The Malta Biennale 2026 Bulletin // No. 2
Malta Biennale 2026 officially opened to the public on March 14. The opening week – from March 11 to 18 – was packed with ceremonies, launches, performances and exchanges. The launch of the international contemporary art platform’s second edition was marked by vibrant and dynamic programmes that engaged artists, curators, and audiences across a panoply of events set against a stunning backdrop of some of the Islands’ most iconic sites and museums.
Although the Malta Biennale officially opened some two weeks ago, the public events programme has been ongoing since summer 2025. The public events programme, which also incorporates the Malta Biennale’s Satellite Events, is a rich lineup that targets myriad and diverse audiences. Over the past week, there were two curatorial tours of the Malta National Pavilion – Wonderland. Kaos Kontemporanju – held at MUŻA, National Community Art Museum in Valletta, on March 21; and from March 23 until today, a series of events targeting school children, titled The Crowd, were held at Fort St Elmo in Valletta. During these three-hour workshops, over 200 participants explored media literacy and protest art, through creative practices.
Also on March 23, a non-performance titled Em Rebmemer # Refraction Chamber by Malta Biennale participating artist-duo Joseph Calleja and Claire Ghigo was held at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu, followed by a workshop held yesterday evening in the same venue, titled Em Rebmemer – How do we Keep Meaning Alive.
On March 24, a second edition of the Fake Newssss! event launched last month, was held at MUŻA and was specifically aimed at youths on the autism spectrum.
Ongoing Satellite Events this week include: Entry Denied at Christine X Gallery, Sliema, and Materia Prima at JoBorg Gallery, also in Sliema, Ground 99 in Senglea, and Women Grace above the Battle, at Pjazza Tritoni in Floriana.
Events to look out for in the coming week: on April 1, PONKS collective will be organising Poetry From the Future at Rumi in Valletta – this is the first of a two-part special edition of the platform designed as a Satellite Event of the Malta Biennale.
Held across the warmer and brighter months of spring, every other year, the Malta Biennale also takes place within the context of religious and Lenten activities, culminating on Good Friday and Easter, and preceded by Freedom Day commemorations on March 31, that also includes the traditional Regatta – a competitive rowing race held in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
Tickets for the Malta Biennale can be purchased via: maltabiennale.art
The full schedule of exhibitions, participating artists, pavilions and events in the public programme, can also be accessed via: maltabiennale.art
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
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Verżjoni bil-Malti
Il-Bulettin tal-Malta Biennale 2026 // Nru. 2
Il-Malta Biennale 2026 infetħet uffiċjalment għall-pubbliku fl-14 ta’ Marzu. Il-ġimgħa tal-ftuħ – mill-11 sat-18 ta’ Marzu – kienet mimlija ċerimonji, tnedijiet, prestazzjonijiet u skambji. It-tnedija tat-tieni edizzjoni ta’ din il-pjattaforma internazzjonali tal-arti kontemporanja ġiet immarkata bi programm vibranti u dinamiku li involva artisti, kuraturi u udjenzi f’firxa wiesgħa ta’ avvenimenti, imtellgħin f’uħud mill-aktar siti u mużewijiet ikoniċi tal-Gżejjer Maltin.
Għalkemm il-Malta Biennale nfetħet uffiċjalment madwar ġimagħtejn ilu, il-programm tal-avvenimenti pubbliċi ilu għaddej mis-sajf tal-2025. Dan il-programm, li jinkludi wkoll l-attivitajiet paralleli tal-Malta Biennale, huwa rikk u mmirat lejn udjenzi varji. Matul il-ġimgħa li għaddiet, saru żewġ żjarat kuratorjali tal-Padiljun Nazzjonali ta’ Malta – Wonderland. Kaos Kontemporanju – li saru fil-MUŻA, il-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti fil-Komunità, fil-Belt Valletta, fil-21 ta’ Marzu; u mit-23 ta’ Marzu sal-lum, saru sensiela ta’ avvenimenti għall-istudenti, bl-isem The Crowd, fil-Forti Sant’Iermu, fil-Belt Valletta. Matul dawn il-workshops ta’ tliet sigħat, aktar minn 200 parteċipant esploraw il-litteriżmu fil-midja u l-arti tal-protesta, permezz ta’ prattiċi kreattivi.
Fit-23 ta’ Marzu wkoll, saret attività oħra bl-isem Em Rebmemer # Refraction Chamber mid-duo ta’ artisti tal-Biennale, Joseph Calleja u Claire Ghigo, fil-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur fil-Birgu, segwita minn workshop li sar ilbieraħ filgħaxija fl-istess sit, bit-titlu Em Rebmemer – How Do We Keep Meaning Alive.
Fl-24 ta’ Marzu, it-tieni edizzjoni tal-avveniment Fake Newssss! li tnieda x-xahar li għadda, ittellgħet fil-MUŻA u kienet speċifikament immirata għaż-żgħażagħ fuq l-ispettru tal-awtiżmu.
L-attivitajiet paralleli li għadhom għaddejjin din il-ġimgħa jinkludu: Entry Denied fil-Gallerija Christine X, Tas-Sliema, u Materia Prima fil-Gallerija JoBorg, ukoll f’Tas-Sliema, Ground 99 fl-Isla u Women Grace above the Battle, fi Pjazza Tritoni, il-Furjana.
Avvenimenti li wieħed għandu jsegwi fil-ġimgħa li ġejja: fl-1 ta’ April, il-kollettiv PONKS se jorganizza Poetry From the Future f’Rumi, il-Belt Valletta – dan huwa l-ewwel minn żewġ avvenimenti ta’ din l-edizzjoni speċjali tal-pjattaforma mfassla bħala avveniment parallel għall-Malta Biennale.
Il-Malta Biennale li ssir kull sentejn matul ix-xhur aktar sħan u mdawlin tar-Rebbiegħa, tittella’ wkoll fil-kuntest ta’ attivitajiet reliġjużi ta’ żmien ir-Randan, li jilħqu l-qofol tagħhom fil-Ġimgħa l-Kbira u l-Għid, u jiġu ppreċeduti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet ta’ Jum il-Ħelsien fil-31 ta’ Marzu, li jinkludu wkoll ir-Regatta tradizzjonali – tellieqa kompetittiva bid-dgħajjes li ssir fil-Port il-Kbir tal-Belt Valletta.
Il-biljetti għall-Malta Biennale jistgħu jinxtraw online minn: maltabiennale.art
L-iskeda sħiħa tal-wirjiet, tal-artisti parteċipanti, tal-padiljuni u tal-attivitajiet fil-programm pubbliku tinsab ukoll f’maltabiennale.art
Il-Malta Biennale hija 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 issir 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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