Culture in concert! Valletta Baroque Festival returns this January for its 14th edition
Performances will take place at a variety of venues including St John’s Co-Cathedral, Verdala Palace, San Anton Palace, Palazzo Parisio & the Casino Maltese.
The Valletta Baroque Festival is back! Festivals Malta has officially launched the 14th edition of this prestigious cultural event, taking place between 8th and 25th January 2026.
Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the 2026 edition features an exceptional line-up of world-class artists and ensembles performing across Malta’s most iconic Baroque spaces.
The festival opens with Bonaventura Rubino’s Messa de Morti à 5 Concertata performed by Ensemble La Cantoria directed by Vincenzo Di Betta at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Here are some other programme highlights to look forward to:
- Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni featuring Charlie Siem, Carmine Lauri, and Maximilian Hornung, together with the newly formed De Valette Chamber Orchestra at Teatru Manoel.
- Chirping of the Nightingale on 11th January – an interactive children’s concert introducing little ones to the enchanting world of Baroque music.
- A sacred vocal concert by the Tenebrea Choir, the return of the Valletta Baroque Ensemble, and Bach’s Lutheran Masses performed by the Excelsior Choir & Consort.
Another major highlight this year is the revival of the rare Maltese Baroque opera Pelopida by composer Girolamo Abos. Presented for the first time in Malta as a full production at Teatru Manoel, the opera will be led by musical director Giulio Prandi, stage director Brett Nicholas Brown, with Luke Azzopardi on costume design and Anthony Bonnici on set design. The Arianna Art Ensemble and an international cast of opera performers bring this historic work back to life.
Performances will take place at a variety of stunning venues including St John’s Co-Cathedral, Verdala Palace, San Anton Palace, Palazzo Parisio, the Casino Maltese, the National Library, Teatru Manoel, and several of Malta’s most beautiful churches, each providing a unique backdrop that elevates the Baroque experience.
This year, the festival will also host the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne (REMA) conference between 20th and 22nd January. Over a hundred organisations in the early-music sector will come together for discussions, workshops, and presentations, including lectures on Malta’s musical heritage and sessions focusing on sustainable practices within the music industry.
Ready for a journey through Malta’s Baroque heritage?