Festivals Malta announces the Artistic Team for the period 2026-2028

Festivals Malta is pleased to announce the appointment of its new team of Artistic Directors for the period of 2026-2028.

The Agency is the national government body dedicated to the nurturing and growth of festivals and cultural events in Malta and Gozo, responsible for an annual calendar of more than 160 separate activities across 11 festivals and 5 national events that serve as a platform for local and international artists to showcase their talents, while cultivating an environment of creativity and artistic expression and promoting public awareness of the arts. By acting as the focal point for collaboration and cross-promotion in the creative sector, Festivals Malta works to raise the profile of Maltese culture in the community and to promote Malta internationally as a festival destination.

Festivals Malta would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Artistic Directors for their work and valuable contribution within the agency and its festivals in the last three years.

The 2026-2028 team is as follows:

Ritmu Roots Festival – Dr Toni Sant

Photo by Jean Marc Zerafa

Toni Sant is an academic, broadcaster, and writer specialising in digital curation and performance studies. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Salford's School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technologies in the UK. Sant holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Malta, and an MA and a PhD from New York University. His career began in the 1980s as a radio and television presenter and producer. He introduced the world's first series of podcasts in Maltese, featuring music from Malta, in 2005. In 2014, he became the Artistic Director of Spazju Kreattiv, Malta’s national centre for creativity, a role he held until 2020. His books include Remembering Rediffusion in Malta (Midsea, 2016), Documenting Performance (Bloomsbury, 2017), Varjetà: (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2021), and Jien-Noti-Jien: Ħsejjes u Stejjer (KKM, 2021), co-written with Immanuel Misfud, which won Malta’s National Book Prize in the literary non-fiction category.

Malta International Arts Festival – Mr Ruben Zahra

Photo by Stephen Buhagiar

Ruben Zahra is a composer, video artist and producer committed to contemporary interdisciplinary expression. His productions often feature a blend of opera, video-art, theatre and choreography which tour internationally in major arts festivals and opera houses. After graduating from the University of Malta in Music & Theatre Studies he was awarded a scholarship by the Italian Cultural Institute to further his studies in Italy. He studied composition and orchestration with Azio Corghi at the National Music Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome, electronic music with Giorgio Nottoli and film music with Ennio Morricone. In 2000 he moved to the USA following a master’s degree in composition at Mills College in Oakland, California. In 2002 he moved to Los Angeles and spent two years working for the Hollywood film industry as a soundtrack composer and music editor. Since 2004 he is based in Malta and works internationally as a freelance composer and producer.

Malta Jazz Festival – Mr Sandro Zerafa

Sandro Zerafa is undeniably one of Malta’s most prominent jazz ambassadors. The Malta Jazz Festival is the main reason why he became a jazz musician. Based in France since 1998 he has become an active member of the Parisian jazz community and has recorded over 20 albums as a sideman and 7 critically acclaimed albums as a leader. Sandro is a musician of contrasts, unclassifiable and ambivalent. He is equally at home in straight-ahead settings as in more contemporary styles. After graduating from the University of Malta and the Lyons Conservatory Sandro moved to Paris where he was a founder member of the collective / label Paris Jazz Underground. He has recorded and performed with musicians as diverse as Chico Buarque, Richard Sears, André Ceccarelli, Yonathan Avishai, Francesco Ciniglio to name but a few. Sandro has toured extensively in Brazil, South Korea, Belgium, France, Morocco, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, England, Turkey, Italy, Morocco and Canada. He succeeded Charles Gatt as artistic director of the Malta Jazz Festival in 2009.

Dance Festival Malta – Ms Francesca Abela Tranter

Photo by Emma Tranter

Francesca, a proud Mediterranean artist, is a pioneering force in Malta’s contemporary dance scene - a choreographer, researcher, educator, and interdisciplinary practitioner whose work spans over four decades. Trained in Malta and the UK, she has shaped the island’s cultural fabric through performance, mentorship, and international collaboration. She founded Contact Dance Company, Dance Hybrid Malta, and Dance on the Move, platforms which have empowered generations and connected Malta’s dance community to global networks. As Artistic Director of Dance Festival Malta and lecturer at the University of Malta’s School of Performing Arts, Francesca fosters dialogue, experimentation, and inclusivity in dance. Passionate about legacy and longevity, she is currently researching the evolution of contemporary dance in Malta. Her vision honours movement as a universal language; a humanising force that connects, transforms, and transcends borders in a rapidly changing world.

Notte Bianca – Mr Yanis Azzopardi, Mr Daniel Cauchi, & Mr Rodney Gauci

Yanis Azzopardi is a marketing strategist and creative director with over a decade of experience across branding, communications, and cultural production. He is the founder of Ponder & Pitch, a creative studio established in 2021, delivering bold, design-led campaigns for public entities, cultural institutions, and commercial clients. Yanis has worked on over 100 brands across various sectors, supporting both local initiatives and actively working with international franchises. His portfolio includes strategic and creative roles on projects such as Rockestra, Kuraġġ, Festa tal-Festi, Servizz Pubbliku, and national campaigns for the University of Malta, MCCF, and more. With a background as a musician, and a lifelong involvement in the arts, Yanis brings a unique dual perspective, grounded in creativity, driven by results. A graduate of the University of Malta and the Digital Marketing Institute, he is known for his multi-layered campaigns, audience-first thinking, and passion for guerrilla marketing.

Daniel Cauchi is a respected artistic director, composer, and performer with over 30 years of experience in Malta’s cultural scene. He has directed and co-produced numerous events, including Kelma Kelma Nota Nota, Kubu, Ftakar, Kuraġġ, and Festa tal-Festi. In 2024, Daniel was appointed Artistic Director for the Eastern Region’s “Region of Culture” programme. He is the founder and band leader of Big Band Brothers, and co-founder of The Box, a creative arts space that supports interdisciplinary collaboration. His work ranges from large-scale festivals to educational projects such as L-Investigaturi tal-Mużika and mpokids, aimed at nurturing future generations of musicians. Daniel also served as Music Director and composer for the Opening Ceremony of the Malta Special Olympics Invitational Games in 2022. Known for his multidisciplinary approach and strong community focus, Daniel brings creative leadership rooted in both tradition and innovation.

Rodney Gauci is a producer, scriptwriter, and audiovisual director with more than 20 years of experience in theatre, television, and cultural production. He has served as creative producer for Malta’s Eurovision and Junior Eurovision broadcasts and is the creative force behind Il-Pantomima Maltija, which he helped elevate into a large-scale national event. Rodney is the founder of Nest Creative Lab, a production company known for merging storytelling with cutting-edge technology across commercials, events, and installations. He holds a BSc in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence and an MA in Film Studies, and lectures cinematography to students reading for Masters in film studies. His work focuses on blending creative direction with technical execution to deliver immersive audience experiences, including large-scale projection mapping. Rodney’s vision is rooted in cultural accessibility and innovation, making him a key driver in reimagining how Maltese audiences engage with the arts.

The Three Palaces Festival – Dr Michelle Castelletti

Dr Michelle Castelletti is an interdisciplinary director, strategist, curator, and artist, who thrives on the wonderful encounter between academia and creativity.  She is a conductor and composer published by Universal Edition Vienna and recorded by BIS Records and ARS Produktion.  A material culture historian fascinated by interconnectedness, her curation is distinctive and bold, yet inclusive. Previously Lead Partner manager for an EU-Interreg IV A project, artistic director of the Malta International Arts Festival leading towards European Capital of Culture, and AD of the Royal Northern College of Music, she is now AD of The Three Palaces Festival and Director of the Oxford Festival of the Arts. Winner of several awards, including the Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts and the international OPUS KLASSIK Award. Her work is performed around the world, receiving the highest accolades including No 1 Orchestral Choice of the Month [BBC Music Magazine, The Proms Edition].

The new Artistic Directors will be joining Festivals Malta’s current Artistic Directors for The Valletta Baroque Festival, Il-Karnival ta’ Malta and Mużika Mużika:-

Valletta Baroque Festival – Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona

Photo by Leo Chircop

Kenneth Zammit Tabona is a leading figure in Malta’s cultural scene. Born in 1956 and educated at St Aloysius College, he held senior roles at Barclays, Mid Med, and HSBC Banks until 2001. A passionate arts advocate, he reviewed music and theatre for the Malta Times and Sunday Times for over three decades and served on the Manoel Theatre Management Committee, later becoming its first Artistic Director in 2014. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the Valletta International Baroque Festival, Valletta Baroque Ensemble, The Monteverdi Project, and the Valletta Baroque Opera Festival. An accomplished illustrator and watercolourist, his artworks feature in prestigious collections including Berlaymont in Brussels. He is a board member of the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne and former president of the Association of Historic Theatres of Europe. He holds France’s Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and Italy’s Cavaliere della Stella d’Italia honors for his cultural contributions.

Carnival – Mr Jason Busuttil

Photo by Leo Chircop

Jason Busuttil has over 30 years of experience in Malta’s media, cultural, and entertainment sectors. His roles have ranged from Multi-Camera Director and Set Designer to Event Organizer and Technical Coordinator. Having been a Carnival participant himself for many years, Jason has worked with Festivals Malta, coordinating major cultural events like Carnival in Malta and serving as a consultant on cultural projects. He has also supported government events, including CHOGM and Valletta 2018, where he was TV Coordinator for the opening ceremony. A passionate fireworks enthusiast, Jason is President of St. George’s Fireworks Factory and has managed displays for national events such as New Year's Eve and Valletta Pageant of the Seas. He is also active in special effects design for major concerts and television productions, including MTV, X-Factor Malta, and Malta’s Got Talent. His deep-rooted experience makes him a respected figure in Malta’s cultural and entertainment landscape.

Mużika Mużika – Mr Paul Abela

Paul Abela is a renowned Maltese composer, conductor, and music producer. He began his music career in the 1960s and later studied at Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1981. That same year, he composed Ġensna, Malta’s first rock-opera, which became a local classic. Paul has represented Malta as composer, arranger, and conductor in international festivals, including four Eurovision Song Contests (1991, 1992, 1996, 2001). He has composed extensively for TV, theatre, and film, and served as musical director for numerous major stage productions, including Les Misérables In Concert, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Fiddler on the Roof. A prolific jazz musician, Paul has performed across Europe and Asia and has produced concerts for orchestras, big bands, and television. He also taught at the Malta School of Music and is currently the artistic director of Mużika Mużika.

Festivals Malta looks ahead to the next three years and the contributions of the incoming Artistic Directors. Their diverse visions, creative leadership, and commitment to cultural excellence will continue to shape the Agency’s artistic direction and cultural portfolio in the coming years.

Festivals Malta falls under the auspices of the Ministry for Culture, Lands, and Local Government.