The Archbishop’s Delegate for Culture and artistic director Annalisa Schembri are celebrating Maltese talent and international collaboration with another edition of the Rooftop Series Summer Festival.
This year’s five-event season brings together music, opera and theatre at the Catholic Institute rooftop between June 30 and September 13. The festival continues the office’s mission of mitigating peace via cultural practice, creating meaningful encounters between audiences and performers.
An extensive film programme together with Refugee Week Malta has already been organised as part of the fringe component of the festival.
The season opens on June 30 with Kutrumbajsa, an intimate concert by acclaimed singer-songwriter Michael Azzopardi, joined by guest artists Cher Camilleri, Joon and trumpeter Alex Bezzina. Known for his emotionally resonant songwriting and commitment to the Maltese language, Azzopardi presents a curated performance created exclusively for the Rooftop Series.
On July 16, emerging trio Ocelot joins forces with vocalist Louisa Buhagiar, saxophonist Sarah Sultana and keyboardist Chris Gatt for an evening blending contemporary jazz, hip-hop rhythms and Latin influences.
The festival continues on August 19 with Opera Nova Project: A Little Night Music, an evening opera and Broadway hits, led by Gillian Zammit and Denise Mulholland. Bridging opera and musical theatre, the programme features works spanning Bizet to Bernstein while highlighting some of Malta’s most promising classical voices.
On August 27, audiences will experience The Music Room, a cross-cultural collaboration between Maltese sound artists Parpeduni and Barcelona-based ensemble FLAN. Blending ambient music, bolero, tango, jazz and contemporary influences, the evening celebrates Mediterranean identities and music across languages and traditions.
Closing the festival on September 13 is a new adaptation of Francis Ebejer’s seminal play Il-Ħadd fuq il-Bejt. Refashioned by actor Ron Briffa and conceived by artistic director Schembri, the production revisits one of the most important works in modern Maltese theatre, exploring themes of love, identity, class and change through a contemporary lens.
This year’s edition also features a series of masterclasses and fringe events complementing the main programme. A sensory-friendly room will be available throughout the festival to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all attendees. Festival-goers will also be able to enjoy a selection of artisanal food options by Lexi Fleri Soler of Baker Street Patisserie.
Rooftop Series Summer Festival 2026 is supported by Visit Malta, APS Bank, MAPFRE and PwC.
