Festivals Malta is launching the 14th edition of the Valletta Baroque Festival which will take place between 8 and 25 January 2026. Minister for Culture, Arts and Local Government Dr Owen Bonnici announced the details of the 14th edition of the festival during a press conference at the Sala dei Cavalieri at the Malta Society of Arts.
“The Valletta Baroque Festival is a living testament to how our cultural heritage can remain relevant and inspire new generations. With this festival, we will give space to artistic excellence. It is gratifying to see how year after year interest continues to grow, and how Malta is increasingly asserting itself as a cultural centre on an international level,” concluded Minister Bonnici.
The Valletta Baroque Festival remains one of Malta’s most prestigious cultural events. “This festival, which continues to grow year after year, offers us a unique opportunity to relive the beauty of baroque music in some of Malta’s most beautiful historical locations,” said Festivals Malta Chairman, Aaron Zahra.
Festivals Malta CEO, Frans Agius, remarked that, “Through festivals such as this, Festivals Malta demonstrates its commitment as an agency that gives a platform to some of the best local and international artistic talent. It is a real pleasure for us to announce the programme for another edition of this prestigious festival.”
Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the 14th edition of the festival will feature an exceptional line-up of international and local artists, and renowned groups who will perform in some of Malta’s most beautiful historical locations. The festival opens with Bonaventura Rubino’s Messa de Morti à 5 Concertata, presented by Ensemble La Cantoria under the direction of Vincenzo Di Betta at St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
Among the main concerts on the programme is also Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni, with the participation of Charlie Siem, Carmine Lauri and Maximilian Hornung together with the new De Valette Chamber Orchestra at the Teatru Manoel. Young audiences can also enjoy the Chirping of the Nightingale event on 11 January at the Teatru Manoel, an interactive concert that introduces children to the fascinating world of baroque music through stories and music.
Other performances include a concert of sacred vocal works by the Tenebrea Choir, the return of the Valletta Baroque Ensemble, and Bach’s Lutheran Masses by the Excelsior Choir & Consort. Another major attraction will be the revival of the baroque opera Pelopida by Maltese composer Girolamo Abos, under the musical direction of Giulio Prandi, theatrical direction by Brett Nicholas Brown, costumes by Luke Azzopardi, and set design by Anthony Bonnici.
This rarely performed opera will be performed for the first time in Malta in a full production at the Manoel Theatre, with the Arianna Art Ensemble and several international names from the opera world. The festival will be held in various historical locations including St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Verdala Palace, San Anton Palace, Palazzo Parisio, the Maltese Club, the National Library, the Manoel Theatre, and several beautiful churches across Malta.
Each location provides a spectacular backdrop that enhances the audience’s experience and connects them to the rich cultural heritage of our islands. This year the festival will also host the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne (REMA) conference between 20 and 22 January. This conference brings together one hundred organisations from the sector and combines a rich programme of sessions, discussions and artistic discoveries on the genre of early music. This edition will also include lectures on Malta’s musical heritage.
Thematic workshops will address the sustainable transition of the music sector, and participants will have the opportunity to present their projects. Kenneth Zammit Tabona said, “This festival continues to contribute to placing Malta and Valletta in particular on the international music platform and we look forward to having as many local enthusiasts in the audience as there are cultural tourists from abroad who come to our country and enjoy our beautiful baroque architecture.”
The Valletta Baroque Festival will take place between 8 and 25 January 2026 and is organised by Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel. The festival is organised with the support of the Ministry for Culture, Arts and Local Government and Visit Malta, as well as with the support of Schweppes.
