The official countdown to next year’s already anticipated international exhibition of contemporary art, the Malta Biennale 2026, has started.
It will be held between March 11 and May 29, with acclaimed international curator Rosa Martínez as artistic director.
Martínez brings her extensive expertise in international bienniales and thematic exhibitions to the Malta Biennale.
Her curatorial experiences in Malta in 2018 and 2022 awoke in her “a permanent interest in the cultural development of the island”.
Now, she feels a “strong desire again to offer my professional experience and updated visions to the young Biennale”.
Supported by a curatorial team composed of Antoine Borg Micallef and Alexia Medici, Martínez expounds on the thematic and conceptual framework selected for the second edition of the Biennale, and how the title of the 2026 edition was carefully construed:
“CLEAN: Stop environmental, ethical and aesthetic pollution. Purge, digest, expel. CLEAR: Discern, decipher, elucidate, understand. CUT: Break away, radically shift direction, open new paths,” she explains.
The Biennale will question how contemporary art can enhance critical awareness of our past and present, while fostering the experience and enjoyment of beauty. It will also address some of the most pressing needs of our time by promoting dialogues between the rich cultural heritage of the Maltese archipelago, contemporary thought and innovative artistic practices, Martínez said.
Three open calls have now been officially launched, inviting local and international artists to submit proposals for projects and exhibitions; for embassies to organise national and thematic pavilions; and for satellite events – a new component of the Biennale.
The Malta Biennale is the backbone of the vision that Heritage Malta has been actively developing to safeguard the islands’ cultural heritage. Its second edition will continue to build upon the premise adopted for the inaugural edition in 2024.
It also creates increased opportunities for Maltese artists by building on the successes of the first edition that placed Malta on the international contemporary art map, and by showcasing its cultural heritage.
Xagħra, Gozo, is another venue of the Malta Biennale 2026.
Drone operator: Aaron Cole
Photo-editor: Massimo Denaro
“The Malta Biennale proves that our country can be an international centre of culture, where contemporary art dialogues with the island’s historical past,” said National Heritage and the Arts Minister Owen Bonnici.
“The success of the Biennale, with recognition from Unesco, together with strong foreign interest, demonstrates Malta’s potential in the cultural sector. This platform not only gives space and opportunity to artists but also offers a unique experience to Maltese and visitors alike, thanks to all its participants,” he said.
The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta, in partnership with Arts Council Malta and in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, as well as VisitMalta.
The open call for artists will run until June 30; the call for national pavilions will run until August 29; and the call for satellite events will run to July 25. All the calls can be viewed and accessed via www.maltabiennale.art
