Exhibitors and Event Organisers – Apply Now To Participate At The 2026 Malta Book Festival!

Applications for exhibitors wishing to participate at the 2026 edition of the Malta Book Festival (MBF) are now open. The Festival will be held from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali.

Building on the rich legacy of its former iteration, the Malta Book Fair, the MBF has since 2013 become an integral part of the island’s annual cultural calendar and remains the largest book-based event in Malta and Gozo. Organised by the National Book Council (NBC), the MBF welcomes thousands of visitors of all ages and walks of life, availing themselves of the Festival’s growing number of exhibitors and activities. Renowned international guests give further added value to the event, securing its status as a prestigious celebration of the written word. 

As from this year, the application process will be split into two separate strands: one for exhibitors who will be participating with a stand at the Festival, the other for individuals or entities who only with to hold an event as part of the festival programme without having a permanent stand at the event.

The deadline to submit applications for exhibitors is 19 May, while the deadline for event applications is 30 June. Both applications are to be processed through the Submittable platform — more details in the relevant sections below. 

Application for Exhibitors — Key Information

The application form for exhibitors, with updated rules, regulations and provisions, is open to all local and international publishers, book distributors, bookshops and book agencies. NGOs and public entities, whose field of activity involves the publication of books or the promotion of literature, as well as self-published authors, are also eligible to apply. All stand fees will be subsidised by the NBC, and reduced by 75% in a bid to support prospective exhibitors.

Click here to read the full guidelines and regulations. 

Application for Events — Key Information

Entities and individuals interested in organising events at the Malta Book Festival 2026 are to submit all relevant information via Submittable by no later than 30 June 2026.

Participants must submit full details of proposed events by the deadline to be considered for inclusion in the official programme, with standalone event applications (i.e., those without an exhibitor stand at the Festival) subject to a €30 fee, which will be waived for paid exhibitors. Two event categories are available: Type A (events held in dedicated festival spaces) and Type B (events held at exhibitors’ own stands), each requiring specific information such as event descriptions, speaker details, scheduling preferences, and marketing plans. The National Book Council retains full discretion over programme inclusion, scheduling, and any changes, with final decisions communicated by 7 August 2026.

Click here to read the full guidelines and regulations. 

All interested are guided to apply through this link: ktieb.submittable.com/submit. Prospective exhibitors are respectfully reminded that early applications will be given preference in the programme of events and are encouraged to peruse all terms and conditions before applying.

All applicants are carefully urged to read through the terms on the Submittable platform. 

Payment 

Payment of fees for stands should be made to the National Book Council by 15 May 2026.

Payment may only be effected via Submittable through the application platform.

Updated Opening Hours

Prospective exhibitors should note that the opening hours of the 2026 Malta Book Festival are as follows: 

Wednesday 4/11  09:00-21:00

Thursday     5/11  09:00-13:00; 17:00-21:00

Friday          6/11  09:00-13:00; 17:00-21:00

Saturday     7/11   09:00-21:00

Sunday       8/11  09:00-20:00

• Note on AI usage 

The NBC counts illustrators and book artists among its key stakeholders. To this end, we strongly discourage the use of AI generated imagery by all of prospective exhibitors — be this in their stand artwork or any other material displayed or distributed during the MBF. 

The deadline to submit applications for exhibitors is 19 May, while the deadline for event applications is 30 June. Both applications are to be processed through the Submittable platform