Maurizio Cattelan to headline Malta Biennale 2026
Famed Italian artist, Maurizio Cattelan will be headlining the Malta Biennale 2026, which will open to the public on 14 March, following a three-day preview from 11-13 March and an official opening on 10 March.
Known for his satirical and provocative practice, Cattelan rose to international prominence through works such as America (2016) and Comedian (2019), projects that sparked global debate and established him as a leading figure in contemporary art.
Cattelan is one of eight artists invited to participate in this second edition of the contemporary art platform which will unfold across 11 impressive venues managed by Heritage Malta, spanning four main localities: Valletta and Vittoriosa in Malta, as well as Xagħra and Victoria in Gozo.
Under the artistic direction of internationally renowned curator, Rosa Martínez, the Malta Biennale 2026 will bring together over 130 Maltese and international artists from across the continents, through a main exhibition spread across venues in Malta and Gozo, alongside national and thematic pavilions in Valletta and Vittoriosa.
Complementing the main exhibition and pavilion offering, the Malta Biennale 2026 will also present an extensive programme of over 80 educational activities for audiences of all ages, in addition to 12 satellite events. The Malta Biennale 2026 is held under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency the President of Malta Myriam Spiteri Debono.
The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, said that, “More than 3,200 applications from 122 different countries were submitted to the Malta Biennale 2026, out of which, 40 projects were selected, including works by 8 by Maltese artists. These projects will form part of the exhibition to be held between March and May in Heritage Malta sites.”
Minister Bonnici also stated that the Biennale will build on the solid foundations of the first edition; strengthening the Government’s commitment to contemporary art and its support for Maltese artists. He maintained that such initiatives enable space for dialogue and reflection on the main challenges faced by humanity in today’s world, while simultaneously offering a unique opportunity to tourists visiting our country to enjoy a distinct cultural experience.
During a press conference held at MUŻA, Mario Cutajar, President of the Malta Biennale and Chairman of Heritage Malta, explained that “between March and May, more than 130 artists from 43 countries will transform these islands into an international centre of artistic innovation and creativity. Eleven Heritage Malta sites will host works inspired by our rich heritage, creating a dialogue between past and present – a unique experience that has placed Malta on the global cultural calendar and established it as a leading destination during the Malta Biennale”.
Details relating to the Malta national pavilion to be held at MUŻA – the ‘home’ of the Malta Biennale – were also announced. Following a public call issued last year three artists were selected to participate in the pavilion: Victor Agius, Roderick Camilleri, and Gulja Holland. Two additional artists – Vince Briffa and Pierre Portelli – were invited to take part in the project. The Malta pavilion is curated by Dr Katya Micallef, Principal Curator at MUŻA.
For its second edition, the Malta Biennale 2026 is set to present a significantly expanded programme, featuring a total 27 pavilions. Eight of these are national pavilions – Malta, Poland, Spain, Finland, Armenia, China, Serbia, and France – alongside 19 thematic pavilions. These include notable collaborations with other international biennales such as the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea and the Çanakkale Biennial Initiative (CABANIN). Having almost doubled in number since its inaugural edition, the 2026 Biennale also proudly announces a pioneering pavilion organised by the Correctional Services Agency, showcasing artworks created by its residents. This important addition underscores the Biennale’s commitment to broadening cultural participation and amplifying diverse creative voices.
Photo by: Alberto Zanetti
The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta in partnership with Arts Council Malta and Visit Malta and in 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
Maurizio Cattelan mistenni jkun il-protagonist prinċipali tal-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026
L-artist famuż Taljan Maurizio Cattelan mistenni jkun il-protagonist prinċipali tal-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026 li ser jiftaħ għall-pubbliku fl-14 ta’ Marzu wara tlett ijiem anteprima, mill-11 sat-13 ta’ Marzu, u l-ftuħ uffiċjali fl-10 ta’ Marzu.
Magħruf għall-prattika satirika u provokattiva tiegħu, Cattelan sar artist prominenti fix-xena internazzjonali permezz ta’ xogħlijiet bħal America (2016) u Comedian (2019) – proġetti li qanqlu dibattitu globali u stabbilixxewh bħala figura ewlenija fl-arti kontemporanja.
Cattelan huwa wieħed mit-tmien artisti li ġew mistiedna jieħdu sehem fit-tieni edizzjoni ta’ din il-pjattaforma tal-arti kontemporanja li ser tiżvolġi – taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Heritage Malta – fi 11-il post impressjonanti li ser ikopru erba’ lokalitajiet ewlenin: il-Belt Valletta u l-Birgu f’Malta, u x-Xagħra u r-Rabat f’Għawdex.
Taħt id-direzzjoni artistika tal-kuratriċi ta’ fama internazzjonali Rosa Martínez, il-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026 ser ilaqqa’ flimkien aktar minn 130 artist Malti u internazzjonali mill-kontinenti kollha permezz ta’ esebizzjoni ewlenija mifruxa f’diversi postijiet f’Malta u f’Għawdex flimkien ma’ padiljuni nazzjonali u tematiċi fil-Belt Valletta u fil-Birgu.
Bħala akkumpanjament għall-esebizzjoni ewlenija u għall-padiljuni, il-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026 ser jippreżenta wkoll programm estensiv ta’ ’l fuq minn 80 attività edukattiva għal udjenzi ta’ kull età flimkien ma’ 12-il avveniment satellita. Il-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026 qiegħed jittella’ taħt il-patroċinju distint tal-Eċċellenza Tagħha l-President ta’ Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono.
Il-Ministru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali, Owen Bonnici, qal li, “Għall-Biennale ta’ Malta 2026 tressqu aktar minn 3,200 applikazzjoni minn 122 pajjiż differenti. Minnhom intgħażlu 40 proġett, fosthom 8 xogħlijiet minn artisti Maltin. Dawn il-proġetti ser jiffurmaw parti mill-esebizzjoni li ser issir bejn Marzu u Mejju f’siti ta’ Heritage Malta.”
Il-Ministru Bonnici stqarr ukoll li l-Biennale ser jibni fuq is-sisien sodi tal-ewwel edizzjoni u b’hekk mistenni jsaħħaħ l-impenn tal-Gvern lejn l-arti kontemporanja u l-appoġġ tiegħu għall-artisti Maltin. Sostna li inizjattivi bħal dawn jippermettu spazju għal djalogu u riflessjoni dwar l-isfidi ewlenin li qiegħda taffaċċja l-umanità fid-dinja tal-lum filwaqt li joffru wkoll opportunità unika lit-turisti li jżuru pajjiżna biex igawdu esperjenza kulturali distinta.
Waqt konferenza stampa li saret fil-MUŻA, il-President tal-Biennale ta’ Malta u ċ-Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, spjega li, “Bejn Marzu u Mejju aktar minn 130 artist minn 43 pajjiż ser jittrasformaw dawn il-gżejjer f’ċentru internazzjonali ta’ innovazzjoni u kreattività artistika. Ħdax-il sit ta’ Heritage Malta ser jospitaw xogħlijiet imnebbħa mill-patrimonju għani tagħna biex b’hekk joħolqu djalogu bejn l-imgħoddi u l-preżent – esperjenza unika li poġġiet lil Malta fuq il-kalendarju kulturali globali u stabbilixxietha bħala destinazzjoni prinċipali matul il-Biennale ta’ Malta.”
Tħabbru wkoll dettalji dwar il-padiljun nazzjonali ta’ Malta li ser ikun ospitat fil-MUŻA, id-‘dar’ tal-Biennale ta’ Malta. Wara sejħa pubblika maħruġa s-sena l-oħra, intgħażlu tliet artisti biex jipparteċipaw fil-padiljun: Victor Agius, Roderick Camilleri u Ġulja Holland. Żewġ artisti oħra, Vince Briffa u Pierre Portelli, ġew mistiedna jieħdu sehem fil-proġett. Il-Padiljun ta’ Malta qiegħed jiġi kkurat mill-Kuratriċi Prinċipali tal-MUŻA, Dr Katya Micallef.
Għat-tieni edizzjoni tiegħu, il-Biennale ta’ Malta mistenni jippreżenta programm notevolment estiż b’total ta’ 27 padiljun. Tmienja minn dawn jikkonsistu f’padiljuni nazzjonali – Malta, il-Polonja, Spanja, il-Finlandja, l-Armenja, iċ-Ċina, is-Serbja u Franza – flimkien ma’ 19-il padiljun tematiku. Dawn jinkludu kollaborazzjonijiet notevoli ma’ biennali internazzjonali oħrajn bħall-Biennale ta’ Gwanġju fil-Korea t’Isfel u l-Inizjattiva Biennali ta’ Çanakkale (CABANIN). Wara li kważi rdoppja fin-numru mill-edizzjoni inawgurali tiegħu, il-Biennale tal-2026 jinsab kburi jħabbar ukoll padiljun pijunier organizzat mill-Aġenzija tas-Servizzi Korrettivi, li ser juri xogħlijiet artistiċi maħluqa mir-residenti tagħha. Din iż-żieda importanti tenfasizza l-impenn tal-Biennale li jwessa’ l-parteċipazzjoni kulturali u jamplifika vuċijiet kreattivi diversi.
Il-Biennale ta’ Malta qiegħed jiġi organizzat minn Heritage Malta fi sħubija mal-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti u Visit Malta, b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Ministeru għall-Kultura, l-Artijiet u l-Gvern Lokali, il-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u t-Turiżmu, u l-Ministeru għal Għawdex u l-Ippjanar.
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