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
The Żebbuġ festa runs from 7 to 23 August 2026, with the kwindiċina and the three-day tridu building into the feast weekend. These are the days worth planning around.
Wednesday 12 August, 7.45pm: the statue of Santa Marija is carried out from its niche, the traditional signal that festa week has begun, with the Banda Santa Marija taż-Żebbuġ playing the feast hymn.
Friday 21 August (third day of the tridu), 9.00pm: a demonstration with the outdoor statue of Santa Marija, accompanied by two bands, the Banda Santa Marija taż-Żebbuġ and the Banda San Ġirgor of Ta’ Kerċem. At around 12.15am the statue is raised onto its pedestal in Pjazza l-Assunta, with a synchronised fireworks feature staged by the parish Youth Section.
Saturday 22 August (feast eve), 6.30pm: the translation of the relic from the Adoration Chapel to the parish church.
Saturday 22 August, 9.15pm: a march by the Banda Santa Margerita of Sannat, starting near the Santa Marija band club and ending in Pjazza l-Assunta.
Saturday 22 August, 9.30pm: Hill of Lights, the synchronised pyromusical and traditional aerial display in Żebbuġ Square, organised by Għaqda tan-Nar Marija Assunta.
Saturday 22 August, 11.30pm: Luminaria Blu, La Magia dell’Assunta, a second synchronised fireworks display from the same society.
Sunday 23 August (feast day): masses through the day from 6.00am, with the solemn Pontifical high mass at 9.00am, led by Mons Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo. A festive march by the Banda Santa Marija taż-Żebbuġ winds through the main streets at noon. The evening procession leaves the parish church at 7.00pm with the same band, followed at 7.45pm by a music programme in Pjazza l-Assunta from the Banda Ċittadina Leone of Victoria. The procession returns at 10.30pm to close the feast.
Monday 24 August: Jum ir-Radd il-Ħajr, the day of thanksgiving, with masses at 6.45am and 7.00pm.
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.
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.
Getting There and Home Again
Żebbuġ sits high and a little out of the way, so getting there takes some thought. Buses run to the village roughly once an hour, which is fine for a daytime visit but awkward if you’re staying for the evening fireworks and the late procession. After dark a taxi is the easier option, and worth booking ahead on feast nights when demand across the island is high. If you’re driving, expect narrow streets and limited parking, both of which tighten once the festa is in full swing. On the fireworks nights there’s a free Park & Ride, which saves you circling for a space you won’t find. If you’re based down at Marsalforn or Qbajjar, the walk up is short and the view only improves as you climb, so you may not need the car at all.
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.