Record Attendance at the Valletta Baroque Festival 2026

The Valletta Baroque Festival 2026 continues to exceed expectations, recording outstanding attendance figures as audiences from Malta and across the world gather to experience one of Europe’s most distinctive celebrations of Baroque and early music.

Produced by Festivals Malta, the festival opened on 8 January and is now entering its final week with momentum undiminished. Now in its 14th edition, the Valletta Baroque Festival has firmly positioned itself as a cultural highlight on the European calendar, presenting an ambitious programme set within some of the island’s most opulent historic venues.

Under the artistic direction of Kenneth Zammit Tabona, this year’s festival has welcomed a remarkable array of international and local artists and ensembles. Iconic locations such as St John’s Co-Cathedral and the historic Teatru Manoel have played host to performances that have consistently drawn full houses, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience Baroque music in spaces that resonate with history, architecture and artistic heritage.

The festival’s programming continues to demonstrate both depth and innovation. Alongside major sacred and instrumental works, one of the most anticipated highlights still to come is Pelopida, a recently rediscovered Baroque opera by Maltese-born composer Girolamo Abos. Presented as a fully staged production, Pelopida reflects the festival’s commitment to musical rediscovery while placing Malta’s own Baroque legacy firmly on the international stage.

© 2026 by Festivals Malta

Innovation is also at the heart of BaRock. Taking place on 24 January 2026 at the Salesian Theatre in Sliema, BaRock offers a bold fusion of Baroque masterpieces and rock music. The performance brings together The Rock Troupers and the Pro Mużika Ensemble in a genre-crossing collaboration that reimagines music by composers such as Bach and Vivaldi alongside iconic rock influences including Pink Floyd and Jon Lord. BaRock exemplifies the festival’s openness to creative reinterpretation, demonstrating how Baroque forms and structures can find new life in contemporary musical contexts.

With an exciting final week still ahead, the Valletta Baroque Festival continues until 25 January 2026, reaffirming its reputation for artistic excellence, innovation and audience engagement.

The Valletta Baroque Festival is organised by Festivals Malta in collaboration with Teatru Manoel, supported by Visit Malta and the Ministry for Culture, Lands and Local Government, and sponsored by Schweppes.

For more information and full programme details, visit www.festivals.mt/vbf