Dubai – June 23, 2019 : Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is set to entice visitors from around the world and the Middle East, with an open invitation to all to join in the festivities of Notte Bianca – a city-wide festival celebrating cultural performances, live music, museums and late night shopping, which the city open all night long on the night of October 5th, 2019.
For the Maltese, festivals are one of the best ways to reach out to visitors and people across all societies to promote the Maltese culture and ensure that it is engaging and accessible. Lighting up the cityscape of Valletta with a remarkable night-time celebration of people, culture, and arts, Notte Bianca provides a special one night spectacular celebration that is open to the public free of charge.
Key attractions of the festival include state palaces and museums opening their doors to delight visitors with jaw-dropping visual art exhibitions and theatre performances throughout the evening, with cafes and restaurants remaining open well into the night, along with food stalls and tables occupying the streets. Festival-goers can experience the very best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, literary events, as well as explore the emerging world of new and digital arts. The streets and public spaces are used in innovative and creative ways thanks to site-specific projects, transforming the city of Valletta into one big street party.
Says Carlo Micallef, Deputy CEO & Chief Marketing Officer, Malta Tourism Authority: “Festivals such as Notte Bianca are an integral part of Maltese culture providing us an opportunity to share our traditions, authenticity, cultural fabrics and artistic talent with visitors. The Maltese islands are great to experience at any time of year, however Notte Bianca makes a dedicated visit to Valletta for families, culture-seekers, foodies and revellers on October 5th well worthwhile, as an opportunity to join locals in celebrating the best that Malta has to offer throughout an entire evening.”
The Notte Bianca organization team brings forth Maltese artists who are encouraged to bring out their creativity, thus sparring innovation. Every year the team seeks to push the boundaries of festival-making through the artistic commitment built with artists. With a perfect collaboration between the team and artists, the festival is cohesive and offers the best of Maltese art and culture. The ‘festival vibe’ further bridges the gap between artist and community by strengthening the concept of a holistic space. Streets and piazzas are transformed into open-air concerts with various festivities and festival treats awaiting the visitor around every corner stumbled upon. At the same time, a programme of fringe events inspired by the hustle and bustle of capital city life, known as ‘Atmosfera’, also takes place, adding to the excitement.