The 21st edition of the Inizjamed Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival will be run from Monday 25 till Saturday 29 August 2026. Just like last year’s edition, and thanks to a number of collaborations, the festival will be an itinerant one, with events taking place at Spazju Kreattiv, Victoria Central in Gozo, Valletta Design Cluster, Vincent’s Eco Farm, the Notarial Archives, MICAS, and at Teatru Salesjan.
Readings will be held mainly in Maltese and English, with short texts read in their original language, and can be experienced at first hand during writing labs, intimate sessions, panels and interviews. Most events are free, and invited the audience to become active participants.
The 21st edition is being held in conjunction with Arts Council Malta and with the help of Versopolis. The Festival collaborates with Spazju Kreattiv and is also assisted by APS Bank, l-Għaqda tal-Malti — Università, Istituto Italiano di Cultura di La Valletta, TheDataKnitters, Merlin Publishers, Merlin Library, the Notarial Archives Foundation, and Teatru Salesjan.
The Authors
Hammed Aboud (Syria/Austria)
Batool Abu Akleen (Palestine/France)
Keith Borg (Malta)
Jen Calleja (United Kingdom)
Claire Lajus (France)
Rosaria Lo Russo (Italy)
Karl Schembri (Malta/Kenya)
The Full Programme
In-Numri tal-Baħar – Exhibition
Discover poetry through numbers, visualisation and music at In-Numri tal-Baħar.
📆 25–30.08
📍 Spazju Kreattiv
🎟️ Free admission
From Sea to Sea
From sea to sea: join us online for an afternoon of voices, languages and literature.
📆 25.08 • 2pm
💻 Online • Free
Open Mic
The stage is yours! Join us in Gozo for an evening of writing, music and stories.
📆 25.08 • 8pm
📍 Victoria Central, Għawdex
🎟️ Free admission
Short Readings – Karl Schembri & Jen Calleja
Two distinctive voices in two short, intimate readings: Karl Schembri and Jen Calleja.
📆 26.08 • 4.30–5pm
📍 Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv
🎟️ Free
Parables, Thruths, and In-Betweens
Where does truth end and fiction begin? Keith Borg and Jen Calleja explore the stories through which we understand the world.
📆 26.08 • 5.30pm
📍 Valletta Design Cluster
🎟️ Free
Poetry Film Night + Panel + In-Numri tal-Baħar Launch
An evening where poetry meets film, followed by a panel and the launch of In-Numri tal-Baħar.
📆 26.08 • 7pm
📍 Spazju Kreattiv Cinema
🎟️ €5
Hear Our Voices
During the film evening, children aged 8–14 are invited to explore stories, protest and the right to be heard.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel this event due to circumstances both unforeseen and beyond our control.
Tradutturi / Tradituri
Watch a text take on a new life during an interactive live translation session with Clare Azzopardi.
📆 27.08 • 11am
📍 Valletta Design Cluster
🎟️ Free, booking required
Lunchtime Reading
A bite, a book and a glimpse backstage: spend lunchtime with the Festival authors.
📆 27.08 • 1pm
📍 The Bar, Teatru Salesjan
🎟️ Free
Short Readings – Claire Lajus & Keith Borg
Encounter the work of Claire Lajus and Keith Borg up close in two short readings.
📆 27.08 • 6–6.30pm
📍 Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv
🎟️ Free
The Poetics of Motion
Four poets and different languages come together to explore movement, displacement and transformation.
📆 27.08 • 8.30pm
📍 Vincent’s Eco Farm
🎟️ €5
Short Readings – Hamed Abboud, Rosaria Lo Russo, Batool Abu Akleen
Three voices from three different realities: Hamed Abboud, Rosaria Lo Russo and Batool Abu Akleen.
📆 28.08 • 4–4.45pm
📍 Cinema Foyer, Spazju Kreattiv
🎟️ Free
Translation Masterclass with Praspar Press
Explore the art and practice of literary translation with Praspar Press founders Jen Calleja and Kat Storace.
📆 28.08 • 5–7.30pm
📍 Valletta Design Cluster
🎟️ €50 • €25 students
The Evil that Remains
Jean Paul Borg meets Karl Schembri for a conversation about Eħlisna mid-Deni, writing and memory.
📆 28.08 • 8pm
📍 Notarial Archives Foundation
🏛️ Guided tours: 6.30pm, 7pm u 7.30pm
🎟️ €5
Seven Authors at MICAS
Seven authors enter MICAS for the Festival finale, with music by Troffa Ħamra and a closing party with DJ Bob.
📆 29.08 • 8pm
🎧 Closing Party • 10pm
📍 MICAS
🎟️ €5 — party included
