PA and KTP collaborate for the first time to recognise and reward outstanding talent and best practices in the sector
The Emanuele Luigi Galizia Awards 2026 celebrated excellence in architecture, planning and the built environment during an awards ceremony held at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta. This year’s edition marked an important milestone for the sector, as the Chamber of Architects (KTP) and the Planning Authority (PA) joined forces for the first time to recognise and reward talent, innovation and professional excellence.
Opening the ceremony, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment, Jonathan Attard, stressed that quality in the built environment is not an optional extra, but a national responsibility.
“The decisions we make today and the places we create will shape the quality of life of future generations. We must therefore continue working together to raise standards, promote excellence and ensure that we leave behind a country of which future generations can be proud,” Minister Attard said.
To strengthen this collaboration, a joint committee was established between the Chamber of Architects and the Planning Authority. The committee worked on this year’s edition with the aim of further raising the standard of the awards, broadening their scope and strengthening the recognition of professional excellence.
Minister Attard highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Government and the Chamber of Architects on regulatory reforms, including the development of the Building Codes and the National Architecture Policy.
He explained that the first Building Codes had been submitted to the Building and Construction Authority for internal review ahead of a nationwide public consultation. He encouraged professionals to participate actively in the consultation process to help strengthen standards and the sector’s regulatory framework.
Minister Attard also spoke about the reform of the planning sector, which is due to be discussed in Parliament tomorrow. He explained that the aim is to ensure that the appeals process provides an effective remedy in practice, while remaining efficient, predictable and free from unnecessary delays.
“We must ensure that the appeals process provides an effective remedy in practice, while remaining efficient, predictable and free from unnecessary delays. Public trust depends not only on the decisions that are taken, but also on the fairness and effectiveness of the processes through which those decisions are reached,” Minister Attard stated.
The Executive Chairman of the Planning Authority, Johann Buttigieg, said the evening celebrated not only the Emanuele Luigi Galizia Awards, but also the collaboration between the Planning Authority and the Chamber of Architects. He explained that this joint effort not only recognises some of the finest projects of recent years, but also helps identify and promote best practices that can continue to advance architecture and planning in Malta.
The President of the Chamber of Architects, Perit André Pizzuto, said the occasion provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the profession and recognise the architects and projects that had made a difference to people’s lives.
He added that this was the first edition of the Emanuele Luigi Galizia Awards to be organised jointly by the two entities, expressing his hope that it would mark the beginning of broader collaboration in the months ahead.
As part of the commitment to a transparent evaluation process and the recognition of excellence, the jury comprised five members of the international design community, bringing experience across various fields of architecture, conservation, design and research.
The award categories and winners were as follows:
• Adaptive Reuse Award – MICAS
• Built Heritage Conservation Award – Jesuits’ Church, Valletta
• Public Projects Award – Rabat Gozo Primary School
• Multi-Unit Residential Design Commendation – Salvina, Mellieħa
• Single Dwelling Design Award – Dar Sikada, Għargħur
• Workplace Design Award – SAMA, Ħamrun
• Hospitality Design Award – Stilla San Mikiel Guesthouse, Bormla
• Unbuilt Projects Award – URNA
• Architectural Design Student Medal – BastuBaħar (Matthias Galea Souchet)
• Galizia Leadership Award – Steve Zammit Lupi
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Perit Joseph Bugeja
• Overall Award – MICAS
The evening’s highest honour, the Overall Award, was presented to MICAS in recognition of excellence in architecture and the built environment. As a result of this achievement, MICAS will be eligible to participate in a European-level architecture award.
Among those attending the ceremony was the Opposition Spokesperson for Planning, the Honourable Rebekah Borg.
