Thousands of visitors flocked to the Pitkalija in Ta’ Qali on Sunday, 11 October 2026, for this year’s edition of Festa Ikel Malti, organised by the Malta Food Agency.

The annual event, which has become a popular occasion for Maltese and Gozitan families, once again placed local produce and the work of those contributing to Malta’s food sector at the heart of the celebrations.

The largest edition of the event to date brought together more than 50 food producers and organisations, including participants from the Farmers’ Market. Visitors had the opportunity to discover a wide variety of local products, meet producers directly and gain a greater appreciation of the quality, tradition and dedication behind Maltese food.

Throughout the day, the public enjoyed a varied programme of activities, including live cooking demonstrations, traditional food, entertainment and activities for children, creating a lively atmosphere that brought families, producers and consumers together.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply Anton Refalo highlighted the importance of events such as Festa Ikel Malti in strengthening the relationship between producers and consumers.

“The success of Festa Ikel Malti demonstrates how much the Maltese and Gozitan people appreciate local produce and the work of those who produce it. Behind every product are the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of our farmers, fishermen and producers. As a government, we will continue working to give local producers greater visibility and more opportunities, while encouraging consumers to choose Maltese products. By choosing local produce, we are investing in the future of the sector and our country’s economy,” Minister Refalo said.

Malta Food Agency Chief Executive Officer Brian Vella expressed his satisfaction with the strong turnout and the participation of producers.

“The success of Festa Ikel Malti is testament to what we can achieve when we come together around something that gives us our identity and makes us proud of our country. The thousands of people who attended this year’s edition brought to life a celebration of our hard work, traditions and flavours. At the heart of it all are our local producers, who, through their dedication and commitment, keep Malta’s food heritage alive,” Vella said.

Meanwhile, Malta Food Agency Chief Business Development Officer Justin John Camilleri said this year’s edition further confirmed the event’s potential as a platform for promoting local products and supporting commercial development.

“The largest edition of Festa Ikel Malti to date, which attracted thousands of visitors, confirms the value of this event as an important platform for local producers. Public participation gives us an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between producers and consumers, increase the visibility of Maltese products and create opportunities for new business contacts,” Camilleri said.

Festa Ikel Malti forms part of the Malta Food Agency’s ongoing efforts to promote local produce, support Maltese and Gozitan producers, and create new opportunities for growth in the food sector.

The success of this year’s edition reinforces the commitment to further developing Festa Ikel Malti as a national celebration of food, tradition and Maltese identity.