Katy Perry makes Isle of MTV Malta debut

Katy Perry made her Malta debut as the headline act at Isle of MTV Malta 2026, performing at the Floriana granaries alongside DJ and producer AFROJACK and singer AIDAN.

Now in its 18th year, Isle of MTV Malta is staged by MTV in partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority and is billed as Europe's largest free summer festival. The 2026 edition will premiere across MTV's international networks on 18 September.

Katy Perry crowd surfs in a bottle (Photo: Malta Tourism Authority)

Perry's set featured hits spanning her career, alongside her new single, Watch It Burn. Opening with California Gurls, she performed a production featuring choreography, costume changes and large-scale visuals.

During an acoustic performance of Roar, Perry reflected on recently having "lost her roar" before finding it again, sharing a message about kindness and perseverance. Other interactive moments included fan-cams, a walk through the crowd inside an oversized water bottle and a playful "sunscreen" spray over the front rows before closing with Firework.

Photo: Malta Tourism Authority

One of Perry's costumes was the outfit she wore in a 2009 MTV Video Music Awards promotional campaign. She said it will be donated to benefit her Firework Foundation through Fandiem.

AFROJACK closed the festival with a set of dance music favourites, performing alongside MC Ambush. The performance featured large-scale visuals, confetti and pyrotechnics.

Earlier in the evening, AIDAN performed a set featuring his chart hits and new material from his latest album, Cowboys Don't Cry. Joined by his band and dancers, Malta's Eurovision 2026 representative received a strong response from the home crowd.

Afrojack

The line-up also included performances from Jamie Cardona and Mychael Bartolo Chircop, showcasing established and emerging Maltese talent throughout the festival.