by Kerry Gaffney | Last updated 04 November 2026
Immaculate Conception Feast in Qala, Gozo: 8 December 2026
Qala’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on 8 December, a public holiday across Malta. It isn’t held at the parish church but at the National Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, the small chapel that overlooks the beach of Ħondoq ir-Rummien. It also has a tradition you won’t find anywhere else on the island: a pilgrimage of cars and motorcycles from Ta’ Pinu, now in its eighth decade.
Feast at a Glance
Date: Tuesday 8 December 2026
Location: Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, Qala
Cost: Free
Highlights: Pontifical Mass, car and motorcycle pilgrimage, evening procession and fireworks
The Sanctuary
The sanctuary is one of Gozo’s oldest places of devotion, set on the edge of Qala with the sea and Comino beyond it. As well as the Immaculate Conception, it’s home to the devotion to St Kerrew, a hermit saint still venerated there with real affection, and babies are presented to both during the novena.
The Build-Up
The celebrations start in late November with a novena: the rosary at 17:30 and Mass at 18:00 each evening, with each day dedicated to a different group, from benefactors and the sick to families and volunteers. The last three days form a triduum, ending with an antiphon and blessing.
On the eve of the feast, the children have their own celebration. After a morning Mass, the statue of the Immaculate Conception is carried from St Kerrew Square along Triq il-Kunċizzjoni to the Cross and back, with the Ite ad Joseph band of Qala and plenty of excited children. That evening there’s a procession with the Fratelli and a solemn Mass with orchestra.
What Happens on 8 December
Times below are from the 2025 programme; check the Qala Parish Facebook page for 2026 dates and times.
Masses through the morning, from 05:00
- 09:30 Pontifical Mass with the Bishop of Gozo and orchestra
- 13:30 Pilgrimage of cars and motorcycles from Ta’ Pinu to the Sanctuary
- 16:00 March by the Ite ad Joseph band
- 16:45 Procession with the titular statue, with the rosary prayed along the route
- Fireworks display, then the antiphon and Eucharistic blessing
Top Tip: Two Immaculate Conception feasts fall on the same day. Watch the cars and motorcycles arrive in Qala at 13:30, then head into Victoria for the procession from St Francis Church at 18:00.
Before You Go
Keep well away from the fields where the fireworks are set off, before, during and after the display; the parish asks this every year. Parking near the sanctuary is limited, so it’s worth walking up from the village centre.
Make a Day of It
Qala’s Christmas starts here, with the Qala Nativity Scene Exhibition opening at the Parish Centre later in the month. For more on the village, see our Qala village guide, and for everything else on in December, see our Gozo December events page.
How to Get There
You can reach Ħondoq by catching the 303 from either Victoria or Mġarr to Qala, then it’s around a 20-minute walk down to the bay. The issue is the walk back up the hill, but you can use one of the ride-hailing apps for the return journey.
There is parking available but it will get full quickly, so you might want to park in Qala and walk down.
Where to Stay
Qala is cracking village to stay in, with my favourite square on the entire island. If you are planning to attend the feast, you might want to base yourself to the south-end of the village to make the walk down, and back easier. Have a look at the map below to explore some options.