President marks official visit to the Malta Biennale 2026
H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta, made an official visit to the Malta Biennale yesterday, specifically to the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta and the Birgu Old Armoury in Vittoriosa.
For the second edition running, the President of Malta has given her patronage to the contemporary art platform, which runs till May 29 in 11 Heritage Malta historical sites and museums across Malta and Gozo.
As she was touring the exhibitions, the President of Malta referred to the art installations forming part of the Biennale both as a cultural experience for Maltese and tourists to appreciate, while visiting historical sites around the Maltese Islands, but also as an opportunity that gives a voice to artists, through their creations.
During her visit at the Birgu Old Armoury, Her Excellency spent time with residents of the Corradino Correctional Facility who are exhibiting sculptures. They had the opportunity to explain their works of art, which reflect their thoughts and vision nurtured through their experience of life.
H.E. the President was accompanied by the President of 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 participating in this year’s edition, together with an explanation of how the selected works dialogue with the extant collections and with the history of the 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 that unfolds across nine Heritage Malta sites – curated by Artistic Director Rosa Martínez – and through the national and thematic pavilions which can be experienced at Fort St Elmo, Birgu Old Armoury and MUŻA.
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. Tickets for the Biennale are also available via the website, from where visitors can also download the official guidebook for free, in order to aid and enhance their visit.
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
Il-President iżżur il-Malta Biennale 2026
L-E.T. Myriam Spiteri Debono, il-President ta’ Malta, ilbieraħ għamlet żjara uffiċjali f’żewġ siti tal-Malta Biennale – il-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru fil-Belt Valletta u l-Armerija l-Antika tal-Birgu.
Għat-tieni edizzjoni konsekuttiva, il-President ta’ Malta tat il-patroċinju tagħha lil din il-pjattaforma tal-arti kontemporanja, li se tibqa’ miftuħa sad-29 ta’ Mejju fi 11-il mużew u sit storiku ta’ Heritage Malta madwar Malta u Għawdex.
Waqt li kienet qed iżżur il-wirjiet artistiċi, il-President ta’ Malta rreferiet għal dawn l-installazzjonijiet bħala esperjenza kulturali kemm għall-Maltin kif ukoll għat-turisti, li jistgħu japprezzawha waqt li jżuru siti storiċi madwar il-Gżejjer Maltin, iżda wkoll bħala opportunità li tagħti vuċi lill-artisti permezz tax-xogħlijiet tagħhom.
Matul iż-żjara fl-Armerija l-Antika tal-Birgu, l-Eċċellenza Tagħha qattgħet ħin mar-residenti tal-Faċilità Korrettiva ta’ Kordin li qed jesebixxu xogħol ta’ skultura. Huma kellhom l-opportunità jispjegaw kif ix-xogħlijiet artistiċi tagħhom jirriflettu l-ħsibijiet u l-viżjoni tagħhom imrawma mill-esperjenzi ta’ ħajjithom.
L-E.T. il-President ġiet akkumpanjata mill-President tal-Malta Biennale 2026 u Chairman ta’ Heritage Malta, Mario Cutajar, flimkien mal-membri tat-tim tal-Biennale. Matul iż-żjara, il-President ingħatat tagħrif fuq il-wirjiet u ħarsa ġenerali lejn l-artisti li qed jipparteċipaw fl-edizzjoni ta’ din is-sena, flimkien ma’ spjegazzjoni ta’ kif ix-xogħlijiet magħżula għall-Biennale jidħlu fi djalogu mal-kollezzjonijiet eżistenti u mal-istorja tal-post, u b’hekk joħolqu rabta bejn il-passat u l-preżent, u jgħaqqdu l-wirt kulturali mal-arti kontemporanja.
Hemm aktar minn 130 artist li qed jipparteċipaw fil-Malta Biennale 2026 permezz tal-wirja internazzjonali mifruxa fuq disa’ siti ta’ Heritage Malta – ikkurata mid-Direttur Artistiku Rosa Martínez – kif ukoll permezz tal-padiljuni nazzjonali u tematiċi li jinsabu fil-Forti Sant’Iermu, fl-Armerija l-Antika tal-Birgu u fil-MUŻA.
Il-wirjiet jiġu kkumplimentati minn programm pubbliku b’saħħtu, li jinkludi sensiela ta’ avvenimenti paralleli li jkomplu jattivaw is-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 permezz ta’ maltabiennale.art. Il-biljetti għall-Biennale huma wkoll disponibbli minn dan is-sit, bħalma hija disponsibbli b’xejn il-gwida uffiċjali li tgħin lil kull min jixtieq iżur il-Biennale biex itejjeb l-esperjenza u ż-żjara tiegħu.
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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Website uffiċjali: www.maltabiennale.art
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