A tradition that stretches back to the 16th century, village church festas gather the whole parish together for a time of spiritual contemplation. The festa is the main social event in the village calendar and a whole week's celebrations is the outcome of months of hard work by willing volunteers and villagers. Other festas are celebrated on a national scale. The most colourful festa in Malta is the Mnarja, celebrated on the 29th June and is characterised by a nightlong picnic at Buskett Gardens, Rabat, where the native dish 'fenkata' (stewed rabbit) is served and accompanied by locally produced wines.

Malta is steeped in maritime history and tradition. Fishermen ply the harbour and the open sea, in boats called the "luzzu", which display the eye of the Phoenician god Osiris. The "luzzu" is now also used to ferry passengers and tourists around and across Malta's magnificent harbours. Groupers, squid and other delightful catches can be savoured at authentic restaurants along the wharf or bought fresh from various places on the island. When they are in season, fresh tuna and swordfish are also plentiful and well worth sampling.

The craft of bizzilla (handmade embroideries) was mastered in Malta by the mid 17th century. Maltese lace developed its own character, often including the Maltese Cross design and one of the most recognisable traits of this type of lace is the creamy, honey coloured Spanish silk from which most of it is made.

The theatres currently in use for live performances in Malta range from historic structures to modern constructions. They host local and foreign artists, with a calendar of events that includes modern and period drama, musicals, operas, operettas, dance, concerts and poetry recitals in both national languages. The more notable theatrical venues include the Manoel Theatre, St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Republic Hall, Mediterranean Institute Theatre Programme, in Valetta and Salesian theatre in Sliema.