Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri visited designMT 2026, the national design exhibition organised by the Malta Crafts Foundation, which this year brings together Maltese and international designers and creatives across several historic and creative venues in Valletta.
During his visit to the Chapel of Our Lady of Pilar and the Valletta Design Cluster, Minister Schembri viewed a selection of works combining contemporary design, craftsmanship and cultural identity. The exhibition within the chapel and its sacristy features jewellery, fashion, art and perfumery, among other disciplines, with contributions from both Maltese and international creatives.
At the Valletta Design Cluster, the exhibition spans several levels of the building, showcasing furniture, ceramics, lighting and design objects. Among the featured projects is an international collaboration between students from MCAST and Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, who explored connections between their two cultures through design while exchanging ideas and creative experiences.
Minister Schembri said that initiatives such as designMT play an important role in providing local talent with a platform to showcase their work and engage with new ideas, experiences and perspectives from beyond Malta’s shores.
Now in its third edition, designMT has its strongest international presence to date, with participants from several European and North African countries, as well as further afield, including China, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
Malta Crafts Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elton Micallef said that designMT continues to grow as a platform that raises the profile of Maltese design, encourages discussion and creates new opportunities for collaboration and exchange.
designMT 2026 runs from 28 September until Saturday, 3 October, coinciding with Notte Bianca on its final evening, across four venues in Valletta: Auberge d’Aragon, Fortress Builders, the Chapel of Our Lady of Pilar and the Valletta Design Cluster.
Four themed events will also take place between 29 September and 2 October at the Italian Cultural Institute, Spazju Kreattiv and the Malta Chamber of Commerce.
Admission to the exhibitions is free. Further information about the programme and registration is available on the official designMT website.
