President marks official visit to the Gozo sites of the Malta Biennale 2026
Yesterday, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta, made an official visit to the three Gozo sites where the international exhibition of the Malta Biennale is being held, specifically to the Cultural Centre at Ċittadella, Ġgantija Archaeological Park and Ta’ Kola Windmill in Xagħra.
The President of Malta has given her patronage to the second edition of the contemporary art platform, thereby sealing her support from the inaugural edition, which was launched in 2024. Malta Biennale 2026 runs till May 29th, at 11 Heritage Malta historical sites and museums across Malta and Gozo. This marks the second official visit by the President of Malta who, last month, toured the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta and the Birgu Old Armoury in Vittoriosa.
H.E. the President was accompanied by the President of the Malta Biennale 2026 and Chairman of Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, together with the members of the core team. During the visit, the President was given an overview of the artists exhibiting their work in the Gozo sites, together with an explanation of how the selected works dialogue with the collections and with the history of place, thereby bridging the past and the present, and connecting cultural heritage with contemporary art.
There are over 130 artists participating in the Malta Biennale 2026 through the international exhibition, which has been curated by Artistic Director Rosa Martínez, and through the national and thematic pavilions which can be experienced at Fort St Elmo, the Birgu Old Armoury and at MUŻA, the National Community Art Museum.
The exhibitions are accompanied by a strong public programme, which includes a series of satellite events that activate this year’s Biennale sites and locations further, by engaging with myriad and diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The full schedule of exhibitions, participating artists, pavilions, events in the public programme and satellite events can be accessed via maltabiennale.art.
The official closing ceremony of the Malta Biennale 2026 will be held at Fort St Elmo, in Valletta. During the ceremony, the final recipient of the Maltese Falcon – the Malta Biennale People’s Choice award – will be announced. The voting for the award took place across a whole month and closed last Sunday.
Tickets for the Biennale are available for purchase via the website, from where visitors can also download the official Guidebook for free, in order to aid and enhance their visit, and purchase the Malta Biennale 2026 Catalogue, which is a comprehensive resumé of all the artists, pavilions and events that have formed part of this year’s edition.
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.
Verżjoni bil-Malti
Il-President iżżur is-siti tal-Malta Biennale 2026 f’Għawdex
Ilbieraħ, l-E.T. Myriam Spiteri Debono, il-President ta’ Malta, għamlet żjara uffiċjali fit-tliet siti tal-wirja internazzjonali tal-Malta Biennale f’Għawdex: fiċ-Ċentru Kulturali taċ-Ċittadella, fir-Rabat, u fil-Park Arkeoloġiku tal-Ġgantija u l-Mitħna ta’ Kola fix-Xagħra.
Il-President ta’ Malta tat il-patroċinju tagħha għat-tieni edizzjoni ta’ din il-pjattaforma tal-arti kontemporanja, u b’hekk issiġillat l-appoġġ tagħha sa mill-edizzjoni inawgurali tal-2024. Il-Malta Biennale jibqa’ għaddej sad-29 ta’ Mejju, fi 11-il sit storiku u mużew ta’ Heritage Malta madwar Malta u Għawdex. Din kienet it-tieni żjara uffiċjali tal-President ta’ Malta, li x-xahar li għadda żaret ukoll il-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru fil-Belt Valletta u l-Armerija l-Antika tal-Birgu.
L-E.T. il-President kienet akkumpanjata mill-President tal-Malta Biennale 2026 u Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, flimkien mal-membri tat-tim. Matul iż-żjara, il-President ingħatat ħarsa ġenerali lejn l-artisti li qed jesebixxu x-xogħlijiet tagħhom fis-siti t’Għawdex, flimkien ma’ spjegazzjoni dwar kif ix-xogħlijiet magħżula joħolqu djalogu mal-kollezzjonijiet u mal-istorja tal-post, u b’hekk jgħaqqdu l-passat mal-preżent u jorbtu l-wirt kulturali mal-arti kontemporanja.
Hemm aktar minn 130 artist jipparteċipaw fil-Malta Biennale 2026 permezz tal-wirja internazzjonali, ikkurata mid-Direttur Artistiku Rosa Martínez, u permezz tal-padiljuni nazzjonali u tematiċi li huma mtellgħin fil-Forti Sant’Iermu, fl-Armerija l-Antika tal-Birgu u fil-MUŻA, il-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti tal-Komunità.
Il-wirjiet huma kkumplimentati minn programm pubbliku b’saħħtu, li jinkludi sensiela ta’ avvenimenti paralleli li jkomplu jagħtu l-ħajja lis-siti u l-lokalitajiet tal-Biennale ta’ din is-sena, billi jinvolvu firxa wiesgħa ta’ udjenzi ta’ kull età. L-iskeda sħiħa tal-wirjiet, l-artisti li qed jipparteċipaw f’din l-edizzjoni, il-padiljuni, l-avvenimenti fil-programm pubbliku u l-avvenimenti paralleli tista’ tinkiseb minn maltabiennale.art.
Iċ-ċerimonja uffiċjali tal-għeluq tal-Malta Biennale 2026 se ssir fil-Forti Sant’Iermu, fil-Belt Valletta, fejn se jitħabbar it-tielet rebbieħ tal-Falkun Malti – il-Premju tal-Għażla tal-Pubbliku. Il-votazzjoni għal dal-premju saret tul l-aħħar xahar u għalqet il-Ħadd li għadda.
Il-biljetti għall-Biennale huma disponibbli mill-website tal-Biennale, bħalma hija disponibbli b’xejn il-gwida uffiċjali li tgħin lil kull min jixtieq iżur il-Biennale biex itejjeb l-esperjenza u ż-żjara tiegħu. Il-Katalgu tal-Malta Biennale 2026 ukoll jista’ jinxtara online. Dan huwa resumé estensiv tal-artisti, il-padiljuni u l-avvenimenti kollha li huma parti mill-edizzjoni ta’ din is-sena.
Il-Malta Biennale huwa mtella’ minn Heritage Malta bi sħab mal-Kunsill Malti għall-Arti, Visit Malta, l-Aġenzija Kulturali għall-Belt Valletta, u l-Public Broadcasting Services. Il-Malta Biennale qed isir ukoll b’kollaborazzjoni sħiħa 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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