evening.
Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm to 11.55pm: Luminaria Blu – La Magia dell’Assunta, a separate display from the same fireworks society, opening with the main pyromusical performance and closing with a synchronised rooftop and ground finale at 11.30pm.
Sunday 23 August: Festa Santa Marija, the feast day itself, centred on the Żebbuġ Parish Church (the Church of the Assumption) on Triq il-Knisja.
Height is the story here. From the hilltop square, Żebbuġ’s fireworks carry further than most villages can manage, visible from the coast at Marsalforn and Qbajjar as well as from the village itself. Having two separate pyrotechnic displays on the same night, Hill of Light and Luminaria Blu, both from Għaqda Nar Marija Assunta, gives the Saturday night of festa week a real one-two.
Where to Stay for the Żebbuġ Feast
Żebbuġ is a small hilltop village, so accommodation options within it are limited mostly to farmhouses and self-catering conversions rather than hotels, which suits the festa well: you’re a short walk from the square rather than driving in for the fireworks. If the village itself is booked out, it’s worth widening the search to nearby villages.
Getting There and Home Again
Żebbuġ is a small hilltop village, so accommodation options within it are limited mostly to farmhouses and self-catering conversions rather than hotels, which suits the festa well: you’re a short walk from the square rather than driving in for the fireworks. If the village itself is booked out, it’s worth widening the search to nearby villages, such as Marsalforn and Għasri
One honest warning, same as any Gozo feast: rooms close to the square put you in the festa rather than watching it from a distance, petards from 8am included. A street or two back is worth it if you want to sleep in.
You can find full details in our guide to getting to and around Gozo.
FAQ
Żebbuġ’s festa is a good one to build a Gozo trip around if you want the fireworks without the biggest crowds. The full 2026 calendar is in our village feasts guide, and our August What’s On guide has the rest of what’s happening that week.