The Maltese Premier League, known as Yo Health Malta Premier for sponsorship reasons with Yo Health (colloquially known as Il-Kampjonat Premjer), is the highest level of professional football in Malta. Managed by the Malta Football Association, the Premier League is contested by 12 teams and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Challenge League. As of June 2022, the Premier League ranks 46th out of 55 members in the UEFA coefficient.

The league was first contested in 1909 as the First Division, before switching to its current name in 1980; the First Division in turn replaced the Second Division. Floriana have won the title a record 27 times. The current champions are Floriana who won the title in the 2025–26 season.

Format

5 clubs: 1909–1912 8 clubs: 1912–1913 7 clubs: 1913–1914 6 clubs: 1914–1917 8 clubs: 1917–1918 5 clubs: 1918–1919 6 clubs: 1919–1920 9 clubs: 1920–1921 7 clubs: 1921–1922 6 clubs: 1922–1923 5 clubs: 1923–1924 8 clubs: 1924–1925 7 clubs: 1925–1926 4 clubs: 1926–1927 7 clubs: 1927–1928 3 clubs: 1928–1929 5 clubs: 1929–1930 4 clubs: 1930–1933 2 clubs: 1933–1934 7 clubs: 1934–1935 3 clubs: 1935–1936 4 clubs: 1936–1945 7 clubs: 1945–1946 8 clubs: 1946–1964 7 clubs: 1964–1965 6 clubs: 1965–1967 8 clubs: 1967–1971 10 clubs: 1971–1980 8 clubs: 1980–1988 9 clubs: 1988–1991 10 clubs: 1991–2011 12 clubs: 2011–2017 14 clubs: 2017–2020 16 clubs: 2020–2021 12 clubs: 2021–2022 14 clubs: 2022–2024 12 clubs: 2024–

In a Premier League the league format, which will come into being from the 2024–25 season, the Maltese Premier League will be made up of 12 teams and be split into an Opening Round and Closing Round in a way that is similar to domestic footballing systems used in South America. The Opening Round will see each of the 12 teams play each other once before the league is then split between a Top 6 and a Bottom 6, allowing for the teams in each of those splits to play each other another time. Once the ranking is set, each team will return to 0 points and start from scratch in the Closing Round, where the same process will be repeated. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. The club with the most points is crowned champions. Suppose two teams are level on points at the end of the season (to decide champions, for relegation or for UEFA competitions). In that case, there will be a play-off to decide the finishing order of the teams. If three or more teams are tied on points (to determine champions, for relegation or UEFA competitions), teams are ranked by Head-to-head points and the best two teams will play a play-off. The four lowest placed teams are relegated into the Challenge League

Clubs finishing the season in the top positions of the Premier League are granted qualification to compete in one of UEFA's European competitions. This is determined by Malta's position in the UEFA coefficient ranking system.

The league winner qualifies for the first qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League. The second- and third-placed teams qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. An additional Europa Conference League place is available through the country's domestic cup competition, the FA Trophy. If the winner of the FA Trophy qualifies for Europe through their league position, the fourth-placed team in the league qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League's first qualifying round.

Sponsorship

PeriodSponsorBrand1990–1996 Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Premier League1996–2002 Rothmans Rothmans Premier League2002–2004 MIA MIA Premier League2004–2024 BOV BOV Premier League2024–2025 360Sports 360Sports Malta Premier2025–2026 Yo Health Yo Health Malta Premier2026- VBET VBET Malta PremierKey Sponsors for 2025/26 Season:

Title Sponsor: YoHealth Official Sponsor: Meridianbet Official Match Ball Sponsor: Adidas Key Partner: Sixt Leasing Other Partners: Ejjabet (Official Sponsor)

League committees The Premier Division Standing Committee (PDSC) is a body composed of the Premier League club presidents who represent their club on a board. These do not have executive powers but are a formal body that has official influence with regard to rules, regulations and issues that relate to the league. From time to time the committee makes proposals to the respective and MFA bodies for approval.

Venues Ta' Qali Ta' Qali Ta' Qali National Stadium Centenary Stadium Capacity: 16,997 Capacity: 1,732 Paola Hamrun Xewkija Tony Bezzina Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium Gozo Stadium Capacity: 2,968 Capacity: 1,962 Capacity: 1,644

Clubs Seasons in Maltese Premier League

37 teams have taken part in the Maltese Premier League since the 1945-46 season (i.e. the season that introduced promotion and relegation, and during which the MFA changed the rules of the clubs that every locality they have to represent one club) until the 2026-27 season. Hibernians F.C. is the only team that has played Maltese Premier League football every season. Teams in bold participate in the 2026-27 season.

81 seasons: Hibernians F.C. 80 seasons: Floriana F.C., Valletta F.C. 79 seasons: Sliema Wanderers F.C. 71 seasons: Ħamrun Spartans F.C. 60 seasons: Birkirkara F.C. 28 seasons: Rabat Ajax F.C., St. George's F.C. 21 seasons: Naxxar Lions F.C. 19 seasons: Mosta F.C. 18 seasons: Gżira United F.C. 17 seasons: Marsa F.C. 16 seasons: Pietà Hotspurs F.C., Qormi F.C., Tarxien Rainbows F.C., Żurrieq F.C. 14 seasons: Balzan F.C., Msida St. Joseph F.C. 13 seasons:Marsaxlokk F.C. 11 seasons: Żabbar St. Patrick F.C., Żebbuġ Rangers F.C. 10 seasons: Melita F.C., St. Andrews F.C. 6 seasons: Senglea Athletic F.C. 5 seasons: Gudja United F.C., Lija Athletic F.C., Mqabba F.C., Santa Lucia F.C., Vittoriosa Stars F.C., Sirens F.C. 2 seasons: Pembroke Athleta F.C., Xgħajra Tornadoes F.C. 1 season: Birżebbuġa St. Peter's, Dingli Swallows F.C., Għaxaq F.C., Gozo F.C., Mellieħa S.C., Żejtun Corinthians F.C.

Teams in italics are defunct.

Champions

In total, ten clubs have won the Maltese championship, including titles in the old First Division which was replaced in 1980 by the Premier League. Of the winners, three clubs have been champions more than 20 times: Floriana (27 titles), Sliema Wanderers (26 titles) and Valletta (25 titles).

The honour of Golden Stars was introduced in football to recognize sides that have won multiple championships. In Malta, clubs are permitted to place a golden star above their crest for every ten national championships won. Sliema Wanderers, Floriana and Valletta boast two golden stars, and Hibernians and Ħamrun Spartans have one golden star placed above their crest on their jerseys.

ClubWinnersFloriana 2714111909–10, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1992–93, 2019–20, 2025–26Sliema Wanderers 2631191919–20, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1988–89, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05Valletta 2517201914–15, 1931–32, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19Hibernians 1314141960–61, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2021–22Ħamrun Spartans 1111141913–14, 1917–18, 1946–47, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1990–91, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25Birkirkara410101999–2000, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2012–13Rabat Ajax2111984–85, 1985–86St. George's1451916–17Marsaxlokk1212006–07The King's Own Malta Regiment1001918–19

Bold teams are currently in the Maltese Premier League.

Italic: Season Unbeaten.

League appearances Player MatchesMario Muscat529Andrew Cohen508Roderick Briffa491Paul Fenech487David Camilleri484Clayton Failla470Gilbert Agius453Ivan Woods446Brian Said429Tyrone Farrugia425Malcolm Licari425Stefan Sultana424Jeffrey Chetcuti414Manolito Micallef400

Bold denotes still active players.

References

External links Malta Football Association (archived 28 February 2017) League321.com – Maltese football league tables, records and statistics database List of champions and runners-up – RSSSF