Malta Festival 2026 Summary

For eight days in June, Poznań once again became a city where art spilled out of theatres and into the streets, concerts turned into shared experiences, and conversations continued long after the final curtain. The 36th edition of Malta Festival brought together more than 500 artists from 20 countries, inviting audiences to take part in 107 events across 27 locations throughout the city. The programme featured theatre performances, concerts, performances, exhibitions, literary events, debates, workshops and film screenings, reaffirming the festival’s unique interdisciplinary character.

This year’s Malta Festival boldly crossed the boundaries of the performing arts and narrowed the distance between artists and audiences. A historic highlight was “The Second Woman”, the hypnotic 24-hour performance starring the extraordinary Magdalena Cielecka, which drew large audiences even in the middle of the night. The Music Stage delivered equally unforgettable emotions with performances by internationally acclaimed artists. Zach Condon’s project Beirut returned to Malta Festival after 19 years, taking audiences on a deeply emotional musical journey and filling Hall No. 6 at the Poznań International Fair to capacity. Meanwhile, the magnetic Benjamin Clementine showcased exceptional artistic precision and stage presence.

These concerts formed part of the Malta Festival Music Stage, which became a festival within the festival. Over four days, audiences also experienced performances by MARO, Devendra Banhart, HAAi, Worakls, The Blaze, Efterklang, Charlie Cunningham, King No-One, Kacperczyk and Two Door Cinema Club, whose performance closed this year’s edition.

The festival’s motto, “For Love!”, continued to shape a programme dedicated to relationships, responsibility, care and the shared experience of participating in culture. Love, understood as care, attentiveness, responsibility and openness to others, resonated throughout performances, concerts, discussions and artistic interventions across the city.

The festival opened with the spectacular “For Love!” concert by Lake Malta under the artistic direction of Natalia Kukulska. Together with Grzegorz Turnau, Anna Maria Jopek, Jakub Józef Orliński, Natalia Przybysz, Krzysztof Zalewski, Ralph Kaminski, Natalia Szroeder, Anita Lipnicka and Zalia, she created a musical celebration of love in all its forms.

One of the most talked-about events was the 24-hour performance “The Second Woman”, in which Magdalena Cielecka shared the stage with one hundred scene partners selected through an open casting call. Another major highlight was the Polish premiere of “Distance” by Tiago Rodrigues, a Malta Festival co-production with Festival d’Avignon exploring the relationship between a father and daughter separated by Earth and Mars. Other standout productions included the Polish premiere of the audiovisual opera “La Mort de la Mer” by CocoRosie featuring Justyna Wasilewska, and “This resting, patience”, the acclaimed choreographic performance by Ewa Dziarnowska.

The Polish theatre scene was also strongly represented. The programme included productions by Teatr Polski, including “Pulverkopf”, “Very Very Hamlet” and “A Doll’s House”. Altogether, the festival presented 42 theatre performances and performative works, showcasing the diversity of contemporary theatre.

Malta Festival once again expanded beyond traditional venues and into the city itself. Audiences experienced outdoor projects including “Epiphytes”, “The Air Between Us” and “Special Effects”, which transformed Półwiejska Street into a film set. Festival-goers also encountered the much-loved Italian brass band Bandakadabra and the Slovenian “Opera in Passing”, surprising residents with spontaneous musical interventions throughout the city.

Discussions, debates and socially engaged projects remained an essential part of Malta Festival. The Witches and Women’s Voices programmes explored spirituality, health, literature, relationships and women’s experiences, welcoming guests including Natalia de Barbaro, Maria Peszek, Anna Jadowska, Tara K. Menon and Samanta Schweblin.

Another important event was the Good Table, which for the first time brought together more than 350 people for a communal dinner supporting Kulczyk Foundation’s Yellow Plate programme.

Kulczyk Foundation also presented Conversations Without Taboo, encouraging open discussions about the body and relationships, while a pulsating neon installation titled “Every One of Us Goes Through It. Naturally.” invited visitors to reflect on the experience of menopause and women’s health.

Throughout the week, Women’s Cinema combined open-air film screenings with conversations featuring directors, actors and filmmakers, including Agata Buzek, Agnieszka Grochowska, Anita Sokołowska, Wojciech Smarzowski, Martyna Byczkowska, Kaja Zalewska, Weronika Humaj and Tola Jasionowska. All discussions were hosted by Anna Serdiukow.

LUX MED prepared a programme devoted to prevention, longevity and healthy ageing, offering festival-goers the opportunity to undergo selected health screenings on site.

In the Festival Club at Plac Wolności, a relaxation zone supported by ORLEN provided visitors with a place to pause, recharge and catch their breath between events.

Accessibility remained a key priority throughout the festival. Visitors with disabilities were able to benefit from dedicated support and accessibility services during selected events. More than 60% of the programme was free of charge, preserving Malta Festival’s open, inclusive and city-wide character.

Once again, Malta Festival demonstrated that its greatest strength lies not only in its ambitious artistic programme but also in its ability to build community through culture. For eight days, Poznań became a place where performances inspired conversations, concerts created shared memories and artistic projects reached far beyond the stage. The motto “For Love!” proved to be the perfect summary of this year’s edition, reminding audiences that culture has a unique power to create closeness, dialogue and a genuine sense of community.