Back in October, I shared Teaser #1 about the much-anticipated second edition of the Malta Biennale. Following the recent press conference held on 5 February 2026, I can now share even more juicy details about what to expect from this edition.

Let's start with a quick recap.  Dates: Malta Biennale 2026 opens to the general public on 14th March, with preview days on 11th, 12th, and 13th March. Under the artistic direction of Rosa Martínez, with Alexia Medici and Antoine Borg Micallef forming part of the curatorial team, this edition unfolds under the theme CLEAN | CLEAR | CUT.

The Biennale will take place across 11 sites spanning Valletta, Birgu, and Gozo. In Valletta: the Grandmaster's Palace, Fort St Elmo, the National Museum of Archaeology, and MUŻA.  In Birgu: the Inquisitor's Palace, the Malta Maritime Museum, the Birgu Old Armoury, and Fort St Angelo.  And in Gozo: Ġgantija and Ta' Kola Windmill in Xagħra, and the Cultural Centre at the Citadel.

You might be asking: but why is she writing about the Biennale? Well, because I'm part of the core team, and, as with all the projects and exhibitions I work on, I feel theneed to share the experience. Under the experienced and steady leadership of Biennale President and Chairman of Heritage Malta Mr Mario Cutajar, a dream team of fantastic humans is working relentlessly to bring this beautiful and humongous project to life.  There's Lisa Gwen Chetcuti, Director of Communications (who has meticulously collected all the data you'll read below), supported by Revo; Russell Muscat, the master of Pavilions (round one and two); Chris Galea, who somehow always saves the day;  Pierre Bonello who delivers solutions before you even mention the problem; Vanessa Ciantar, the mastermind behind the events programme; Annabelle Stivala, who always has the perfect advice; Mark Parretti, our tech guru, the meticulous Maria Trapani, and the one and only Michelle Delceppo, who keeps us all sane (among her many other superpowers). Then there's me, your Executive Coordinator, with my sidekick JP Barthet, who joined the team recently, just in time for the very fun part.

All of us, together with three regional managers: Ryan Vella, Leanne Axiak, and Marco Camilleri, the curators of the heritage sites, the site administrators, technical teams, and many others, are deep in the thick of it. And for those of you who have been waiting around five days for me to reply to an email or text, well, being Executive Coordinator of this beautiful monster of a project is the reason.

Maurizio Cattelan 

Moving on to the facts and spoilers.  Yes, some of the invited artists are finally being revealed. Headlining Malta Biennale 2026 is the famed Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Known for his satirical and provocative practice, Cattelan rose to international prominence with works such as America (2016) and Comedian (2019), projects that sparked global debate and firmly established him as one of the most influential figures in contemporary art today.

Under the artistic direction of the aforementioned internationally renowned curator Rosa Martínez, the Malta Biennale 2026 will bring together over 130 Maltese and international artists from across the continents. The programme unfolds through a main exhibition, alongside national and thematic pavilions specifically located in Valletta and Vittoriosa.

Complementing the main exhibition and pavilion programme, Malta Biennale 2026 will also present an extensive schedule of over 80 educational activities for audiences of all ages, in addition to 12 satellite events. The Malta Biennale 2026 is held under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono.

The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, said that, "More than 3,200 applications from 122 different countries were submitted to the Malta Biennale 2026, out of which, 40 projects were selected, including works by 8 by Maltese artists. These projects will form part of the exhibition to be held between March and May in Heritage Malta sites."

Minister Bonnici also stated that the Biennale will build on the solid foundations of the first edition; strengthening the Government's commitment to contemporary art and its support for Maltese artists. He maintained that such initiatives enable space for dialogue and reflection on the main challenges faced by humanity in today's world, while simultaneously offering a unique opportunity to tourists visiting our country to enjoy a distinct cultural experience.

During the press conference held at MUŻA, Mr Mario Cutajar explained that "between March and May, more than 130 artists from 43 countries will transform these islands into an international centre of artistic innovation and creativity. Eleven Heritage Malta sites will host works inspired by our rich heritage, creating a dialogue between past and present - a unique experience that has placed Malta on the global cultural calendar and established it as a leading destination during the Malta Biennale".

Details relating to the Malta national pavilion to be held at MUŻA - the 'home' of the Malta Biennale - were also announced. Following a public call issued last year three artists were selected to participate in the pavilion: Victor Agius, Roderick Camilleri, and Gulja Holland. Two additional artists - Vince Briffa and Pierre Portelli - were invited to take part in the project. The Malta pavilion is curated by Dr Katya Micallef, Principal Curator at MUŻA.

For its second edition, Malta Biennale 2026 is set to present a significantly expanded programme, featuring a total of 27 pavilions, almost double the number presented in the first edition. Of these, eight are national pavilions: Malta, Poland, Spain, Finland, Armenia, China, Serbia, and France, alongside 19 thematic pavilions.

These include notable collaborations with other international biennales, such as the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea and the Çanakkale Biennial Initiative (CABANIN). One particularly outstanding pavilion, deserving of special mention, is the pioneering project organised by the Correctional Services Agency, showcasing artworks created by its residents. This important addition underscores the Biennale's commitment to broadening cultural participation and amplifying diverse creative voices.

If you really can't wait to visit the Malta Biennale 2026, worry not, tickets are already available for purchasing. Visit maltabiennale.art

The Malta Biennale is organised by Heritage Malta in partnership with Arts Council Malta and Visit Malta and in collaboration with the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and the Ministry for Gozo and Planning.