Launch of the Malta Biennale 2026 Catalogue
The catalogue of the Malta Biennale 2026 was launched this morning, during a presentation of the publication to Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, at San Anton Palace.
The presentation was delivered by the President of the Malta Biennale 2026, Mario Cutajar, in the presence of the Artistic Director of this second edition of the Biennale, Rosa Martínez, along with several officials from Heritage Malta, the Malta Biennale 2026 organisation, and UNESCO, who, together with the President of Malta, have granted their patronage to this edition of the Malta Biennale.
Mario Cutajar explained that the legacy of the Malta Biennale 2026 has been fully captured in this publication, which brings together not only all the artworks exhibited in this second edition, but all the events that took place throughout the Biennale.
“This catalogue includes the works of more than 130 artists, both those in the international exhibition and those in the pavilions. It also documents the activities held within the public programme of the Malta Biennale, as well as the satellite events which form part of the wider programme of the Biennale,” explained Mr Cutajar. He concluded by stating that this publication by Heritage Malta Publishing pays tribute both to the Malta Biennale – which in its second edition has strengthened its position as a noteworthy international platform within the global contemporary art scene – and to Heritage Malta, which produces the Malta Biennale.
The President of Malta, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, thanked all those involved for ensuring that this second edition of the Biennale reaches a high standard and achieves broader participation by exhibiting artists, participating countries, and the public alike. She emphasised that modern art should reflect the challenges and concerns that humanity is experiencing at any given moment, “in real time”, with people seeking innovative solutions born out of human resilience and creativity and, above all, fostering awareness of issues that concern us all. The President also wished the newly established Malta Biennale Foundation every success in its future endeavours.
This second edition of the Malta Biennale is being held across 11 Heritage Malta sites and museums in four different localities and will remain open until Friday, 29th May 2026, after running for 11 weeks. It features the participation of more than 130 artists from 44 different countries, including Malta, with artworks presented in an international exhibition and across 24 national and thematic pavilions. Throughout the Malta Biennale, more than 80 activities are taking place as part of a public programme tailored for people of all ages and from different walks of life, as well as a number of satellite events which strengthen the Biennale’s programme.
This second edition of the Malta Biennale has attracted international attention, with several publications naming Malta as one of the most favoured destinations during the Biennale period.
The Malta Biennale positions itself as a bridge between generations, between past and present, between cultural heritage and contemporary art, and is therefore distinct from other biennales currently held around the world, amounting to circa 350 in number, half of which take place in Europe. The Malta Biennale is also the only biennale which is held within museums and historic sites. This premise has attracted the patronage of UNESCO, with the organisation noting how the concept and ethos underpinning the Biennale closely aligns with its own mission. Furthermore, the patronage of the President of Malta also reflects the national identity of the Malta Biennale, which is also the only biennale that bears the name of a country rather than a specific city or region.
The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta in partnership with Arts Council Malta, Visit Malta, the Valletta Cultural Agency and Public Broadcasting Services. The Malta Biennale is also being held in full collaboration with the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and the Ministry for Gozo and Planning.
The Malta Biennale is online: www.maltabiennale.art
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @maltabiennale.art
Verżjoni bil-Malti
Jitnieda l-Katalgu tal-Malta Biennale 2026
Dalgħodu tnieda l-katalgu tal-Malta Biennale 2026 permezz ta’ preżentazzjoni tal-pubblikazzjoni lill-Eċċellenza Tagħha Myriam Spiteri Debono, il-President ta’ Malta, fil-Palazz ta’ San Anton.
Il-preżentazzjoni saret mill-President tal-Malta Biennale 2026, Mario Cutajar, fil-preżenza tad-Direttur Artistiku ta’ din it-tieni edizzjoni tal-Biennale, Rosa Martínez, u bosta uffiċjali kemm minn Heritage Malta, mill-organizzazzjoni tal-Malta Biennale 2026, u mill-UNESCO li, flimkien mal-President ta’ Malta, qed jagħtu l-patroċinju tagħhom lil din l-edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale.
Mario Cutajar spjega li l-legat tal-Malta Biennale 2026 jinsab kollu f’dil-pubblikazzjoni li ġabret flimkien mhux biss l-arti kollha murija f’din it-tieni edizzjoni imma wkoll dak kollu li seħħ matul dal-Biennale. “Dal-katalgu jiġbor fih ix-xogħlijiet ta’ iktar minn 130 artist – kemm dawk fil-wirja internazzjonali u kemm dawk fil-padiljuni. Jiġbor fih ukoll l-attivitajiet li saru fil-programm pubbliku tal-Malta Biennale u anki l-attivitajiet satellita li għalkemm mhumiex parti integrali mill-Biennale huma abbinati miegħu,” spjega s-Sur Catajar. Huwa temm jgħid li dil-pubblikazzjoni mid-dar tal-pubblikazzjonijiet ta’ Heritage Malta tagħmel ġieħ kemm lill-Malta Biennale – li f’din it-tieni edizzjoni tiegħu saħħaħ il-pożizzjoni tiegħu bħala festival internazzjonali notevoli fix-xena tal-arti kontemporanja dinjija – u daqstant ieħor tagħmel ġieħ lil Heritage Malta li qed ittella’ l-Malta Biennale.
Il-President ta’ Malta, l-Eċċellenza Tagħha Myriam Spiteri Debono, irringrazzjat lil dawk kollha involuti sabiex din it-tieni edizzjoni tilħaq livell għoli u parteċipazzjoni usa’ sew mill-artisti esebituri, pajjiżi parteċipanti u wkoll il-pubbliku. Hija saħqet li l-arti moderna għandha tkun riflessjoni tal-weġgħat li l-umanità tkun qed tħoss f’dak il-mument, ‘in real time’, fejn in-nies ikunu qed iħarsu lejn soluzzjonijiet innovattivi frott ir-reżiljenza u l-kreattività tal-bniedem, u fuq kollox għarfien ta’ problemi li lkoll kemm aħna għandu jimpurtana minnhom. Il-President awgurat ħidma siewja għall-futur lill-Fondazzjoni tal-Malta Biennale li għadha kemm twaqqfet.
Din it-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale qed issir fi 11-il sit u mużew ta’ Heritage Malta f’4 lokalitajiet differenti u tibqa’ sejra sal-Ġimgħa 29 ta’ Mejju 2026 wara li tkun ilha għaddejja 11-il ġimgħa. F’din l-edizzjoni qed jieħdu sehem iktar minn 130 artist minn 44 pajjiż differenti, inkluż Malta, bix-xogħlijiet tagħhom esebiti f’wirja internazzjonali u mbagħad f’27 padiljun bejn nazzjonali u tematiċi. Matul il-Malta Biennale qed iseħħu iktar minn 80 attività fi programm pubbliku addattat għal persuni ta’ kull età u minn oqsma differenti tal-ħajja, kif ukoll numru ta’ attivitajiet satellita abbinati mal-Biennale.
Din it-tieni edizzjoni tal-Malta Biennale ġibdet lejha l-attenzjoni internazzjonali, b’numru ta’ rivisti jsemmu lil Malta bħala waħda mill-iktar destinazzjonijiet favoriti għal waqt il-Malta Biennale.
Il-Malta Biennale jippożizzjona lilu nnifsu bħala ħolqa bejn il-ġenerazzjonijiet, bejn ilbieraħ u llum, bejn l-istorja u l-kontemporanju, u allura huwa distint minn kull Biennale ieħor li jeżisti bħalissa fid-dinja u li b’kollox ilaħħqu mat-350, nofshom fl-Ewropa. Huwa wkoll l-uniku Biennale li hu kollu kemm hu mtella’ f’mużewijiet u siti storiċi. Dan il-fatt ġibed lejn il-Malta Biennale l-patroċinju tal-UNESCO, li ddefinixxiet il-kunċetti li fuqhom hu mibni dal-Biennale bħala li jixbhu ħafna lil dak li taħdem għalih hi stess. Il-patroċinju tal-President ta’ Malta jixhed imbagħad ix-xejra nazzjonali tal-Malta Biennale, li hu wkoll l-uniku Biennale li jġorr l-isem ta’ pajjiż u mhux ta’ xi belt jew reġjun partikolari.
Heritage Malta għandha bħala msieħba f’din l-edizzjoni lill-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti, lil Visit Malta, lill-Aġenzija Kulturali għall-Belt Valletta u lill-Public Broadcasting Services. Il-Malta Biennale qed jittella’ wkoll bil-koperazzjoni sħiħa tal-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali kif ukoll tal-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu u l-Ministeru għal Għawdex u l-Ippjanar.
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