Mediterranean Conference Centre

The Mediterranean Conference Centre sits at the Grand Harbour end of Valletta, inside one of the largest historic buildings in the capital. For more than four centuries it was a hospital, and since 1979 it has worked as a conference centre, a theatre and a place for weddings, banquets and corporate occasions. Organisers call it the MCC, and it ranks among the biggest conference centres in Europe set within a heritage building.

Its address is Old Hospital Street, near Fort St Elmo and a short walk from the city's main sights. UK event planners, associations and couples weighing up a Malta wedding will find the combination unusual: modern sound, lighting and interpretation equipment inside walls begun in the 1570s. On VisitMalta.co.uk the centre is listed in our entertainment venues in Malta directory.

A hospital that became a landmark

The building was the Sacra Infermeria of the Order of St John, begun in late 1574 under Grand Master Jean de la Cassiere. Its Great Ward, extended in the 1660s, ran for 155 metres and was counted among the longest and grandest interiors in Europe. The hospital could take 914 patients in an emergency, and in 1676 a School of Anatomy and Surgery was founded there, forerunner of the University of Malta's medical school. Readers curious about the order behind it will enjoy our guide to the Knights of Malta.

After the Knights left in 1798 the French used it as a military hospital, and from 1800 the British ran it as a station hospital until 1918. The hall then served as police headquarters, and the building took four direct hits during the Second World War, losing around a third of the complex. Later uses included a children's theatre, an entertainment hall for allied troops and a school and examination hall.

A final restoration turned the shell into the present centre, inaugurated on 11 February 1979. That work earned a Europa Nostra Diploma of Merit for its restoration and adaptation as a conference venue, and an ongoing maintenance programme keeps the character of the national monument intact while the facilities stay up to date. The mission is to serve social, cultural and business functions by managing and leasing its resources and its unique historic property, and to keep improving the facilities for tomorrow's demands.

Halls, capacity and technical facilities

The centre offers more than 8,000 square metres in total. The main auditorium is the Republic Hall, built where the hospital's main courtyard once stood. It seats 1,400 in theatre style across 728 square metres, with a ceiling height of 18.9 metres, and its old stone arches sit beside a deep red theatre curtain and modern seating.

For dinners and receptions, La Valette Hall is an imposing banqueting room for up to 900 guests. Around these two sit a range of individually styled smaller halls for receptions, seminars and modest conferences. Recent restoration has also opened spaces that were previously closed to the public, including the Grand Harbour Terrace, Sala Ospitalieri, the Giloromo Cassar Halls and dance studios, which widens the choice for conventions and private functions.

Every room has its own sound, lighting and climate control, and the audio-visual package includes interpretation facilities. The Republic Hall is fitted with theatre lighting, sound systems and simultaneous interpretation for up to eight languages, a real advantage for international congresses. For planning, the centre publishes downloadable seating, stage and lighting plans, and a stage plan listing the curtains and cyclorama.

Conferences, corporate events and exhibitions

Conferences are the centre's founding purpose, and it handles product launches, exhibitions, conventions and seminars as well as large multinational meetings. Because the halls are separate and independently controlled, a single event can combine a plenary session in the Republic Hall with breakout rooms, an exhibition floor and a banquet in La Valette Hall.

Catering is handled by partners, chosen from the largest on the island, and the building has a full in-house kitchen beneath La Valette Hall. The centre can provide up to 4,000 covers a day, which matters when a conference lunch or gala dinner runs to hundreds of delegates.

Corporate and incentive organisers have a dedicated corporate events service within the centre. A company dinner, an awards evening or a staff celebration can use the same halls, catering and technical team as a conference, and enquiries can be sent for conferences, corporate events, weddings, theatre and the AR museum. Delegates travelling from the UK can plan around flights to Malta, including routes from London Heathrow.

Theatre and stage shows

The Republic Hall doubles as a theatre, and it can stage productions comparable with major international houses. Companies that have performed there include Cirque du Soleil, Teatro alla Scala of Milan, Teatro San Carlo of Naples, the Ballet Nacional de Espana, the Belgian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Georgia State Theatre for Opera and Ballet.

The MCC runs its own theatre programme with an upcoming events listing and an archive of past shows. The programme at the time of writing included performances of the Rocky Horror Show over a weekend at the end of October and the start of November. Dates and times change, so check the current listing when you enquire. If you are building a trip around a show, our guide to things to do in Malta has ideas for the rest of the day.

Weddings and private celebrations

The MCC is a wedding venue as well as a conference space, and weddings have their own page and enquiry category on the site. The harbour views, the stonework of the old infirmary and the grand halls give couples a historic backdrop within Valletta itself.

Banquets and receptions use the same halls and catering as corporate dinners, so a wedding can range from a modest reception in one of the smaller halls to a larger celebration in La Valette Hall. Wedding packages and prices are not printed, so ask about dates, guest numbers and catering when you write. Smaller halls suit an intimate ceremony and meal, while La Valette Hall suits a large guest list. Tell the team early if you want music, staging or lighting, because the technical equipment in the halls is part of what the centre offers.

If you are marrying in Valletta, take time to see the city itself. Our Valletta guide covers the streets and sights around the venue, and the nearby Upper Barrakka Gardens offer a classic view across the Grand Harbour. Visitors can also see St John's Co-Cathedral within walking distance.

People, heritage tours and getting there

The centre is run by a board chaired by Dr Kenneth Spiteri, who has held the post since 2013 and co-wrote a commemorative book on the Knights' Infirmary. Nigel Vella has been chief executive since 1 April 2025, Anita Portelli is chief financial officer, Rosette Micallef directs sales and marketing and Noel Sammut directs operations.

Heritage is part of the offer, and it gives delegates something to remember beyond the agenda. The MCC has built a virtual reality tour of the Sacra Infermeria, with new features being added, and its website carries a virtual tour and an AR museum category in its enquiry form.

Valletta is about 6 km from Malta International Airport, and the Grand Hotel Excelsior and the Phoenicia Hotel are five minutes away, with boutique hotels within walking distance. For somewhere to stay, see our hotels in Valletta page or the wider advice on where to stay in Malta. Useful facts for visitors: Malta uses the euro, English is widely spoken and the electricity supply takes British three-pin plugs.

Planning an event at the MCC

A good first message names the type of event, your preferred dates, the number of guests, whether you need interpretation or staging, and any catering requirements. The centre's enquiry categories cover conferences, weddings, corporate events, theatre and the AR museum, so say which applies.

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the Mediterranean Conference Centre, who will reply to you directly.