AGP Executive Report

Cultural Ties: Valletta Mayor Olaf McKay and Malta’s honorary consul to Bangladesh discussed ways to promote Maltese heritage and strengthen cultural exchange. Junior Eurovision: PBS’s Ta’ Qali show earned praise for bringing festa traditions to an international audience. Armenia’s Naré won with “BOO!”, while Malta’s Beppe Caruana placed seventh; Żabbar’s ornate festa umbrellas featured on stage. On Stage: Masquerade Malta’s production of Little Shop of Horrors is playing at Manoel Theatre, with Luigi Buhagiar starring as Seymour. Made in Gozo: The cast of The Madame Blanc Mysteries has been filming its fifth season on Gozo, where the island doubles for the show’s fictional French setting. Christmas Concert: Joseph Calleja will join Claudio Baglioni and Sarah Brightman at the MFCC on 18 December, accompanied by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Joseph Calleja Children’s Choir.

Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s 13-year-old Naré won with “BOO!” at Ta’ Qali, scoring 202 points; Malta’s Beppe Caruana placed seventh. PBS earned praise for a show celebrating Maltese music, festa traditions and craftsmanship. Stage: Masquerade Malta’s Little Shop of Horrors brings its blood-thirsty plant to the Manoel Theatre, with Luigi Buhagiar as Seymour. Made in Gozo: The Madame Blanc Mysteries returns for season five, continuing its tradition of filming on Gozo, whose villages double as fictional southern France. Christmas Concert: Joseph Calleja will join Claudio Baglioni and Sarah Brightman at the MFCC on 18 December, alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Joseph Calleja Children’s Choir.

Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s 13-year-old Naré won with “BOO!” as Malta-hosted Junior Eurovision drew praise for its colourful celebration of local culture. Maltese entrant Beppe Caruana finished seventh. Maltese Traditions: Żabbar’s ornate festa umbrellas took centre stage at Ta’ Qali, helping bring local craftsmanship and festa spirit to an international audience. Live Music: Joseph Calleja will join Claudio Baglioni and Sarah Brightman for a Christmas concert at the MFCC on 18 December, with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Joseph Calleja Children’s Choir. Arts: MICAS’s new exhibition brings together work by Kemi Onabulé, Megan Rooney and Nathanaëlle Herbelin. Metal: Burning Witches have parted ways with singer Laura Guldemond; Jennifer Gruber will front the band at their 7 November Malta show while they seek a permanent replacement.

Junior Eurovision: PBS has been praised for bringing Maltese music, language and festa traditions to an international audience at Ta’ Qali. Armenia’s Naré won with “BOO!”, while Malta’s Beppe Caruana finished seventh. Żabbar’s colourful festa umbrellas also featured in the show. Christmas Concert: Joseph Calleja will perform with Italian singer Claudio Baglioni and soprano Sarah Brightman at the MFCC on 18 December, alongside the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Calleja’s children’s choir. Visual Arts: MICAS is showing work by Kemi Onabulé, Megan Rooney and Nathanaëlle Herbelin, exploring themes of nature, creation and renewal.

Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s Naré won the 2026 contest in Ta’ Qali with “BOO!”, scoring 202 points ahead of Spain and France. Malta’s Beppe Caruana represented the host nation, while Gaia Cauchi, Destiny and Keane Cutajar hosted the show. Maltese Heritage: Festa traditions took centre stage, with Ħaż-Żabbar’s giant ceremonial umbrellas and other local decorations bringing Maltese craftsmanship to the international broadcast. Art: Kemi Onabulé’s work features in a new exhibition at MICAS alongside pieces by Megan Rooney and Nathanaëlle Herbelin, exploring creation, nature and cultural identity. Metal: Burning Witches have parted ways with vocalist Laura Guldemond, with Jennifer Gruber stepping in for upcoming shows, including the band’s November 7 appearance at Malta’s Metal At Lust festival.

Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s Naré won the 2026 contest with “BOO!”, scoring 202 points in the final at Ta’ Qali. Malta’s Beppe Caruana performed “Blue Bird”, while former Maltese contestant Chanel Monseigneur announced the jury’s 12 points. Live Music: Burning Witches have parted ways with singer Laura Guldemond, but their November 7 Malta show will go ahead with Jennifer Gruber filling in. The band is auditioning for a permanent replacement. Contemporary Art: Kemi Onabulé’s work features in a new MICAS exhibition alongside pieces by Megan Rooney and Nathanaëlle Herbelin, exploring creation, nature and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

Junior Eurovision: Malta hosts the 2026 final at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali, with 16 countries competing. PBS has brought the contest’s festa spirit into schools and Qawra Square, while Ireland’s Naomi Gribben and Caleb Kirwin will perform as a duet. Music: Burning Witches have parted ways with singer Laura Guldemond, but their November 7 Malta Metal At Lust show is still on, with Jennifer Gruber stepping in for upcoming live dates. Visual Arts: MICAS’s new exhibition, A New Life Force, brings together work by Kemi Onabulé, Megan Rooney and Nathanaëlle Herbelin, exploring creation, nature and human connection.

Entertainment Investment: Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the €350 million Hard Rock Hotel Malta project, which includes more than ten restaurants, bars and entertainment venues and is expected to create hundreds of jobs. Junior Eurovision: Malta’s festa-themed contest brings 16 countries together, with school celebrations and family activities in Qawra ahead of the live broadcast from Ta’ Qali tonight at 9pm. Maltese Film: Director Bruce Micallef Eynaud’s short Son of God is among the works featured in Brighton FilmPride’s queer-horror programme. Maltese Culture: Żejt iż-Żejtun celebrates its 20th edition with olive-oil traditions and Maltese folklore.

Community Media: A new podcast studio has opened at Paola’s Jake Vella Voluntary Sector Centre, giving NGOs a space to make podcasts, campaign videos and other content. Reading: Eight schools joined the launch of Malta’s 10th National Reading Marathon, celebrating stories from different cultures and encouraging children to make reading a daily habit. Maltese Traditions: Żejt iż-Żejtun marks its 20th edition this weekend with folklore, food and activities celebrating olive-oil heritage. Junior Eurovision: The 2026 contest in Malta opened with a celebration of Maltese culture, as events brought young performers and fans together. Arts and Culture: Żabbar’s Together We Shine Festival is returning for a second edition, while plans for the 2027 Cultural Region include a €250,000 investment. The Villa Theatre is also moving closer to reopening.

Culture Funding: Prime Minister Robert Abela and two EU commissioners discussed Malta’s priorities for the bloc’s new budget, including investment that expands access to culture and helps people develop their talents. Music Abroad: Malta will bring its jazz traditions to Doha’s European Jazz Festival from November 4–7, alongside performers from eight other European countries. Maltese Traditions: Żejt iż-Żejtun celebrates its 20th edition this weekend, with folklore, food and activities honouring olive-growing heritage. Visual Arts: Twanny Darmanin’s exhibition Layers of Time, featuring 60 paintings in a mix of styles, is on show in Ta’ Qali. Junior Eurovision: The contest week opened in Qawra with a flag parade, Maltese folk dancing and a fireworks display for the 16 young performers. Screen Stories: Malta has joined the Balkan Way TV-series pitching initiative for the first time; nine projects will be presented online on October 30.

Maltese Traditions: Żejt iż-Żejtun marks its 20th edition this weekend, bringing olive-oil traditions, food, folklore and local history to the town centre. Junior Eurovision: The 2026 contest week opened in Qawra with a flag parade, Maltese folk dancing and fireworks, putting Malta’s culture centre stage as young artists gathered for the event. Screen Projects: Malta joins the Series Rough Pitch – The Balkan Way for the first time, widening opportunities for local storytellers to develop TV projects with regional partners. Visual Arts: Twanny Darmanin’s Layers of Time, now showing in Ta’ Qali, brings together 60 paintings across Baroque, hard-edge and Romantic styles. Sailing: Django 7X has secured overall victory in the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race, completing the 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily.

Junior Eurovision: Malta’s contest week opened in Qawra with a flag parade, folk dancing, festa traditions and fireworks as the 16 young performers took part in the launch. Maltese Traditions: Żejt iż-Żejtun returns this weekend for its 20th edition, celebrating olive oil, folklore, food and local heritage in Żejtun. Art: Twanny Darmanin’s “Layers of Time,” a 60-painting exhibition exploring memory and human experience through varied styles, is on display in Ta’ Qali. Sailing: Italy’s Django 7X has secured overall victory in the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race after a 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily. On Screen: 2009 action thriller Armored has climbed to No. 2 on Netflix in Malta, part of a wider surge in European and Middle Eastern viewing.

Junior Eurovision: Malta’s contest week opened in Qawra with 16 young artists carrying their national flags, performing the Maltese folk dance and celebrating with a festa and fireworks. Middle Sea Race: Italian yacht Django 7X has won the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race overall after a 606-nautical-mile course around Sicily. Visual Arts: Twanny Darmanin’s Layers of Time, featuring 60 paintings exploring memory and human life, is showing in Ta’ Qali. MICAS is also presenting A New Life Force, with three international artists drawing inspiration from Maltese culture and landscape. Screen Industry: Malta joins the Series Rough Pitch – The Balkan Way for the first time, with nine TV projects set to pitch online on 30 October.

Junior Eurovision: Malta hosts the final on 24 October, with 16 young performers competing and Eurovision winners DARA and Lou Deleuze set to appear as special guests. Visual Arts: MICAS’s new exhibition, A New Life Force, brings paintings by Nathanaelle Herbelin, Kemi Onabule and Megan Rooney, inspired in part by Maltese culture, landscape and Mediterranean light. Sailing: Black Jack 100 claimed monohull line honours in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, while yachts continue to finish the 606-nautical-mile course. Opera: Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja joined Ermonela Jaho, Daniela Barcellona and Giorgi Manoshvili for Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th-anniversary gala.

Visual Arts: MICAS is hosting A New Life Force, an exhibition of new paintings by Nathanaelle Herbelin, Kemi Onabule and Megan Rooney, inspired by identity, memory, nature and Malta’s cultural landscape. Junior Eurovision: Malta hosts the final on Saturday, 24 October, with 16 countries competing. Cyprus’s Harry Georgiou and Ireland’s duet, Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben, are among the young performers preparing for the show. Youth Creativity: More than 40 young writers contributed to Ismagħni Ftit, a project exploring mental health through Maltese poetry, stories and drama. Selected works were performed at the Salesian Theatre and will be published for schools and youth centres. Local Culture: Floriana’s “Ġenna ta’ Ġonna” brought live performances and artisan stalls to the city’s historic public gardens.

Junior Eurovision: Malta’s countdown is on, with a week of festa-inspired events in Qawra leading up to the October 24 final. Ireland’s duet act Naomi Gribben and Caleb Kirwan, and Cyprus’s Harry Georgiou, are among the young performers heading to the stage. Local Culture: Floriana welcomed families to Ġenna ta’ Ġonna, with live performances, artisan stalls and activities celebrating its historic gardens. The Western Region will receive €250,000 as Malta’s 2027 Cultural Region, funding concerts, exhibitions and heritage events across 10 localities. Maltese Talent Abroad: Tenor Joseph Calleja joined opera stars at Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th-anniversary gala, returning to a festival that helped launch his career. Young Writers: More than 40 young writers contributed to a Maltese-language project on mental health, with selected poetry, stories and drama performed at the Salesian Theatre and set for publication.