All You Need To Know About The 2025 Malta Book Festival

The Malta Book Festival, now in its 46th edition, will take place between 5-9 November 2025 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali. Organised by the National Book Council (NBC), the Festival remains Malta’s largest celebration of books and reading, attracting visitors from all walks of life.

Entrance is free, and the MFCC remains a pet-friendly venue.

With over 40 exhibitors and more than 100 events in its rich and varied programme, the Festival can be a bit overwhelming to take in at first glance. But keep reading to get a better grasp of what’s in store… and drum up some more excitement before you head down to the big tent for the event! 

Festival theme and highlights

This year’s theme, Writing Anew, celebrates the transformative power of books and reading – be it through the images of poetry and narrative motion of a story, or simply through the knowledge and widening insight provided by non-fiction works. Our exhibitors will certainly reflect this variety, spanning from publishers, booksellers, NGOs, and cultural organisations, alongside five full days of activities for all ages.

Neither would The Malta Book Festival be complete without its international special guests. This year, the NBC is proud to host acclaimed UK novelist Samantha Harvey, who will be discussing her Booker Prize-winning novel Orbital in a live interview with Maltese author Loranne Vella on Friday, 7 November at 19:00. 

Thrillingly, genre-bending American novelist Jeff VanderMeer will be giving a masterclass on writing imaginative fiction on Thursday, 6 November at 19:00, and will also be interviewed on stage on Saturday, 8 November. Award-winning editor Ann VanderMeer will be delivering a session on how to work with professional editors, while UK agent Simon Trewin will be giving some tips to local stakeholders on how to maximise their chances through the NBC’s Foreign Rights Catalogue. 

Visitors can also look forward to the launch of major new works in Maltese and English literature, including Omar N’Shea’s Es Sidr (Aphroconfuso) and Romeo Roxman Gatt’s memoir Qarn, as well as live poetry readings, roundtable discussions, and book signings with contemporary Maltese writers. The Illustration Annual 2025, curated by the Malta Community of Illustrators (MCOI), will be launched through a panel with APIV (Valencia), exploring the role of associations in strengthening creative communities.

For children and schools

This year, the Festival will do good on its ambition to foster reading from a very young age, offering a €20 voucher to all primary and secondary school students. More information on how to acquire the voucher can be found here. 

As always, the Festival’s weekday mornings dedicate special attention to younger visitors, offering storytelling sessions, illustration workshops, and performances tailored for different age groups. Highlights include ColourVerse, an interactive art workshop by MCOI and Faber-Castell; Frances & Ġorġ: Camp Make Believe by The Wanderer’s Tome; and inclusive storytelling sessions by Inspire Malta in the Kamra Sensorja, a quiet, autism-friendly space supported by APS Bank.

In an exciting development, the Festival’s trademark theatrical adaptations of literary works for younger audiences will be open to more than just school pupils – with four shows curated by Simone Spiteri taking place throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with each show staged twice. Find out more here. 

The National Literacy Agency’s “Pleasure of Reading” sessions return with age-specific readings for children aged 0–12, while the Reading Champions ceremony will once again honour students nominated for their passion for reading and literacy.

Exhibitions and collaborations

The 2025 edition includes the fourth From Illustration to Book exhibition, organised in partnership with Arts Council Malta, showcasing leading local illustrators and book designers. MCOI will also debut Marka+Stampa, a new artists’ market celebrating zines and printmaking. The exhibition ESTRI will unite illustrators and poets through visual sketchbooks, highlighting dialogue between image and verse.

Ensuring accessibility

Ample parking will be available at the MFCC North Entrance, with public transport routes 56, 186, and 202 serving the venue. Visitors are encouraged to check the Tallinja app for updates.

The Malta Book Festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday (5-9 November) at the following times:

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9am–1pm, 5pm–9pm
• Saturday: 10am–9pm
• Sunday: 10am–8pm

For a full programme of events and up-to-date information on the Malta Book Festival, visit the Malta Book Festival page on the National Book Council website, or find it on Facebook