In Guardia is one of the most colourful things you can see in Valletta on a Sunday morning. Inside Fort St Elmo, a company of re-enactors dressed as soldiers of the Order of St John recreate a 16th-century military inspection, complete with drums, flags, musket drills and the boom of a cannon. The new season starts on Sunday 25th October 2026 and runs on selected Sundays into spring 2027.
Key details
- Next dates in 2026: Sunday 25th October, 1st November, 15th November, 6th December and 13th December
- 2027 dates: 10th and 24th January, 14th and 28th February, 7th and 14th March, 4th and 18th April
- Show time: 11am to 12pm, entrance opens at 10am
- Venue: Piazza d’Armi, Fort St Elmo, Mediterranean Street, Valletta
- Tickets: show only €10 adults, €7.50 seniors and students, €5 children, infants free
- Combined ticket with the fort and museum: €17 adults, €13 seniors and students, €9 children
What you will see
The show is a recreation of a formal inspection of the fort’s garrison by the Grand Bailiff, the knight in charge of its defence. Expect marching, roll calls, weapon drills and some loud musket and cannon fire, all narrated so you can follow what is happening. It lasts about an hour and works well for kids who like noise and costumes.
The fort and the National War Museum open at 12pm, so the combined ticket is a nice way to turn the morning into a half day. Our guide to Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum explains what is inside.
Tips for visitors
- Arrive by around 10:30am to get a good spot along the edge of the parade ground.
- Heritage Malta passports and discount cards are not valid for In Guardia tickets.
- The show can be cancelled in bad weather, so check Heritage Malta’s website or call +356 22 954 300 on the morning if the forecast looks wet.
- The cannon is loud. Small children may want ear protection.
Getting there
Fort St Elmo is at the tip of Valletta, about a 15-minute walk down Republic Street from City Gate, where most buses stop. After the show, head back through town to the National Museum of Archaeology, or take the ferry across the harbour to the Three Cities for lunch by the water.
Dates and prices come from Heritage Malta’s official listing and may change.