This year’s Malta International Fireworks Festival will be different in more ways than one. The chosen theme for the 17th edition, ‘Where Fire and Culture Meet’, reflects the way cultural aspects will be incorporated with features that have never been seen before in Malta and Gozo.

The opening will take place on April 21 in Xagħra.

Phoenix Fireworks Ltd (UK) and Rozzi Fireworks (USA) will be performing on this opening night against spectacular backdrops.

The festival will continue on April 27 in Marsaxlokk, where Martarello Srl (Italy) and St Mary Fireworks Factory (Għaxaq) will be lighting up the skies.

The event in Marsaxlokk will be based on a traditional feast, where the colourful decorations and a local band dedicated to Madonna ta’ Pompei will take centre stage. The grand finale will take place in Grand Harbour on April 30 with a pyrotechnic show.

On the occasion, fireworks will be synchronised to live singing and an orchestra performing music from a floating stage.

This festival complements the fact that Valletta is the European Capital of Culture. After all, fireworks and the locals’ love of them are well ingrained in the Maltese culture.

Malta Tourism Authority chairman Gavin Gulia said that a varied calendar of events throughout the year played a very important role in overcoming seasonality.

The Malta International Fireworks Festival has now become one of the MTA’s most popular and longest running event.

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said that such occasions help to achieve record-breaking results in terms of inbound tourism.

The country’s increased connectivity has also created more interest in these events.