Victory Day Malta 2026: Siege History, Festas & How to Attend
Fireworks explode over Malta during their Victory Day
Victory Day Malta 2026: Siege History, Festas & How to Attend
Victory Day Malta (Sept 8) marks the 1565 siege victory and honors Our Lady of Victories with festas, processions, and national celebrations.
Malta festas | Our Lady of Victories Malta | Siege of Malta 1565 | Malta September festivals | Il-Bambina Malta
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In 1565, over 40,000 Ottomans charged the Mediterranean island of Malta1. Armed with muskets, incredibly advanced weaponry for the 16th century, they threatened to eliminate the 500 sword-laden Knights of St. John: a Catholic Order inhabiting Malta since 1530.2
Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, Attack on the post of the Castilian knights on 21 August 1565
Instead of succumbing to the Ottomans, the Order of Knights of St. John wisely called upon the aid of an ally with a direct line to the divine: Il-Bambina.
Roughly translated, Il-Bambina means “The Baby Girl.”
Who Is Il-Bambina?
“The Baby Girl” goes by many names: Theotokos, Stella Maris – and Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.
Image inspired by the Maltese Il-Bambina statue
Amongst all her other titles, the Maltese Il-Bambina seems odd until you understand the context of Mary’s intercession during The Siege of Malta.
In the liturgical calendar, the Immaculate Conception of Mary occurs every year on December 8. Therefore, the celebration of Mary’s birth (her nativity) occurs on September 8, nine months after her conception.
Our Lady and The Siege of Malta
Not-so coincidentally, September 8, 1565 marks the end of The Siege of Malta. The Knights of St. John, deeply devoted to the Blessed Mother, called upon her aid during their fight with the Ottomans.
Arguably, the intercession of Il-Bambina allowed the 500 knights (and their 6,000 soldiers) to successfully defend the island of Malta from Ottoman invaders.3 This prevented the Islamic group from gaining a naval launch point in the Mediterranean, providing valuable protection to continental Europe during the Spanish-Ottoman Wars.
Lifting of the Siege of Malta by Charles-Philippe Larivière (1798–1876). Hall of the Crusades, Palace of Versailles.
Three Centuries, Three Sieges, Same Victory Day Malta
The people of Malta, grateful for the intercession of Il-Bambina, began to celebrate her in a more mature form: Il-Madonna tal-Vitorja, Our Lady of Victory.
Later, they believe her aid crucial in not one, but TWO other sieges of Malta – both in different centuries than the first.
- The Siege of Valletta (1798-1800)
- WWII Siege (1942)
Now, the Maltese fondly refer to our mother as “Our Lady of Victories,” for her unceasing loyalty to their little Mediterranean nation.
Malta’s Festas: Celebrating Our Lady of Victories
Today, Malta honors both the Knights of St. John and our Blessed Mother through a myriad of cultural and religious activities:
- Musicians and artists perform at Great Siege Square in Valletta the night before, on September 7
- Day of, numerous processions honor Our Lady of Victories, including one with the statue of Il-Bambina, the baby girl
- Parades of Armed Maltese forces march down Republic Street in Valletta until they reach the Co-Cathedral of St. John
- The Regatta (an annual boat race) takes place in the Grand Harbour
Image inspired by the Victory Day Malta celebrations
How to Experience Victory Day Malta (2026 Pilgrimage)
MedSeas Catholic Journeys will visit Malta in a small group from September 3-10, 2026. This overlaps the incredible Victory Day Malta celebrations honoring Our Lady.
MedSeas Catholic Journeys will:
- Visit four special churches in Malta named after Our Lady of Victories, some which could be part of the Victory Day processions
- Attend Mass and venerate the skull of Blessed Gerard, Founder of the Order of Malta (part of the Knights of St. John)
- Enjoy a private Grand Harbor cruise, which is the same harbor that hosts the Regatta boat race
We only have a couple spots left, so space is limited! If you are interested in joining MedSeas Catholic Journeys, go to medseas.com/malta/journey-to-the-island-of-knights-saints/.
1 Francesco Balbi di Correggio / translated by: Ernle Bradford (1965). The Siege of Malta, 1565. London.
2 Francisco Balbi, The Siege of Malta 1565, translated by H.A. Balbi (Copenhagen, 1961).
3 Francesco Balbi di Correggio / translated by: Ernle Bradford (1965). The Siege of Malta, 1565. London.
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FAQs
What is Victory Day Malta?
Victory Day Malta celebrates the end of the Great Siege in 1565 and honors Our Lady of Victories.
When is Victory Day Malta celebrated?
September 8 each year.
Where is it celebrated?
Across Malta, especially in Valletta and the Grand Harbour.