Christmas on Gozo
Last Updated 02/11/2026
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, Summer on Gozo is rather wonderful: the beautiful blue sea, the festa celebrations, the glow of limestone buildings during golden hour, and those seemingly endless hot, sunny days. Christmas, however, runs it a close second. It might be 17°C (63°F) with clear blue skies, but it has everything you need to get into the Christmas spirit. The celebrations start in late November and carry on right through to the Epiphany and the arrival of the three kings (by Gozo Channel Ferry on horseback, if you were wondering).
There are markets, concerts, carols by candlelight, a living nativity, panto, Christmas parades, and every town and village is festooned with lights. It’s even warm enough to swim in the sea (with a sea surface temperature around 18°C), while still cool enough for a good long hike, if that’s your thing. If you’ve ever fancied a sunny Christmas, Gozo is a fine place to spend it.
Below, you’ll find our recommendations on where to stay, alongside our top picks of what’s happening and when, from the Villa Rundle lights to the living nativity at Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem. We’ll keep adding events as they’re announced, and you can also keep an eye on Events in Gozo.
Where to Stay for Christmas on Gozo
Gozo is so compact that there’s really nowhere bad to stay, but here are some of our top recommendations for the Christmas season.
City Stays
Gozo’s capital, Victoria, offers the best transport links, making it easy to travel between the different village celebrations.
- Duke Boutique Hotel: Perfectly located in Gozo’s capital with beautiful views of the Cittadella. The Duke has rooms with private hot tubs and saunas, which makes it a good pick for a relaxing stay.
- Casa Gemelli: If you prefer a more traditional building, Casa Gemelli is full of Gozitan character.
Luxury & Spa Resorts
If you want to pair your stay with a bit of luxury and some spa relaxation, try these:
- Reef Hotel & Spa: Opened in 2025, the Reef is packed with amenities, including a rooftop pool with 360-degree views of Gozo’s countryside and the sea.
- Hotel Ta’ Ċenċ & Spa: One of Gozo’s two five-star hotels, Ta’ Ċenċ in Sannat offers everything for a relaxed Christmas stay. A special note for Coronation Street fans: this is the ‘budget’ hotel Steve McDonald and Eileen Grimshaw stayed at during their last-minute Malta trip.
- Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz: The other five-star hotel, located on Gozo’s quieter western side, is close to Dwejra Bay, featured in several films and TV shows, including Game of Thrones.
Rustic & Unique Stays
A lot of Gozo’s character is in its buildings, from the Cittadella that dominates the skyline to the square, thick-walled limestone farmhouses that make such good holiday homes. If you want something a little different, these are my picks.
- Ghar Ilma IV Holiday Home:
Don’t let the prosaic name lull you. This two-bedroom traditional farmhouse has real character. Fans of The Madame Blanc Mysteries might recognise it as Hotel Sanguinet, the location for the Christmas special in Series 2 of the popular cosy crime show. - Tuta Agroturism:
Situated on Kerċem’s outskirts with views across to Xlendi Bay, this hotel is centred on luxurious farm living. The superior rooms come with an outdoor jacuzzi, so you can watch the sunset from your own tub with a glass of something special. - Cittadella X Casa Jorge:
The Cittadella has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and this modernised one-bedroom apartment puts you right inside its walls.
That’s where to stay. Here’s what to do while you’re there.
Illuminations and Light Displays
Come December, Gozo blazes with Christmas lights. The Gozo Channel ferries, the main roads and every village square get decorated, and each village puts its own twist on it. Kerċem has a ludicrously tall crocheted Christmas tree, while Għajnsielem builds its tree and street decorations from empty glass bottles. If you love Christmas lights, these are the ones to see.
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens
Victoria’s public gardens, lit up for the season. Good for a romantic wander or a family stroll to get everyone feeling Christmassy.
Date: 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027
Time: 19:00 – 22:30
Location: Villa Rundle Victoria
Cost: Free
Christmas Magic
December matters in the hamlet of Santa Luċija, named after St Lucy, the bearer of light, whose feast day is 13 December. The season starts with a Christmas tree marked out in lights on the side of Għar Ilma. You can see it from across Gozo, and it’s a lovely way to mark the start of the festive period.
Date: 29 November
Time: 18:00 – 23:30
Location: Għar Ilma, Santa Luċija
Cost: Free
Nativity and Religious Events
As you might expect on an island that is very religious, there are dozens of services throughout the month. If you have a more secular bent, these are the events we don’t think you should miss.
Frank Mizzi’s Iconic Nativity Crib
Cribs are something of a Gozitan tradition and you’ll see plenty of them all over the island. Frank Mizzi started this one around fifty years ago and kept adding to it, displaying it for years in a room next to his home before donating it to Il-Ħaġar Gozo Museum in 2023. It now has its own space on Level -2, where you can take in the scenes of local life he worked in alongside the Nativity.
Date: 1 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027
Time: 09:00 – 17:00
Location: IL-Ħaġar Gozo Museum, Victoria
Cost: Free
Bethlehem F’Għajnsielem
Gozo has its own life-size replica of Bethlehem. You can walk around it all year, but over Christmas it becomes the backdrop for a living nativity. It opens on selected days between 12 December 2026 and 3 January 2027. If you only see one thing on this list, make it this.
Date: 12 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
Time: From 14:30, check opening days online
Location: Ta’ Passi Fields, Għajnsielem
Cost: Free
Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs
Gozo has a busy artisan scene, and Christmas is a good excuse to browse it. These are two of our favourites.
Winter Wonderland
Fifteen local makers fill the ArtBox gallery at Dar ta’ Żeppi with art, crafts, fashion, jewellery and homemade treats. A local a cappella group sings on the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, and proceeds go to the charity Smiling with Jerome. Leave the children and the dog at home: there’s a swimming pool on site and ten resident cats.
Date: 27 – 29 Nov 2026
Time: Fri 18:00 – 21:00, Sat 15:00 – 20:00, Sun 11:00 – 18:00
Location: Charming B&B Dar ta’ Żeppi, Qala
Cost: Free
Christmas Market
Packed with Christmas treats and running on selected days and evenings from 29 November to Christmas Eve. Worth a mooch if you’re in Victoria.
Date: 29 Nov – 24 Dec
Time: Various, check times online
Location: Villa Rundle Gardens
Cost: Free
Musical and Performing Arts Shows
Regular readers will know Gozo is an island of music all year round, and Christmas is no exception.
Feel the Magic of Christmas
Chorus Urbanus, its junior choir and the Urbanus Ensemble, conducted by Dr John Galea, with choreography by Studio5678. This year it moves outdoors to Independence Square.
Date: 12 Dec
Time: From 20:00
Location: Independence Square, Victoria
Cost: Free
Goldilocks and the Three Rockin’ Bears
A British tradition on Gozo with a rock ‘n’ roll twist. This year’s panto is set in Honey Valley, with Edward Mercieca as the Dame and a cast who play the music live.
Date: 26 – 30 December
Time: 16:00 on 26, 28 and 29 Dec; 18:30 on 27 and 30 Dec
Location: Teatru Astra, Victoria
Cost: €30.10 – €35.10
Family and Children’s Activities
Two to keep the whole family entertained.
A December To Remember
Christmas characters come to life on Munxar’s square, with bouncy castles, carousels and other rides, plus food stalls selling hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts and other festive treats.
Date: 14 Dec
Time: 16:30 – 19:00
Location: Munxar Square
Cost: Free
The Christmas Trail
A decorated street in Fontana where children’s characters come to life, with games, activities and plenty of Christmas lights.
Date: 14 Dec
Time: 13:00 – 18:00
Location: Fontana
Cost: Free
Special Seasonal Events
If you can only make a couple of events, make it these.
Christmas Parade
Victoria’s main street fills with floats, music and dance troupes once a year, and Santa turns up too.
Date: 19 Dec
Time: 20:00 – 22:30
Location: Republic Street, Victoria
Cost: Free
Gozo New Year’s Eve
See in 2027 with a free concert in Victoria’s Independence Square. International guest Gala headlines, with The Travellers, Rebecca & The Passengers and DJ Terra.
Date: 31 Dec
Time: 21:00 – 01:30
Location: Independence Square, Victoria
Cost: Free
Christmas Tour in Gozo
A guided evening taking in the Christmas markets, Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem and the village lights. The price includes return transfers, ferry tickets, dinner and a festive gift from Yippee.
Date: 14 Dec – 3 Jan
Time: 16:00 – 21:00
Location: Various
Cost: From €85