Perched atop the restored Floriana fortifications, just outside Valletta, the Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS) is Malta’s newest cultural landmark. Officially opened to the public in late 2024, MICAS bridges the island’s rich historical heritage with the global language of contemporary art, offering visitors an unforgettable experience of art, architecture, and place.

The museum’s unique setting, a 17th-century fortification complex sensitively reimagined, transforms over 6,000 square metres of historical landscape into a state-of-the-art cultural campus. Its iconic steel roof and seamless contemporary interventions sit in dialogue with restored bastions, arches, and gunpowder stores, creating a dynamic contrast between past and present.

MICAS opened with an exhibition by renowned Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos.

Acquisitions at MICAS, a non-collecting gallery, include sculptures by Ugo Rondinone and Conrad Shawcross, as well as the powerful Figure in Rods sculpture by celebrated Maltese artist Ray Pitrè, a lasting tribute to his legacy and vision.

Beyond its exhibitions, MICAS hosts a robust calendar of events, educational programmes, and artist residencies, reflecting its mission to energise Malta’s cultural ecology and promote international exchange. Past artists hosted by MICAS with commissioned works include Pierre Huyghe, Cristina Iglesias, and Michele Oka Doner.

A visit to MICAS is about engaging with how art interprets the world we live in. Casual visitors, architecture enthusiasts, or contemporary art devotees will find at MICAS an inspiring encounter with creativity, history, and cultural innovation.