Malta’s Independence Day is celebrated on 21 September, marking independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.
On 21 September 1964, Malta became an independent state after constitutional negotiations with Britain. Queen Elizabeth II remained Malta’s head of state during the initial constitutional arrangement, represented locally by a governor-general.
Independence was one stage in Malta’s gradual constitutional development. The country became a republic on 13 December 1974, and British military forces left Malta under the 1979 Freedom Day arrangements. These milestones have separate public holidays.
Malta’s Independence Day features official commemorations and cultural events. It is sometimes confused with Victory Day on 8 September, Republic Day on 13 December, or Freedom Day on 31 March, all of which commemorate different moments in Maltese history.