Global talent converges for Malta Biennale 2026
Following an overwhelming international response to its three open calls, the Malta Biennale 2026 announced the selected participants of this international contemporary art platform during a press conference held at the Gran Salon, National Museum of Archaeology, in Valletta, on October 23, 2025.
Following months of rigorous review by its curatorial team, 47 applications were selected for the main exhibition of the Biennale’s second edition from more than 3,200 submissions across 122 countries. During the press conference, the national pavilions, select thematic pavilions, as well as the number of participating satellite events were also announced, together with details of the Biennale’s public events programme.
The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, stated that the second edition of the Malta Biennale will build upon the solid foundations of the first edition. “The inaugural edition was a success; the second will be an even greater success. This is further confirmation of the Maltese Government’s strong commitment towards contemporary art and its vigorous dedication in promoting Maltese artists and creatives.”
Minister Bonnici added that the success of the first Biennale, which also received recognition from UNESCO, together with the strong interest shown by international artists, stands as testimony to Malta’s potential within the cultural sector. Dr Bonnici explained that, thanks to a robust economy, the Maltese Government continues to invest significantly in art and culture, as it firmly believes in the great capabilities of local artists. “As a Government, we are convinced of the importance in providing local artists with all the support they require in order to develop their skills, reach their full potential, and achieve personal and national success.”
“Incentivised artists and creatives are representative of a strong cultural and artistic sector, and of a strong Malta,” concluded Minister Bonnici.
Malta Biennale 2026 President and Heritage Malta Chairman, Mario Cutajar, said that,“The second edition of the Biennale is going to cement the future of this international contemporary art platform. The Biennale embraces a unique concept – one which was recognised by UNESCO as being closely aligned with its own objectives and principles. So much so that the inaugural edition of the Biennale was held under the auspices of UNESCO. At its core, the Biennale seeks to revisit the past in ways that inspire artists to reflect on the present by fostering dialogue within society and deepening our collective understanding of today’s world.”
The President of the Malta Biennale 2026 proceeded to explain how “The significant increase in artistic proposals – across the main exhibition, pavilions, and newly introduced satellite events – not only highlights the success of the inaugural Biennale but also demonstrates a growing confidence in the future of this platform. Held under the patronage of the President of Malta, the Biennale is organised by the national agency Heritage Malta, across several historical sites and museums.”
Furthermore, Mr Cutajar noted how, “The curatorial team faced a remarkable challenge in selecting the artists and projects for the main exhibition from over 3,200 applications representing 122 countries. The Malta Biennale 2026 will also feature some 31 pavilions, 15 satellite events, and 66 activities forming part of a robust public and educational programme. From March till May 2026, these projects and events will transform Malta into a vibrant hub of artistic creativity in the Mediterranean during a period in which Maltese culture and traditions reach peak activity.”
During her speech, artistic director and international curator, Rosa Martínez, noted how, “The Malta Biennale has a wonderful energy. Fuelled by the illusion of the beginnings, it is moved by the desire of inventing a world, and of creating a meaningful event, both locally and internationally. It also has the goal of providing a significant platform for Maltese artists.” Furthermore, she expressed how, despite being a small country, Malta has huge ambition. Given that the number of artists within the archipelago is limited in size, it was inevitable that some names be repeated in the second edition.
However, this also had its advantages, given that, “in this manner, artists have the opportunity of interacting further with international peers whilst also developing their aesthetic visions, in close dialogue with every new curator.”
Rosa Martínez also gave some insight as to interconnectedness between the selection of artists’ projects and the relevance of site, space and history: “The selected projects will be related to the narratives embodied in each of the Heritage Malta venues. For instance, for the Inquisitor’s Palace I will select artists that try to bring to light the different forms of wisdom that the Inquisition tried to repress through centuries. The issues of crime and punishment, the power to decide on life and death, will be analysed to reflect on how ideologies control our lives. In the prehistoric sites we will deal with cosmological issues, with fertility and care as essential traits of being human. In the Maritime Museum there will be projects pointing to the happenings in international waters, where the law of the different countries is suspended in favour of international regulations.”
She concluded by saying: “We are immersed in an adventurous process of dialogue and invention, of fantasy and discipline, in the ethical reconstruction of the way we live together.”
The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta, in partnership with Arts Council Malta and in collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government, and with Visit Malta.
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Verżjoni bil-Malti
Il-Malta Biennale 2026 ilaqqa' talent mid-dinja kollha
Wara r-rispons qawwi għat-tliet sejħiet internazzjonali għall-parteċipazzjoni fil-Malta Biennale 2026, tħabbru l-parteċipanti magħżula għal din il-pjattaforma internazzjonali tal-arti kontemporanja, waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet li saret fil-Gran Salon tal-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija fil-Belt Valletta, fit-23 ta’ Ottubru 2025.
Wara proċess twil ta’ għażla mit-tim kuratorjali, 47 applikazzjoni ntgħażlu minn aktar minn 3,200 sottomissjoni minn 122 pajjiż, għall-wirja ewlenija tat-tieni edizzjoni tal-Biennale. Matul il-konferenza tal-aħbarijiet tħabbru wkoll il-padiljuni nazzjonali u tematiċi, dettalji dwar l-attivitajiet tal-programm pubbliku tal-Biennale kif ukoll in-numru ta’ attivitajiet satellita.
Il-Ministru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali, Owen Bonnici, qal li t-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale se tkun qed tibni fuq il-pedamenti sodi tal-ewwel edizzjoni. “L-ewwel edizzjoni kienet suċċess; it-tieni edizzjoni se tkun suċċess akbar. Din hija konferma oħra tal-impenn qawwi li għandu l-Gvern Malti għall-arti kontemporanja, u biex jippromovi b’saħħtu kollha lill-artisti u kreattivi Maltin.”
Il-Ministru Bonnici qal li s-suċċess tal-ewwel Biennale, b’rikonoxximent mill-UNESCO, flimkien ma’ interess qawwi minn artisti barranin, hu xhieda tal-potenzjal ta’ pajjiżna fis-settur kulturali. Dott. Bonnici spjega kif bis-saħħa ta’ ekonomija soda, il-Gvern Malti qed ikompli jinvesti bis-sħiħ fl-arti u l-kultura, u dan qed jagħmlu għax jemmen fil- potenzjal qawwi tal-artist lokali. “Bħala Gvern aħna konvinti mill-ħtieġa li l-artist lokali jingħata l-appoġġ kollu li jeħtieġ biex ikompli jiżviluppa l-ħiliet tiegħu, jilħaq il-potenzjalkollu tiegħu, u jagħmel suċċess għalih innifsu u għal pajjiżna.”
“Artisti u kreattivi inċentivati jfisser settur kulturali u artistiku b’saħħtu u Malta b’saħħitha,” qal il-Ministru Bonnici.
Il-President tal-Malta Biennale 2026 u Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, qal li, “It-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale se tkun qed tpoġġi fuq sisien sodi l-ġejjieni ta’ din il-pjattaforma internazzjonali tal-arti kontemporanja. Biennale b’kunċett speċifiku li l-UNESCO ratu li jidħol sew fl-għanijiet li għalihom ġiet imwaqqfa, tant li l-edizzjoni inawgurali tal-Biennale saret taħt l-awspiċi ta’ din l-organizzazzjoni tan-Nazzjonijiet Magħquda. Kunċett li l-qofol tiegħu hu li jżur l-imgħoddi, li jispira lill-artist jiddiskuti llum, u jgħin lis-soċjetà tiddjaloga u tifhem iktar l-illum tagħha,” fisser is-Sur Cutajar. “Iż-żieda fuq l-ewwel edizzjoni ta’ proposti artistiċi, kemm għall-wirja prinċipali, kemm għall-padiljuni u anki għal avvenimenti kulturali satellita tal-Biennale, mhux biss turi s-suċċess tal-Biennale fl-edizzjoni inawgurali, imma turi wkoll il-fiduċja fil-ġejjieni ta’ dil-pjattaforma li qed issir taħt il-patroċinju tal-President ta’ Malta u hija mtellgħa mill-aġenzija nazzjonali Heritage Malta fis-siti storiċi u mużewijiet tagħha.”
Il-President tal-Malta Biennale kompla jgħid li, “Kienet biċċa xogħol iebsa għat-tim kuratorjali biex minn 3,200 applikazzjoni minn 122 pajjiż jagħżlu l-proġetti artistiċi għall-wirja prinċipali. Ma’ din l-esperjenza unika li se joffri l-Malta Biennale 2026, jingħaqdu 31 padiljun u 15-il avveniment kulturali satellita, kif ukoll 66 attività fi programm pubbliku edukattiv b’saħħtu li f’daqqa se jagħmlu lil Malta ċentru ta’ kreattività artistika fil-Mediterran bejn Marzu u Mejju 2026. Dan hu l-perjodu tas-sena fejn il-kultura u t-tradizzjonijiet Maltin ikunu fl-aqwa tagħhom,” temm jgħid Mario Cutajar.
Waqt id-diskors tagħha, id-direttur artistiku u l-kuratriċi internazzjonali, Rosa Martínez, stqarret kif, “Il-Malta Biennale għandu enerġija mill-isbaħ. Mitmugħ mill-illużjoni tal- bidu, huwa mqanqal mix-xewqa li jivvinta dinja ġdida, u li joħloq ġrajja li tagħmel sens, kemm lokalment kif ukoll internazzjonalment. Għandu wkoll l-għan li jipprovdi pjattaforma sinjifikanti għall-artisti Maltin.” Barra minn hekk, esprimiet kif minkejja li Malta hija pajjiż żgħir, għandha ambizzjoni kbira. Minħabba li n-numru ta’ artisti fi ħdan dan l-arċipielgu huwa limitat, kien inevitabbli li xi ismijiet jiġu ripetuti fit-tieni edizzjoni. Madankollu, dan kellu wkoll il-vantaġġi tiegħu peress li “b’dan il-mod, l-artisti għandhom l-opportunità li jiltaqgħu u jitħalltu ma’ artisti minn pajjiżi oħra filwaqt li jiżviluppaw ukoll il-viżjonijiet estetiċi tagħhom, fi djalogu mill-qrib ma’ kull kuratur ġdid.”
Rosa Martínez tat ukoll tagħrif dwar ir-rabta bejn l-għażla tal-proġetti tal-artisti u r-rilevanza tas-sit, l-ispazju u l-istorja li qed jinħadmu fih: “Il-proġetti magħżula se jkunu relatati man-narrattivi inkorporati f’kull wieħed mill-postijiet ta’ Heritage Malta. Pereżempju, għall-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur se nagħżel artisti li jippruvaw iberrħu l-forom differenti ta’ għerf li l-Inkwiżizzjoni ppruvat trażżan matul is-sekli. Il-kunċetti tal-kriminalità u l-kastig, il-poter li niddeċiedu fuq il-ħajja u l-mewt, kollha se jkunu analizzati biex jirriflettu fuq kif l-ideoloġiji jikkontrollaw lil ħajjitna. Fis-siti preistoriċi se nittrattaw kwistjonijiet kożmoloġiċi, bil-fertilità u l-kura bħala karatteristiċi ċentrali għall-umanità. Fil-Mużew Marittimu se jkun hemm proġetti li jixegħlu dawl fuq dak li qed jiġri fl-ibħra internazzjonali, fejn il-liġijiet ta’ pajjiżi differenti huma sospiżi favur ir-regolamenti internazzjonali.”
Rosa Martínez temmet tgħid li, “Ninsabu fi proċess avventuruż ta’ djalogu u invenzjoni, ta’ fantasija u dixxiplina, fir-rikostruzzjoni etika tal-mod kif ngħixu flimkien.”
Il-Malta Biennale 2026 jiftaħ fil-11 ta’ Marzu u jibqa’ sejjer sad-29 ta’ Mejju tas-sena d-dieħla fil-Belt Valletta, il-Birgu, ix-Xagħra, u ċ-Ċittadella t’Għawdex. Qed jittella’ minn Heritage Malta bi sħubija mal-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti u bil-koperazzjoni ta’ Visit Malta, il-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali, u l-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu.
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