Festivals Malta Presents the First Edition of the Valletta Guitar Festival

Valletta, Malta – Festivals Malta presents the first edition of the Valletta Guitar Festival, taking place from 10 to 12 September 2026 in various locations across Valletta, Malta's capital city. Organised by Festivals Malta under the artistic direction of Simon Schembri, the festival brings together internationally acclaimed musicians for three concerts celebrating the guitar through a variety of musical traditions.

The festival opens on Thursday, 10 September at 19:30 at Teatru Manoel with The Extraordinary Guitar Night, featuring Rudi Flores, Sébastien Giniaux, Franco Luciani, Quatuor Éclisses, Yamandu Costa, Sandro Zerafa, and Vincent Bourgeyx.

The opening concert brings together tango, gypsy swing, Brazilian guitar, classical quartet, jazz, and chamber-like musical encounters. It is ideal for audiences who enjoy a varied and elegant concert experience with influences from tango, jazz, classical, and world music.

The second concert, Encounters with the Latin Guitar, takes place on Friday, 11 September 2026, at 20:00 at Teatru Manoel, featuring world-renowned guitarist Yamandu Costa.

Celebrating choro and Brazilian musical traditions, the programme features seven-string guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin, accordion, and percussion, with music by Yamandu Costa, Ernesto Nazareth, Jacob do Bandolim, Dominguinhos, Pixinguinha, and others. The concert offers a relaxed and vibrant programme for audiences who enjoy Brazilian rhythms, acoustic sound worlds, and intimate ensemble music.

The festival concludes on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at 21:00 with The Final Symphonic Concert at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Quatuor Éclisses.

The programme journeys through Spanish-inspired sound worlds with music by Albéniz, Bizet, Chabrier, Rodrigo, and Ravel's Boléro. The concert is suited to audiences who enjoy orchestral performances in an open-air setting, Spanish colour, drama, and intensity, and a powerful concert experience.

Taking place in the heart of Valletta, the festival offers audiences the opportunity to experience three evenings of live music featuring internationally recognised artists and a diverse programme spanning classical, jazz, tango, Brazilian, and symphonic repertoire.

This festival is organised by Festivals Malta in collaboration with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Pjazza Teatru Rjal and supported by the Ministry of Art, Culture and National Heritage. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, KM Malta Airlines and VisitMalta.

Tickets for the Valletta Guitar Festival can be purchased at festivals.mt/vgf.