Everyone will be Writing Anew: The Full Programme for The Malta Book Festival Is Now Out! 

The National Book Council (NBC) is proud to launch the jam-packed programme for the Malta Book Festival ’25, taking place the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, Ta’ Qali between 5-9 November. Find the full programme here. 

Now in its 46th edition, the Festival is the island’s leading celebration of books and reading. This year’s Festival embraces a bold new vision, with a theme that captures the spirit of change and transformation — Writing Anew.

At its heart, writing anew speaks to the essence of literature as a transformative force –  where life is shaped into words, stories are reimagined across forms, and every genre opens a door to discovery. Whether through gripping narratives, personal reflections, or poetic experimentation, all books are expressions of change of some kind. This year’s Festival honours that journey, inviting readers of all ages to explore the power of storytelling to renew, rethink, and re-enchant our world.

This richness and variety is certainly reflected in the programme this year – from international author encounters and children’s theatre to exhibitions, workshops, and interactive activities.

International Highlights

This year’s Festival welcomes a stellar line-up of guests. Jeff VanderMeer, acclaimed internationally for the Southern Reach Trilogy, will deliver a masterclass on imaginative fiction, take the stage for a live interview, and sign books. His collaborator and celebrated editor Ann VanderMeer will lead a professional editing workshop, offering practical insights for authors.

To further aid Maltese literary stakeholders in their professional development, the NBC will also be welcoming UK literary agent and literary ambassador to Malta Simon Trewin back to the Festival. Trewin will deliver a session aimed at Maltese authors and publishers to help them optimise their submissions to Literature from Malta, the NBC’s rights catalogue which is a crucial gateway for local authors and publishers to showcase their work and open doors in international fora.

The Festival also proudly hosts Samantha Harvey, the Booker Prize-winning author of Orbital, who will be interviewed by acclaimed Maltese author Loranne Vella in what promises to be a wide-ranging discussion about the British novelist’s versatile and powerful body of work.

These appearances continue a happy tradition of the Malta Book Festival hosting acclaimed literary luminaries from around the world, ensuring that Maltese audiences connect directly with some of the most exciting voices shaping contemporary literature, entirely free of charge and in a fully accessible environment. 

Theatre for Young Audiences

True to this year’s theme, the Festival’s traditional theatre shows for young audiences will be returning with a twist – opening up to all pupils from primary and secondary schools and staged at a new, specially built theatre at the MFCC. Curated by acclaimed author and theatre-maker Simone Spiteri, the shows adapt award-winning Maltese books for the stage, blending storytelling and performance in fresh and accessible ways. Productions include:

• Il-Kreatura tal-Bir (Ages 7+), adapted by Miguel Formosa from Simon Bartolo’s novel (Merlin Publishers).
• Mikelin (Ages 4–9), adapted and directed by Mikhail Basmadjian and Antonella Axisa, based on Sandra Hili Vassallo’s story (Merlin Publishers).
• Fittixni (Ages 8+), directed by Karl Cassar with MVPA student actors, adapted from Antoinette Borg’s novel (Merlin Publishers).
• Madam Ortensja Paskwalina de Rohan (Ages 3–7), directed by Jacob Piccinino, adapted from Clare Azzopardi’s book (Merlin Publishers).

These shows, running from 7–9 November, are free to attend, though seating is limited to 100 per performance. Registration is required via Eventbrite.

Activities for Families & Children

The Malta Book Festival makes for a great family outing, and this year is no different. Across five days (5–9 November), families can enjoy storytelling sessions, workshops, performances, and hands-on creative activities designed to spark imagination.

New for 2025! The NBC is launching Resource Packs for primary, middle, and secondary students, built around the theme “How do I choose a book?”. These interactive packs include activities to boost curiosity and reading confidence, tools for exploring genres and authors, and resources for parents and teachers to extend the experience at school or home.

This year, the Malta Book Festival will be all the more accessible to young readers, who will be given at €20 voucher to spend on books at the event. Registration for the vouchers will be open from 11 October – more information here. 

Exhibitors and More to Discover

The Festival floor will host over 40 exhibitors, ranging from Malta’s leading publishers, booksellers, and cultural organisations to international institutes and NGOs. This brings to the fore the Festival’s unique role as a meeting point for literature, education, and community.

Visitors can explore thousands of books across genres and languages, take part in book launches, author conversations, editorial workshops, zine-making jams, and interactive events, and experience the major exhibition ‘From Illustration to Book’, co-organised with Arts Council Malta, celebrating Maltese illustration past and present and now in its fourth edition. A sensory-friendly space, curated with Inspire Malta with support from APS Bank, ensures accessibility for all.

The Festival remains free of charge, dog-friendly, and designed as a welcoming space for the entire community.

The Malta Book Festival will be taking place between 5-9 November at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali. Acces the full programme here. Opening hours are 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-21:00 Wednesday to Friday; 10:00-21:00 on Saturday and 10:00-20:00 on Sunday. For more information, follow its dedicated web page here. You may also find the Malta Book Festival on Facebook, and the National Book Council on Instagram.