A new week means new beginnings, a few heartfelt farewells, and—above all—an incredibly female-forward, socially engaged program. Today we say goodbye to Tilda Swinton and Olivier Saillard, gather around a midsummer bonfire, dance with the Empress, and join a powerful public manifesto aiming to break the taboo surrounding menstruation!

Yesterday’s Sunday was filled with sunshine and festival hits. The panel discussions co-organized with Kulczyk Foundation drew large crowds and helped satisfy the curiosity of festival-goers hungry for knowledge. Fink and Robert Cichy presented two unique takes on the indie-folk genre, both captivating audiences at MTP Hall 6. Tilda Swinton and Olivier Saillard also met with the audience, closing out their weekend at Malta. You can relive it all in our Day 3 festival recap!

What’s in store today? The week begins on a dance note—literally! At 9:00 AM, the Olga Sławska-Lipczyńska Ballet School will host the first “Ballet Mornings”: beginner classical dance workshops open to teens and adults alike, led by professor Ryszard Baranowski.

At high noon, Plac Wolności will become the stage for a powerful public performance: “Period Without Taboo. Change Starts with US.” This premiere of a protest-song-meets-manifesto, created by students from Poznań’s Da Vinci High School in collaboration with the Pogłosy Choir and Kulczyk Foundation, aims to break the stigma around menstruation. Hundreds of students from Poznań and schools across Poland, alongside Dominika Kulczyk, the Pogłosy Choir, and the duo Zuta, will unite to declare that periods are nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is invited to join the performance—just arrive at Plac Wolności by 11:30 AM.

At 1:00 PM, head to the Festival Club for “Create, Repair, SCREENPRINT!”—a hands-on workshop where festival-goers can design custom prints on tote bags, t-shirts, and fabrics using eco-friendly inks and screenprinting techniques.

Starting at noon, Malta’s energy moves to the riverbank with Midsummer Night festivities. Expect Slavic gymnastics, wreath-making with Małgorzata Daniło-Gorlewicz, rituals focused on feminine energy, and communal bonfire celebrations late into the night. The fire will be lit at 21:19 and will burn until dawn. Due to unpredictable weather, keep an eye on Malta Festival’s social media for potential schedule changes.

Monday also marks the launch of our literary series “Women’s Voices”. At 6:00 PM in the Festival Club, Michał Nogaś will sit down with acclaimed author and cultural theorist Joanna Bator—winner of the Nike Literary Award and author of bestsellers such as “Piaskowa Góra,” “Dark, Almost Night,” and “Bitter, Bitter.” She will reflect on the female characters in her books, her writing process, and the inspirations behind her internationally recognized work.

Theatre highlights include the final performance of “Embodying Pasolini” at 6:00 PM in MTP Hall 2. This unique show by Olivier Saillard and Tilda Swinton presents original costumes from Pasolini’s films—such as “The Gospel According to St. Matthew,” “Oedipus Rex,” “Arabian Nights,” and “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom”—revived onstage with a narrative beyond the screen.

At 7:30 PM in MTP Hall 6, French band L’Impératrice will bring their lush, disco-tinged art-pop to Poznań, with Danish electronic duo Roya opening the night. L’Impératrice takes the stage at 9:00 PM.

At 8:30 PM in the Grand Hall of ZAMEK Culture Centre, Italian group Dewey Dell will debut their latest work “I’ll Do, I’ll Do, I’ll Do”—a ritualistic performance blending raw choreography with primal musical rhythms inspired by ancient fertility rites.

At 9:00 PM in the VOX-designed Pasaż Quadro, the “Women’s Cinema” series continues with “The Lure” by Agnieszka Smoczyńska—a dark, glittery musical fable about two mermaids trying to find their place in 1980s Warsaw nightlife. After the screening, Anna Serdiukow will host a talk with the director, screenwriter Robert Bolesto, actress Marta Mazurek, and SWPS psychologist and sexologist Dr. Agnieszka Trawicka.

And starting at 8:00 PM, the Local Girls Stage returns to the Festival Club, transforming the space into a haven for sisterhood, debuts, and electronic experiments.

Meanwhile, throughout the day, the streets of Poznań will come alive with music thanks to French street orchestra La Confiserie, serving disco, techno, and Latin beats with a brassy, festive twist.

A new week, more Malta magic. For love and for art—see you there!