For years, the Maltese skyline has been illuminated by the artistry of local pyrotechnics – a craft deeply embedded in the island’s cultural DNA. Today, that heritage has been elevated into a world-class spectacle, culminating in the Malta International Fireworks Festival.

This year’s milestone 25th anniversary promises to be the most ambitious yet, spanning two islands and multiple historic backdrops. The festival started in Gozo, in the locality of Nadur, on the 18th of April, and now moves to the iconic Grand Harbour in Valletta for three breathtaking nights on the 20th, 25th and 30th April.

For the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), the event is a delicate balance of preserving artisanal heritage and executing a grand-scale logistical operation. “As an authority, our primary objective with this festival is to attract international visitors and promote our island on a global stage,” explains Roderick Zammit of the MTA’s events team.

“From that very first event 25 years ago, things have changed immensely – especially regarding organisation and technological advancement. Where 20 or 30 years ago, fireworks were fired manually by an individual, today we can fire vast sequences simultaneously thanks to computerised firing systems.”

This technological leap has been instrumental in attracting elite international competitors. While the opening night in Gozo serves as a non-competitive exhibition showcasing the talent of Gozitan societies and last year’s winners from Birgu, the Valletta dates host a pyromusical competition. This year, the MTA is welcoming elite fireworks factories from across the globe, including a prominent competitor from Canada.

The backdrop itself is a major draw for these international competitors. “The Grand Harbour provides an iconic, globally recognised picture of Malta,” Roderick notes. “This type of historical, fortified backdrop is rarely found anywhere else in the world.”

Judges for the competition look far beyond the sheer size – especially since safety regulations and barge-firing limit shell sizes. Instead, they evaluate the artistry. “The judges aren’t just looking for a ‘nice’ display. They look at synchronisation, colours, technical execution, and the narrative of the 15-minute show. It’s a journey,” says Roderick. “We also heavily judge originality, and thanks to modern technology, we frequently see highly original pyrotechnic elements debuting in Malta for the very first time.”

Yet, intertwined with this modern competition is Malta’s traditional craftsmanship. Due to stringent export criteria and the investment required for international transport, traditional Maltese fireworks remain a highly exclusive experience. “To see true Maltese fireworks live, you have to come to Malta,” Roderick points out. “While the Maltese Islands may be small in scale, their long-standing fireworks tradition and craftsmanship are widely respected worldwide, forming part of Malta’s UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage.”

Orchestrating an international event of this magnitude requires immense logistical precision and cross-agency collaboration. “Once a festival finishes, we take a week off, conduct a thorough post-mortem, and immediately begin planning the next one,” Roderick reveals. The Grand Harbour is such a coveted venue that the MTA routinely receives up to 25 international expressions of interest for just eight available competition slots.

Meanwhile, the logistics extend far beyond selecting competitors. To execute the shows safely, the Grand Harbour must be completely closed to maritime traffic. “This requires significant coordination with Transport Malta to manage traffic and ensure we don't negatively affect other commercial operations,” Roderick explains.

For the discerning traveller, seamless access and comfort are paramount. While the magnificent sky can be viewed from across the Cottonera side, the premium viewing experience is strategically centred at Valletta’s Lascaris Wharf, where PA sound systems are installed to capture the musical synchronisation.

“To elevate the experience, we offer a designated seating area with tickets that are easily pre-bookable online,” Roderick continues. To counter the natural traffic challenges of a fortified city, Lascaris Wharf is closed to public traffic, while public transport hours are extended and coordinated directly with tour operators to ensure a smooth flow of coaches and taxis.

This level of planning yields a substantial economic ripple effect for Malta’s hospitality, retail, and gastronomy sectors. “90 per cent of seats are sold to tourists,” Roderick highlights. “Because we attract visitors specifically for this event, we constantly receive requests from people wanting to book their flights and hotels for the following year before the current festival has even ended.”

Looking ahead to the grand finale on 30th April – a date permanently set to commemorate Malta’s entry into the European Union – the MTA’s vision for the festival’s future is continual improvement, with an aim to further fuse Malta’s generational passion with international corporate standards.

“We are arguably the best at manufacturing fireworks out of pure, local passion,” Roderick concludes. “However, foreign companies approach this as a full-time, corporate business with meticulous safety protocols. My goal is to see a continued exchange of knowledge, allowing us to combine Malta’s incredible pyrotechnic passion with international business and safety standards, cementing our status as a world leader in this space.”

The 25th Malta International Fireworks Festival will continue on 20th, 25th, and 30th April in the Grand Harbour, Valletta. Premium seating can be booked online via the official MTA website.