Overview & Setting

Mighty Hoopla, long a fixture of London’s queer‑pop scene, has made a bold leap in 2025 by transplanting its “Weekender” concept to the Mediterranean for the first time.
The Maltese edition runs from 26–29 September 2025, across multiple venues: Café del Mar (Sunset / daytime / opening venue in St. Paul’s Bay), Gianpula Village (a large multi‑room open-air club complex), Little Armier Beach (for the beach party on Sunday), and Bora Bora (Hoopla’s exclusive hotel base)
Because it’s spread among a few venues rather than one massive site, there’s a bit more movement involved (walking, taxis or local rides), but most sites are within 15 minutes of key accommodations in St. Paul’s Bay.

Ticket Pricing & Access

• Tickets for Hoopla Malta start from £109, plus a ~10% booking fee. mightyhoopla.com+3mightyhoopla.com+3Travel Gay+3

• In some announcements, the price for full event access is quoted slightly higher: e.g. starting from £144.50 + 10% booking fee in one release. Simon Jones PR

• The festival offers a £50 deposit / pay‑later option, with the balance due by 18 March 2025. mightyhoopla.com+3mightyhoopla.com+3mightyhoopla.com+3

• Note: day tickets are not available; only full-event passes are sold to encourage full attendance. mightyhoopla.com

• For individual events (e.g. the headline concert at Gianpula), some local ticket listings show approximate prices in the €30–€40 range. showshappening.com+1

• As a comparison, in London the 2025 Mighty Hoopla prices were about £149 + £14.90 booking fee for the weekend pass. eFestivals

In short: it's not cheap, but the deposit option softens the financial barrier, and you get access to multiple parties, days and nights, across venues.

Line‑Up & Programming

The line-up teams pop headliners, club DJs, drag/variety acts, and immersive side‑events. Some highlights:

Headliners / Live Acts

• Melanie C (Spice Girl) and Leigh-Anne (of Little Mix) are billed as the major names. mightyhoopla.com+4Simon Jones PR+4Malta Daily+4

• Rose Gray, Katy B, Ultra Naté, and Malta’s Eurovision act Miriana Conte (with her song Kant) will also perform live sets. Malta Daily+5Simon Jones PR+5Travel Gay+5

• Miriana Conte delivered a standout performance locally, bringing both local pride and energy to hold her own on the big stage. Malta Daily+1

DJs, Drag & Club Sets

• Expect DJ sets and dance energy from Trixie Mattel, Bimini, Fat Tony, Kiddy Smile, Jodie Harsh and more. Simon Jones PR+2Travel Gay+2

• The festival isn’t all music — there are drag brunches, Big Boys Bingo hosted by Channel 4’s Jack Rooke, dance workshops, pool parties, and themed club nights. Simon Jones PR+2mightyhoopla.com+2

Venue Programming by Day

• Friday (opening) kicks off at Café del Mar with Ultra Naté and house/disco‑leaning sets. Malta Daily+2mightyhoopla.com+2

• Saturday is the main heavy-hitter night at Gianpula Village, running from 7 pm to early hours, with the full star lineup. Simon Jones PR+3showshappening.com+3Malta Daily+3

• Sunday culminates with a beach party at Little Armier, DJs + dance vibes to close out. mightyhoopla.com+2mightyhoopla.com+2

My Take & Comparison to London Mighty Hoopla

Going into Hoopla Malta, I had certain expectations given my past London festival experience. What stood out to me:

More Intimate & Relaxed

Because Malta’s event is spread across several smaller- to medium-capacity venues (rather than one huge open field), it feels more intimate. You’re walking between beach, clubs, hotel parties, rather than a single massive site. The transitions themselves are part of the experience. For me, that made the overall vibe more relaxed — less of the frantic “festival crowd crush” energy, more breathing space.

Music & Dance Focus

I felt the music leaned more dance / club / disco in Malta. While the London edition includes a wide gamut (pop, alternative, performance, spectacle), in Malta the lines lean heavier into DJ sets, house, queer dancefloor moments. It suited me — I was there to dance and let go.

A Fun Getaway

One of the joys was that the festival was not just an event — it was a mini holiday. Between sets, I got to explore Malta’s coast, enjoy sun time, seaside bars, and relax in the off‑hours. That breaks up the festival monotony that can happen in large city fests.

“Better than London”? (My Opinion)

Would I say it’s better than the London festival? Honestly — yes, in some respects. The London Mighty Hoopla is iconic, legendary, and offers a massive cast and scale. But Hoopla Malta, for me, delivered more refined joy: less scale pressure, more dance continuity, more scenic backdrop, and a more relaxed flow. If your priority is dancing, immersive queer pop energy, and a festival with holiday feel, I think Malta edged it.

Summary & Notes for Future Attendees

• Positives: Beautiful setting, strong line‑up blending live and DJ sets, inclusive queer atmosphere, more intimate feel, getaway element.

• Considerations: You’ll need to travel between venues (some by taxi/ride), cost is non‑trivial, and logistics (transport, timing) matter.

• Tip: Stay around St. Paul’s Bay to minimize commute. Take advantage of the deposit plan. Pace yourself — the beach party + daytime sets are worth saving energy for.

• Final thought: If London Hoopla is a spectacle, Malta Hoopla is a dreamier, more dancefloor‑centric cousin — and I was thrilled to experience it.