The 2020 Malta Book Festival
The 2020 Malta Book Festival is organised by the National Book Council and will take place from 11-15 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
While preparations for this year’s edition are now well underway, the National Book Council will be following the national health authorities’ directives on public gatherings and is aware that plans for the festival may have to be altered accordingly.
Partners and prospective visitors are encouraged to follow our website and Facebook page for updates.
The MBF Story
The Malta Book Festival is the foremost book celebration in the country’s cultural calendar. Annually, the MBF boasts an attendance rate of 40,000 visitors, the participation of more than 40 exhibitors, and offers extensive networking opportunities for industry professionals.
The first edition of the MBF was held in 1979, then called the Malta Book Fair (1979-2012), and has since grown into a festival that celebrates the book culture in all its forms. The international dimension of the Festival is increasingly reflected in the lineup of guest authors and publishers which in previous years have included Gilbert Sinoué, Ros Barber, Shad Alshammari, Basma Abdel Aziz, Patrick McGuinness, Alek Popov, Marie Darrieussecq, Maram al-Masri, Dan Sociu, Ros Barber, Vera Duarte, Tim Parks, Philip ò Ceallaigh, Naomi Klein and Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.
Visit
Opening times:
Wednesday 11 November: 09:00 – 13:00, 17:30 – 21:30
Thursday 12 November: 09:00 – 13:00, 17:30 – 21:30
Friday 13 November: 09:00 – 13:00, 17:30 – 22:00
Saturday 14 November: 09:30 – 22:30
Sunday 15 November: 08:30 – 20:00
Admission free
Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC), Triq l-Isptar, Valletta, VLT 1645
School visits
Weekday mornings at the Festival are dedicated to school visits. A special programme of cultural and fun activities for students and teachers alike is set up, including theatre pieces, readings and meetings with writers.
Every year a professional team of actors adapts the Terramaxka Prize winners of the previous years, according to the age group of students.
COVID-19 – notification
While preparations for the Malta Book Festival 2020 are well underway, the National Book Council is aware that plans may have to be altered should the authorities instruct to avoid public gatherings. Follow our website and Facebook page for updates.
Exhibitors
Applications for exhibitors, including publishers, and book sellers wishing to participate in the 2020 Malta Book Festival are now open. Download the application form here and make sure you peruse all terms and conditions before you apply.
Send your application as an email attachment to Michael Mercieca (michael.mercieca@gov.mt) and by post at the address that follows, by not later than Friday 14 August 2020 at noon (12 pm): Malta Book Festival 2020, National Book Council, Central Public Library, Prof. J. Mangion Street, Floriana, FRN 1800, MALTA.
The Sacra Infermeria and La Valette Halls will be hosting publishers, NGOs and libraries, as well as book sellers and bookshops.
Families
Please tune in later on for further information on family shows held during the Malta Book Festival 2020.
Exhibitors’ Media Scheme
New to this year’s edition, exhibitors may request a media subsidy whereby exhibitors who promote their participation at the Festival in the local press will be able to request a refund on their application fee.
The Exhibitors’ Media Scheme Application Form and scheme regulations can be downloaded here.
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
The 2019 Malta Book Festival
View the programme of events for the 2019 Malta Book Festival from here (mobile version here) – which featured book launches, presentations, poetry readings, meetings with authors, conferences and seminars.
A literary conference, relating to the genres of sci-fi and fantasy kicked off the festival on the evening of 6 November. Participating guest authors were Loranne Vella, author of the 2018 National Book Prize winner Rokit (Merlin Publishers), Malta-born Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Kali Wallace and Dave Rudden.
Special Guest to the 2019 edition of the Festival was American-Maltese Judge Hon. Rosemarie Aquilina, who skyrocketed to international fame after sentencing serial rapist Larry Nassar to 175 years in jail in a case that became a lightning-rod for the ‘#MeToo’ era.
The 2018 Malta Book Festival
The cultural programme for 2018 Malta Book Festival featured well over 80 events in book launches, readings, meetings with authors, and seminars. It enjoyed the Government’s support as part of Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture programme.
The highlight of this edition was world-renowned author and activist Naomi Klein, who was interviewed by local journalist Matthew Vella. Klein is the author of international bestseller The Shock Doctrine about disaster capitalism, which increased Klein’s prominence, with the New Yorker judging her ‘the most visible and influential figure on the American left’.
View or download the programme of events of the Malta Book Festival 2018.
Malta Book Festival 2018 School Visit feedback form
The 2017 Malta Book Festival
The Malta Book Festival is the foremost book celebration in the country’s cultural calendar. Annually, the MBF boasts an attendance rate of 50,000 visitors, the participation of more than 50 exhibitors, and offers extensive networking opportunities for industry professionals
2022 Malta Book Festival
The 2022 Malta Book Festival, organised by the National Book Council, took place between 23-27 November at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali.
More information will be published in the coming weeks. Some information about the 2022 edition can be found below.
Useful Information
Schools
FEEDBACK FORM FOR SCHOOLS AFTER THEIR VISIT.
School visits at the 2022 Malta Book Festival are back. We’ve been reaching out to schools inviting them to visit with their students and enjoy the shows curated for them by ŻiguŻajg and of course lots of book browsing.
Age appropriate shows inspired by Terramaxka Prize winning works on the mornings of Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 November will be in the Maltese language, and in English on Friday 25. Every student registered by their school will also be benefitting from a €5 voucher redeemable from all exhibitors during the Festival.
School visits are free, however schools need to book their visits in advance.
How To Get There
The National Book Council will be ensuring that, besides ample parking space at the MFCC north entrance available to those visiting by car, everyone can reach the Festival by public transport thanks to enhanced bus routes offered by Malta Public Transport.
The Malta Book Festival 2022 Animation Video
The MBF Story
The first edition of the MBF was held in 1979, then called the Malta Book Fair (1979-2012), and has since grown into a festival that celebrates the book culture in all its forms. The international dimension of the Festival is increasingly reflected in the lineup of guest authors and publishers which in previous years have included Gilbert Sinoué, Ros Barber, Shad Alshammari, Basma Abdel Aziz, Patrick McGuinness, Alek Popov, Marie Darrieussecq, Maram al-Masri, Dan Sociu, Ros Barber, Vera Duarte, Tim Parks, Philip ò Ceallaigh, Naomi Klein, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, Sir Salman Rushdie and Irvine Welsh.
Special Guests
The special guests attending the Malta Book Festival are John Boyne, Joe Sacco and Gattaldo.
A live podcast with Jon Mallia is also taking place at the Malta Book Festival 2022.
Competitions
With the Malta Book Festival ✨ right around the corner, we’re giving bookworms the chance to win amazing prizes – click here to find out more.
👉 IMP: Fill in this subscription form: https://forms.gle/Agmhfw5JC5QMxZYv9
Winners will collect their prize at the Malta Book Festival, held from 23–27 November at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali.
Families and Children’s Activites
The Malta Book Festival makes for a great family outing, and it’s no different this year.
Throughout Festival week (Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 November) we’re putting up a number of shows to entertain the whole family. Browse the programme for more details.
Programme
Discover this year’s Programme, full of book launches and presentations, meetings with local and international guest authors, seminars, panel discussions, film screenings and events for children and students. Admission to all events is free but some may require pre-registration – check the Event Details for more info.
Download the desktop and mobile PDF version here.
Wednesday and Thursday 9-1pm and 5-9pm
Friday 9-1pm and 5-10pm
Saturday 9:30am-10pm
Sunday 9:30am-8pm
From Illustration to Book Exhibition
The exhibition From Illustration to Book, a collaboration between Arts Council Malta and the NBC, will take centre stage together with the exhibitors’ stands and explores the evolution of illustration in Malta from the interwar period to the present.
Sensory-Friendly Room
The Sensory-Friendly room is managed by Inspire Foundation. Access is allowed to children accompanied by their parents/educators.
Exhibitors
Click here to find out who are the exhibitors of the 2020 Malta Book Festival.
Exhibitors, including publishers, and book sellers wishing to participate in the 2022 Malta Book Festival applied between Tuesday 24 May and Friday 24 June 2022.
Exhibitors were encouraged to make sure they peruse all terms and conditions before applying.
Applications were submitted through the dedicated online form here, or by downloading and filling the application form in .pdf and sending it by post to:
National Book Council
Bice Mizzi Vassallo Complex
Arnheim Road
Pembroke PBK1776
MALTA
The Exhibitors’ Media Refund Scheme
The Exhibitors’ Media Refund Scheme is organised by the National Book Council in a bid to promote the Malta Book Festival to a wider audience through the advertising and promotion in the local press and social media of each exhibitor’s events, books and/or participation at the Festival.
For the 2022 Malta Book Festival, exhibitors may request a full or partial (50% minimum) refund on their application fee if they opt to register for the Exhibitors’ Media Refund Scheme. Exhibitors can read through the terms of the scheme and register via the same Exhibitors’ forms above.
Opening Hours
Previous Editions
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
