A cooler alternative replacing the heat of Fort St. Elmo, The Ditch in Valletta once acted as a giant moat in the 16th century, earning its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nowadays, the unique venue has been refurbished into a scenic area with gardens, with its tall walls helping to keep avid party-goers cool from the sun.
For a hint of luxury during the festival, Café Del Mar’s pool parties are another unmissable off-site experience. Overlooking the crystal blue Maltese waters, Cafe Del Mar is the perfect place to either get stuck in on the dancefloor through til sunset, or chill by the pool and enjoy the music at a distance. Either way it will be hard to drag yourself away when the party finishes.
The largest of the stages on site, the open air, disco ball crowned main arena has an atmosphere that is pretty hard to beat. With jaw-dropping production capabilities and a spacious dancefloor, from the sunshine filled daytime right through til the early AM this space plays host to the biggest names on the Defected Malta line-up. At the heart of the UNO complex, the Main Stage is surrounded by the bars, food stalls and facilities and the beating heart of the venue.
With a magical feel to it, the Treehaus at UNO offers a more intimate but by no means less impressive atmosphere. Teeming with luscious greenery that offers an ethereal feel to the space, the enclosed space creates a feeling of togetherness on the dancefloor, as a cavernous soundsystem radiates throughout. Just seconds from the Main Stage and Heart, each space has its own unique feel, with the Treehaus no exception.
Our Roots stage debuted in 2023, providing an eclectic look at house music’s alternative branches, from soulful groove and rhythmic R&B, to pulsating Afro house and tech. Located between the main thoroughfare and its big sister stage, Treehaus, the Roots hosted takeovers from Melvo Baptiste’s The Remedy Project, Kid Fonque’s Stay True Sounds and Kitty Amor’s Mahaba Music, featuring waves of variety. Come for something different, stay for the vibe.
A truly unique party experience, the castle party is hosted at the historic Fort St Elmo. Within the limestone walls of the 1552 listed building, a festival-size stage and fierce soundsystem project loudly enough to circulate the expansive site with music. Around 20-minutes from the main festival site, and offering panoramic views of the Maltese coast this is a festival experience not to be missed.
No Defected festival would be complete without our epic boat parties, setting sail across the Mediterranean with a soundtrack provided by world class DJs for an unforgettable festival experience. As sunset draws in, panoramic views and an unbeatable, intimate atmosphere make our boat parties a festival highlight year-on-year.
