The second edition of the Malta Biennial, an event dedicated tocontemporary art, under the artistic direction of international curator Rosa Martínez, will kick off in March 2026.
Entitled CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT, the Biennial is organized by Heritage Malta, whose President Mario Cutajar, who is also president of the Biennial, outlined the entity’s commitment to consolidating this event as a platform for dialogue between contemporary art and cultural heritage, with a focus on the role of the Mediterranean as one of the nerve centers of global change. To make this vision a reality, Rosa Martínez brings her experience of biennials and exhibitions of international significance, joined by Maltese curators Antoine Borg Micallef and Alexia Medici.
The selected works and projects will dialogue with the history and narratives of the Maltese historical sites in which they will be housed. These include prehistoric temples, the forts of the Knights of St. John, the Grand Master’s and Inquisitor’s palaces, national museums (archaeological, maritime and art), the Citadel of Gozo, and ethnographic and natural contexts. Broadening the concept of site-specificity, art will intertwine with different public spaces, creating meaningful connections between heritage and creativity.
The Malta Biennial will reflect on how contemporary art can enhance critical awareness of the past and present, while offering experience and moments of reflection on beauty. The event will also give voice to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, promoting dialogues between Malta’s rich cultural heritage, contemporary thought and innovative artistic practices. By weaving aesthetic narratives and connecting different cultures, biennials can become opportunities for transgenerational, transdisciplinary and multicultural encounters, helping to generate policies geared toward the common good. The Malta Biennial 2026 intends to follow precisely this direction.
“To evoke a sequence of thoughts and actions that call for an urgent transformation of the world we inhabit. The gap between proclaimed political and aesthetic ideals and the construction of false realities sets the conditions for a new form of global slavery, where the distribution of wealth, the exploitation of natural resources and the power to decide who lives and who dies remain concentrated in the hands of a few. A repetitive mannerism permeates contemporary art practices, while the expansion of the Western art canon fails to hide inequalities in the production, access and enjoyment of art,” Rosa Martínez explained. “Analyzing the effects of the global economy, capital flows, human migration and data transmission technologies reveals a troubling planetary scenario that calls for a rethinking of our cultural consumption patterns. The toxic noise of disinformation and the ruthless exercise of power generate effective forms of alienation, making it necessary to: CLEAN: Stop environmental, ethical and aesthetic pollution. Purify, digest, expel. CLEAR: Discern, decipher, elucidate, understand. CUT (CUT): Break, radically change direction, open new paths. Maltese limestone quarries and the process of quarrying and processing this material are rooted in the cultural landscape of the islands and animate the title of the Malta Biennial.”
Three calls for participation have been launched for the program.
For local and international artists to submit proposals for projects and exhibitions. Deadline 30/6/2025
For embassies invited to organize national and/or thematic pavilions. Deadline 29/8/2025
For satellite events - a new component of the Malta Biennial. Deadline 25/7/2025
All calls for proposals can be found at www.maltabiennale.art
The Malta Biennial is organized by Heritage Malta in collaboration with Arts Council Malta, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Heritage, Arts and Local Government, and VisitMalta.
 |
| In 2026 the second edition of the Malta Biennale. Calls open for artists, events and national pavilions |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
