The Valletta Baroque Festival Returns next January for its 14th Edition

Festivals Malta launches the 14th edition of the Valletta Baroque Festival taking place  between the 8th and 25th of January 2026.

The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Dr Bonnici announced details for the 14th edition of the festival during a press conference at Sala dei Cavalieri within 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 interest in this festival continues to grow year after year, and how Malta is increasingly asserting itself as a cultural centre on an international level,” concluded Minister Bonnici.

The Valletta Baroque Festival continues to be 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 within the island’s most magnificent historic venues”, stated Aaron Zahra, Festivals Malta Chairman.

Festivals Malta CEO Frans Agius remarked that, “Through festivals like this, Festivals Malta demonstrates its commitment to provide a platform for some of the best artistic talent both local and international. It is truly our pleasure to be launching the programme for this prestigious festival for yet another edition.”

Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the 14th edition of the festival will feature an exceptional lineup of international artists and acclaimed ensembles performing in Malta’s most iconic and opulent settings. The festival opens with a performance of Bonaventura Rubino’s Messa de Morti à 5 Concertata by Ensemble La Cantoria, under the baton of Vincento Di Betta, at the magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Other festival highlights include Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni, featuring soloists Charlie Siem, Carmine Lauri and Maximilian Hornung, alongside the newly formed De Valette Chamber Orchestra at Teatru Manoel. Audiences can also enjoy a charming children’s concert titled Chirping of the Nightingale on January 11 at Teatru Manoel, which introduces young listeners to the enchanting world of baroque sound through interactive storytelling and music.

Additional standout performances include a concert of sacred vocal works by the Tenebrae Choir, the return of the festival’s in-house ensemble, the Valletta Baroque Ensemble, and Bach’s Lutheran Masses performed by the Excelsior Choir & Consort.

A major highlight of the festival will be the revival of the Baroque opera Pelopida by Maltese composer Girolamo Abos, under the musical direction of Giulio Prandi, stage direction of Brett Nicholas Brown, costumes by Luke Azzopardi, and set design by Anthony Bonnici. This rarely performed masterpiece will be staged for the first time in Malta in a fully-fledged production at Teatru Manoel, performed by the Arianna Art Ensemble together with several renowned international opera artists. Pelopida offers a remarkable glimpse into Malta’s operatic heritage, marking a milestone in the rediscovery of Maltese baroque repertoire.

The festival will be held across Malta’s most stunning venues, including St John’s Co-Cathedral, Verdala Palace, Teatru Manoel, San Anton Palace, Casino Maltese, the National Library of Malta, Palazzo Parisio, and several beautiful churches across the islands. Each location provides an awe-inspiring backdrop, enriching the experience of audiences and connecting them deeply with Malta’s cultural legacy.

This year the festival will also host the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne (REMA) conference between 20th and 22nd 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.

Zammit Tabona concluded, “This festival has certainly done its part in placing Malta and Valletta in particular on the international music circuit and I hope that there will be as many local enthusiasts in the audience as there are cultural tourists from overseas who come to take advantage of our mild January weather and our magnificent baroque architecture.”

The Valletta Baroque Festival will take place between the 8th and 25th of January 2026. The festival is organised by Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, supported by the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government and Visit Malta, and sponsored by  Schweppes.

For more information and to book tickets, please visit www.festivals.mt/vbf.