The Malta Historical Society was established as a non-profit organisation in 1950.

The Malta Historical Society is active at the diffusion of knowledge of the History of Malta through a variety of activities, besides its publications.

A public lecture is held monthly, with guest speakers on a variety of historical topics.  The lectures are often research work in progress, or the latest historical research coming out from post-graduate studies.  Established and emerging historians are welcome to share their latest work with the public.  In 2021, the Malta Historical Society organized online lectures, enabling audiences to log on from overseas. Most online lectures are recorded, and can be viewed as webinars.

MHS History Week is an event which takes place every two years, and brings together all those interested in the history of Malta, to listen to a series of short lectures over a number of days.  Members of the public get to hear the latest historical research undertaken by scholars, and have the opportunity to ask questions and start a discussion.  History Week also provides a platform to emerging historians to experience public speaking to an audience with a wide range of interests.  History Week starts early in the year with a public call for papers, and the selection of candidate speakers.  The event takes place over two or more consecutive evenings and is open to the public.  A selection of the papers presented are then published as Proceedings of History Week, which is then available on sale to the public.

The Malta Historical Society also organizes the MHS Historical Publication Awards, to recognize those published papers which have made a distinct contribution to Maltese historical studies and to encourage new entrants in the field of historical research.

Other events organized by the Malta Historical Society are launches of MHS publications, as well as collaborative events with partner NGOs such as the MUHS Malta University Historical Society.