Barcelona. Wels. And Ħal Kirkop.
It’s not a list you’d expect to see, but it’s real. When the winners of the European Capital of Christmas 2026 awards were announced, Barcelona took the top title for big cities and Wels in Austria won the award for mid-sized towns. And the prize for the best Christmas village in Europe went to a small village in the south of Malta with fewer than 3,000 people: Ħal Kirkop.
For a village most visitors only see from the road to the airport, it’s a huge moment. And for Malta, it’s one more reason to be proud.
What exactly did Kirkop win?
The European Capital of Christmas awards celebrate cities, towns and villages across Europe that keep the spirit of Christmas alive through their traditions, culture and community. The awards are run in three categories: a Capital of Christmas for large cities, a Christmas City for towns with fewer than 100,000 residents, and a Christmas Village for places with fewer than 10,000 people.
The ninth edition of the awards was decided by an international jury chaired by Danuta Hübner, a well-known European economist and former EU Commissioner. The jury picked Barcelona as European Capital of Christmas 2026, Wels in Austria as European Christmas City 2026, and Ħal Kirkop as European Christmas Village 2026.
That puts a Maltese village of just a few thousand people side by side with one of Europe’s most famous cities. Not bad at all.
Why Kirkop? It’s all about the people
Kirkop didn’t win because it has the biggest lights or the most expensive decorations. It won because of how the whole village comes together.
In their description of the winners, the organisers highlighted Kirkop’s strong sense of community and its deep-rooted traditions, celebrated with a warm, creative and innovative spirit. Street decorations are made with lights, recycled materials and crafts that tell the story of the village’s own history and folklore. There are fairs, markets and concerts featuring local artisans, musicians and talent of all ages.
The jury also praised something that goes beyond decorations. Kirkop runs volunteer programmes over Christmas to support elderly residents and people with disabilities, and residents help to organise the celebrations themselves, making handmade decorations and lights so that the whole village becomes one shared creative project.
That’s the Maltese village spirit in a nutshell. The same energy that goes into a summer festa, turned towards Christmas.
Meet Klaus Percopu
At the heart of Kirkop’s Christmas is its very own festive character: Klaus Percopu, sometimes written Klaus Percopus.
The name is a clever local touch. It’s inspired by the old way the name “Kirkop” used to be written, linking the village’s past with its modern Christmas celebrations. The Christmas village itself used to be known as “Gigantic”, and was renamed Klaus Percopu’s Village with a bigger focus on culture, tradition and local identity. It’s organised by the Ħal Kirkop Local Council, working closely with the village’s feast associations.
The award organisers also mentioned some of the other characters who help bring Kirkop’s Christmas story to life, including figures linked to the village’s patron saints and to its famous menhir, the ancient standing stone that has become Kirkop’s symbol.
What happens at Klaus Percopu’s Village?
Every year is a little different, but past editions have included:
- Snow in the streets. Kirkop is famous for its surprise snowfall in the village square, a big hit with kids in a country where real snow almost never falls.
- Meeting Klaus Percopu himself, along with activities and entertainment for children.
- Traditional food stalls with Maltese festive treats.
- Creative decorations, including a much-photographed Christmas tree made from milk cartons in a previous edition.
- Markets, crafts and concerts with local artisans and musicians.
- Live nativity scenes and workshops connected to Maltese Christmas traditions.
The 2025 edition was held over the last weekend of November. Dates for the special 2026 edition, the year Kirkop carries the title of European Christmas Village, had not been announced at the time of writing. Keep an eye on the Ħal Kirkop Local Council’s official channels and our Events page, where we’ll add it as soon as dates are confirmed.
Where is Ħal Kirkop?
Ħal Kirkop is a small village in the south of Malta, very close to Malta International Airport and surrounded by the villages of Luqa, Żurrieq, Mqabba and Safi. Most tourists pass right by without stopping, which is exactly why this award is so special. It shines a light on the kind of authentic Maltese village life many visitors never get to see.
Beyond Christmas, Kirkop has some quiet treasures of its own: the parish church of St Leonard, the prehistoric menhir that gives the village its symbol, and old catacombs from the Punic and early Christian periods hidden around the area. Nearby Mqabba is home to the rarely opened Ta’ Mintna Catacombs, another reminder of how much history this small corner of Malta holds.
Why this matters for Malta
Malta is often seen as a summer destination: beaches, boat trips and festas. Awards like this help show the world another side of the islands, the cosy, community-driven Christmas that Maltese families know and love.
Malta’s Christmas is quite different from the big markets of Germany or Austria. It’s built around village life, local food, handmade decorations and a strong tradition of Christmas cribs, the presepji. Kirkop’s win is a recognition of all of that, and of the volunteers and councils across Malta who put their hearts into making December special.
And it proves something the Maltese have always known: you don’t have to be big to be the best.
Plan your Maltese Christmas
If you’re visiting Malta in December, combine a trip to Kirkop with some of the island’s other festive highlights:
- Natalis Notabilis, Rabat’s much-loved Christmas market beside Mdina.
- Christmas in Valletta, with lights, entertainment and family fun in the capital.
- New Year’s Eve in Valletta, the island’s biggest free countdown party.
Love stories that make Malta proud? Explore more of the island’s hidden side in our Malta Little Secrets.
Event details for the 2026 Klaus Percopu’s Village were still to be confirmed at the time of writing. Always check with the Ħal Kirkop Local Council for the latest information.