Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), through VisitMalta, is proud to announce the VisitMalta Weekender 2026, a two-day festival of football, which is set to take place at the iconic St. James’ Park in Newcastle on the 15th and 16thย of August 2026.
The VisitMalta Weekender will see Newcastle United’s men’s and women’s teams return to their home ground ahead of the 2026/27 season, with every fixture being contested for the VisitMalta Cup, placing Malta’s tourism brand at the heart of one of English football’s most passionate fanbases.
The opening fixture, scheduled for Saturday 15thย August, will see Newcastle United take on German Bundesliga giants Bayer 04 Leverkusen, while a Sunday double-header will feature both Newcastle United Women and the men’s first team, with opponents for those fixtures set to be announced later this month.
The event forms part of the Malta Tourism Authority’s wider international marketing strategy, leveraging high-profile sporting partnerships to position Malta as a premier Mediterranean destination and increase the islands’ visibility across key tourism markets.
Minister for Tourism Jo Etienne Abela welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of sport as a powerful platform for destination promotion.
“This weekender continues to create exceptional opportunities to showcase Malta to millions of football supporters across the United Kingdom and beyond. The VisitMalta Weekender further strengthens Malta’s international visibility while reinforcing our position as a vibrant, year-round destination offering world-class experiences both on and off the pitch. Through strategic collaborations such as this, we continue attracting quality visitors and strengthening Malta’s presence within one of our most important tourism markets.”
Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef emphasised the continued importance of strategically exposing the VisitMalta brand in key international markets.
“By placing the VisitMalta brand at the centre of this prestigious pre-season event, we continue reaching millions of supporters through one of the world’s most followed sports, further enhancing Malta’s profile as an attractive destination. Initiatives such as these play a key role in strengthening Malta’s visibility and inspiring future travel from our key markets to our islands.”
Further ticket information for the VisitMalta Weekender 2026, will be released through Newcastle United’s official channels later this month.
The Malta Tourism Authority remains committed to enhancing Maltaโs global visibility, strengthen its tourism brand and continue positioning the islands as a leading destination for quality tourism throughout the year.
