The Maltese festa has been officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The festa is a community event of religious origin held annually in village parishes across Malta and Gozo. The main festa season in Malta starts towards the end of April and runs until the beginning of October, with multiple events taking place in different villages. Community volunteers prepare for the festa throughout the year and the event itself typically lasts a week. On the final day, a statue is carried in a procession led by the clergy and accompanied by members of the parish and marching bands. Festa weeks feature concerts, band marches, firework displays and bell ringing. Typical festa food, such as nougat, is sold from street stalls.