Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival 2026

Event: Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival 2026

Date: Tuesday 25 August - Saturday 29 August 2026

Time: More details

Venue: Various venues

The 21st edition of the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, organised by Inizjamed, will take place from Tuesday 25 August to Saturday 29 August 2026. As in previous years, and thanks to a number of collaborations, this year's festival will unfold across several venues, including Spazju Kreattiv, Victoria Central, Valletta Design Cluster, Vincent's Eco Farm, the Notarial Archives, MICAS and Teatru Salesjan.

The Festival will welcome seven writers from six different countries: Jen Calleja, a Maltese-British writer; Claire Lajus, a French writer; Karl Schembri, a Maltese writer; Keith Borg, a Maltese poet and writer; Hamed Aboud, a Syrian writer; Rosaria Lo Russo, an Italian poet; and Batool Abu Akleen, a Palestinian writer.

Most readings will take place in Maltese and English, while a selection of works will also be presented in their original languages.

The Festival experience will once again be enriched by live music, with performances by Troffa 摩amra and by Stjanu and Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur. Books by the featured authors will also be available for purchase throughout the Festival.

This edition continues a three-year collaboration with Spazju Kreattiv, through which several Festival events will be hosted at this unique venue. Inizjamed and Spazju Kreattiv will continue working closely together not only during the Festival but also through a year-round programme of literary activities.

The 21st edition is organised in partnership with Arts Council Malta and with the support of Versopolis. The Festival also collaborates with Spazju Kreattiv and receives support from APS Bank, the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di La Valletta, the National Book Council and Teatru Salesjan.

For more information visit Inizjamed’s Facebook and Instagram and . Most of the events are free of charge unless stated otherwise. Tickets can be purchased from Spazju Kreattiv’s .

The Festival will also reach different audiences through a number of outreach initiatives. On Friday 31 July, Trevor 呕ahra will lead a reading session for senior citizens. On Wednesday 26 August and Wednesday 2 September, Karl Schembri will deliver creative writing workshops for children in Paola and 摩al G魔axaq.

A multilingual online reading featuring Maltese writers Norbert Bugeja, Glen Calleja, Liz Grech, Louis Briffa, Matthew Schembri, Virginia Monteforte and Elena Cardona. The event is free of charge and begins at 14:00.

A multilingual Open Mic at Victoria Central, Victoria, Gozo. Maltese writers will be the featured guests, while members of the public are encouraged to share their own work in the spirit of an open stage. The event is free of charge and begins at 20:00.

A short reading by Karl Schembri, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Maltese literature. Through an excerpt from his work, Schembri will share stories that invite reflection and open up a space for dialogue with the audience. This event will take place from 16:30–16:45 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

A short reading by Jen Calleja, writer and translator whose work explores language, identity and belonging. Through an excerpt from her writing, Calleja will offer a unique literary experience. This event will take place from 16:45–17:00 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

What makes a story true? And what happens when fiction comes dangerously close to reality? In this panel, Keith Borg and Jen Calleja explore the boundaries between fact and imagination, parable and lived experience, and the ways literature creates spaces where different kinds of truth can emerge. The discussion, chaired by Ambrose Galea, will take place in English at 17:30 at the Valletta Design Cluster. Free admission.

An evening dedicated to poetry on screen, featuring a selection of Maltese and international poetry films, followed by a discussion and the launch of In-Numri tal-Ba魔ar. The project brings together poetry, research, data visualisation and music in a multidisciplinary artistic experience, featuring poems by Anton Buttigieg and Elizabeth Grech, research and visualisation by Yanika Borg (The Data Knitters), curated by Matthew Schembri, with music by Robert Farrugia from Natura Maltija by Saviour Bonnici. The event begins at 19:00 at Spazju Kreattiv. Tickets: €8.00.

Running alongside the main programme, children are invited to take part in a creative session led by Seen and Heard. How can stories give children a voice? This panel explores the role of literature in strengthening children's rights while addressing themes such as protest, social justice and participation. The event begins at 19:00 at Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

Join Clare Azzopardi for a live translation session in which the audience is invited to take part in the creative process of literary translation. Together, participants will explore the challenges, choices and possibilities of language in a dynamic session that reveals how a literary text takes on new life through translation. The event begins at 11:00 at the Valletta Design Cluster. Free admission.

The Festival writers will present readings from their work at 13:00 at Teatru Salesjan, accompanied by live music. Free admission.

A short reading by Claire Lajus, who will share an excerpt from her work. An opportunity to hear the author's voice and experience her writing up close. The event will take place from 18:00–18:15 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

A short reading by Keith Borg, who will share an excerpt from his work. An opportunity to discover his writing and experience the power of the written word in an intimate setting. The event will take place from 18:15–18:30 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

How do movement, displacement and transformation shape the way we write and read the world? In this panel, Batool Abu Akleen, Hamed Aboud, Claire Lajus and Rosaria Lo Russo explore the poetics of motion across languages, places and lived experiences. Moderated by Joe Gatt at Vincent's Eco Farm, the discussion will be accompanied by a live drawing by Greta Giulia, creating a visual dialogue alongside the conversation. The event will be held in English and begins at 20:30. Tickets: €5.00.

A short reading by Hamed Aboud, who will share an excerpt from his work. An opportunity for audiences to encounter one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Syrian literature. The event will take place from 16:00–16:15 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

A short reading by Rosaria Lo Russo, who will present an excerpt from her poetry. The session will be introduced by Serena Alessi. The event will take place from 16:15–16:30 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

A short reading by Batool Abu Akleen, who will share an excerpt from her work, bringing her unique literary voice to the audience. The event will take place from 16:30–16:45 at the Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv. Free admission.

A masterclass led by Praspar Press exploring the art and practice of literary translation, with a focus on the challenges and creative possibilities of translating literature across languages. The session will be held in English at 17:00 at the Valletta Design Cluster. Tickets: €50.00 (€25.00 for students).

Jean Paul Borg interviews Karl Schembri about his novel E魔lisna mid-Deni, in a conversation exploring writing, memory and the themes that shape the work. The discussion will be held in Maltese at 20:00 at the Notarial Archives. Tickets: €5.00.

The Festival's seven guest writers come together one last time for a special closing event at MICAS, featuring music by Troffa 摩amra and presented by Gabriel Lia and Ilona Victoria Sciberras. This celebration marks the conclusion of the 21st edition of the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival. The event begins at 20:00. Tickets: €5.00.

Following the main event, the Festival comes to a close with a party featuring DJ Bob at MICAS. The party begins at 10:00 and is included in the admission ticket for the preceding event.