The second edition of the Malta Biennale
Title of the Malta Biennale announced and open calls are officially launched
CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT – is the official title of the second edition of the Malta Biennale, which will take place across various historical sites and locations in Malta and Gozo from March 11 until May 29, 2026, with acclaimed international curator Rosa Martínez as Artistic Director.
Organised by Heritage Malta, the theme and conceptual framework of the Malta Biennale 2026 was announced during a press conference at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, on March 26, 2025, marking the official countdown to next year’s already anticipated international exhibition. During the conference, three open calls were officially launched, inviting local and international artists to submit proposals for projects and exhibitions; for embassies to organise national and/or thematic pavilions; and, lastly, for satellite events – a new component of the Biennale.
The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, said that the Malta Biennale proves that our country can be an international centre of culture, where contemporary art dialogues with the island’s historical past.
“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. This is but the beginning of a success story,” concluded Minister Bonnici.
Mario Cutajar, President of the Malta Biennale, expressed how the second edition of this international exhibition of contemporary art will continue to build upon the premise adopted for the inaugural edition in 2024. At its core, the Biennale creates an open dialogue with contemporary art, through which we may glean knowledge of our past and our history, but also of ourselves and our identity. The Malta Biennale is therefore the backbone of the vision which Heritage Malta has been actively developing in order to safeguard the islands’ cultural heritage. Simultaneously, the Biennale creates increased opportunities for Maltese artists, by building upon the successes of the first edition that placed Malta on the international contemporary art map, and by showcasing our cultural heritage and all that makes us Maltese and Mediterranean. Mr Cutajar concluded by saying that the second edition aspires to strengthen this international platform further, by looking optimistically ahead towards future editions.
During her speech, artistic director Rosa Martínez noted how her curatorial experiences in Malta in 2018 and 2022 awoke in her “a permanent interest in the cultural development of the island […] Now I feel a strong desire to offer again my professional experience and my updated visions to the young Biennale.”
“Now I feel a strong desire to offer again my professional experience and my updated visions to the young Biennale.”
Rosa Martínez brings her extensive expertise in international bienniales and thematic exhibitions to the Malta Biennale. Supported by a curatorial team composed of Antoine Borg Micallef and Alexia Medici, she 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.
“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,” said Rosa Martínez.
The open call for artists will run from March 26 to June 30, 2025; the call for National Pavilions will run from March 26 to August 29, 2025; and the call for Satellite Events will run from March 26 to July 25, 2025. All the calls can be viewed and accessed via: www.maltabiennale.art
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 and with VisitMalta.
The Malta Biennale is online: www.maltabiennale.art
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