National Book Council Publishes its Annual Report for 2025 

The National Book Council (NBC) has published its Annual Report for 2025 – a year of significant growth and important developments for the Council. 

The publication of its Five-Year Strategic Vision (2025-2030) was among the most significant milestones for the year, as it provides a structured template for the Council’s work moving forward. The Strategy is built on five key pillars: strengthening the literary ecosystem in Malta; promoting Maltese language and culture locally and internationally; increasing access to books for all; improving governance and transparency; and fostering strategic collaborations. Together, these pillars reflect the Council’s commitment to ensuring that books and reading continue to hold a central place in Maltese society, while also addressing the challenges faced by the sector with concrete, consultative measures.

One of the first and most clearly visible measures of its drive for renewal was the completion of the NBC’s rebranding exercise, as exemplified by the launch of both its new logo and visual identity, as well as a new website. The NBC now operates with a modernised and sleeker look, while the website – taking its visual cue from the overall rebrand – has been redesigned to be more user-friendly, allowing the general public easy access to both the Council’s rolling updates of ongoing initiatives, as well as its rich archive of digital resources and guidelines and regulations for its funds and awards. 

The year also saw a significant boost for the NBC’s flagship public event, with The Malta Book Festival attracting a record number of visitors over its five-day spread. Bolstered by the introduction of a renewed voucher scheme which distributed €20 among school-age pupils to be spent on books, the event attracted approximately 40,000 people from all walks of life. Coupled with the participation of acclaimed international guests and strategic collaborations with other entities, the Festival cemented its role as a central event in Malta’s cultural calendar that is only growing in relevance and prestige. 

The National Book Prize also continued to grow in stature, receiving 149 submissions across its categories, while support for the industry remained central to the NBC’s work through the Malta Book Fund, which in 2025 allocated €135,000 to support 31 projects spanning new publications, translations, and international exports. 

The Annual Report for 2025 is available in Maltese here and English here.