Victoria International Arts Festival

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Music / Arts The artistic director of the festival is Prof.

Launched in 1998, the Festival has gone beyond the fondest dreams of the organizers to the extent that for some years now, the Festival has established itself solidly as Malta’s longest-running high culture event with an ever-widening international dimension. The creation and inclusion of the Victoria International Arts Festival in the popular festa season in honour of St George, Protector of the

island of Gozo, was an innovation that confirmed St George’s basilica’s leading role in Gozo’s cultural scene. Joseph Vella, composer, university lecturer and perhaps the most esteemed musical director in the Maltese islands.

14/07/2026

VIAF 2026 'THE GOZO MIRACLE'
www.viaf.org.mt

The dream team delivered gold, a premium level of service that is unequalled. The term 'voluntary work' takes on a higher level of significance here: the sterling voluntary input by these young (and not so young) professionals cannot be measured or quantified. It is what it is: priceless.

The 29th edition of VIAF came to a resounding close on a D Major chord of Haydn's Symphony no. 104 ('London'). Serendipitously or not, a D Minor chord will herald the important 30th edition on Friday 11th June 2027: Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Choral) op. 125 will usher in this important milestone in the Festival's history. It will also commemorate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's death in 1827.

This year's memorable run of 31 concerts with a major exhibition on Guzeppi Briffa thrown in for good measure has only consolidated the reputation that VIAF has garnered for itself. It is a success story second to none. Long may it reign!

VIAF is sponsored by Arts Council Malta, Kunsill Reġjonali Għawdex, Ministry for Gozo, APS Bank, BOV, Dr Anton Tabone

Philip Walsh George Frendo Malta Philharmonic Orchestra St George's Basilica Teatru Astra Il-Ħaġar - Heart of Gozo Museum

11/07/2026

VIAF 2026 'THE GOZO MIRACLE'
www.viaf.org.mt

And here it is, the final concert of VIAF 2026, the 29th uninterrupted edition of Malta's longest-running Festival of its kind. After a run of 30 daily concerts (with the exception of Sundays), Monday's concert will welcome back the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the wonderful Philip Walsh. The programme will consist of Joseph Vella's Sinfonietta for Strings op. 36, Roderick Williams's Flute Concerto with acclaimed soloist Anthony Robb, who has been described by the Times of London as a 'glorious individual player'. The concert comes to an end with a performance of one of Haydn's loveliest symphonies, no. 4 in D Major, known as the 'London'.

The concert will be held at St George's Basilica and starts at 8pm. As always, it's free of charge.

May we take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, benefactors, patrons, and not least all volunteers who put their heart and soul in this extraordinary project. The Gozo miracle it is. Long may it reign.

10/07/2026

VIAF 2026 'THE GOZO MIRACLE'
www.viaf.org.mt

We're on the home straight and the pace picks up. It's a triple bill for tomorrow, Saturday 11th July. First up is our debutants' concert at the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia (11.30am), featuring Andy Falzon and Thomas Buttigieg (pianoforte), and Armonija String Quartet made up of Kathryn Mizzi, Loreane Scicluna (Violin), Eneh Lang (Viola) and Fiona Murphy (Violoncello). This is followed by the fab Auric Quartet at the Bishop's Curia Courtyard (7pm), with Alastair Penman, Sam Corkin, Gillian Blair and Rachel Moorhead. Last but not least, in collaboration with the La Stella Philharmonic Band, we end the day on St George's Square at 8.30pm with a band concert under the direction of John Galea.

No tickets required for any of our concerts because they're all free of charge. Just come along and join the fun!

09/07/2026

VIAF 2026 ‘The Gozo Miracle’
viaf.org.mt

Tomorrow, Friday 10 July, VIAF returns to the Aula Mgr Farrugia for an all-Schubert evening featuring Marcelline Agius (Violin), Orietta Beaumer (Viola), Frank Camilleri (Cello), Michelle Agius (Double Bass), and Francis Camilleri and Maria Frendo (Pianoforte), who will be performing the celebrated composer's Fantasia in F Minor, D. 940, and Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 ('Trout'). Tomorrow's concert starts at 8.30pm and admission is, as always, free.

08/07/2026

VIAF 2026 ‘The Gozo Miracle’
viaf.org.mt

Tomorrow, Thursday 9 July, the Victoria International Arts Festival will mark the 8th centenary of the death of St Francis with a talk by Dr Simone Kotva from the University of Cambridge and the University of Gothenburg, in which she will delve into St Francis's Canticle of the Sun (or Canticle of the Creatures) through the lens of Giovanni Bellini's St Francis in Ecstasy. In Franciscan spirituality, creatures are not only the object of a contemplative gaze but are understood as co-contemplative with human animals.

The talk will be followed by a performance of Joseph Vella’s Il Cantico delle creature, Op. 61, performed by Maria Frendo (soprano), Natascha Chircop (flute) and Jacob Portelli (harp). Tomorrow’s event starts at 8pm and, as is only right and just, takes place at the Church of St Francis. Entry is, of course, free.

07/07/2026

VIAF 2026 ‘The Gozo Miracle’
viaf.org.mt

Tomorrow, Wednesday 8 July, we move to the Church of St Augustine for a piano accordion recital by Djordje Gajic, who will be performing works by Bach, Scarlatti, Zolotaryov, Albéniz, Dranga and Cunningham/Corbett. Tomorrow’s concert is at 8 pm and admission is of course free.

06/07/2026

VIAF 2026 ‘The Gozo Miracle'
viaf.org.mt

Scottish violin virtuoso Andrea Gajic has now become a very familiar face with VIAF audiences. Her performances have been described as 'a triumph of musical expression which held one spellbound from the opening cadenza to the last wisp of sound'. Together with Estonian pianist Liivi Arder, the duo will be performing Schnitke’s Suite in the Old Style, Brahms’s Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 and Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango. Tomorrow’s concert starts at 8.30pm and takes place at the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia. Entrance is always free.

05/07/2026

VIAF 2026 ‘The Gozo Miracle’
viaf.org.mt

We enter the final week of this year’s Victoria International Arts Festival tomorrow, Monday 6 July, with a violoncello and pianoforte recital by French duo Céline Dussaud and Jean-Sébastien Taillefer, who will perform Brahms’s Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38, and Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. Tomorrow’s concert starts at 8.30pm and the venue is the Aula Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia. Entrance is, of course, free of charge.

03/07/2026

VIAF 2026 'THE GOZO MIRACLE'

Tomorrow, VIAF continues with a series of vocal/choral concerts that characterised the penultimate week of this year's 29th edition. British baritone Samuel Lom, accompanied by brilliant pianist Francesca Lauri, will give a recital of an extensive range of Lieder from Vaughan WIlliams, to Ravel, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Martini, and more.

The concert will be at the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia and starts at 8.30pm (not the usual 8pm). Entrance is free.

VIAF is sponsored by Arts Council Malta, the Ministry for Gozo, the Gozo Regional Council, and more.

02/07/2026

We regret to inform our esteemed patrons that due to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control, the recital by Primrose Ensemble Viola Quartet from France that was scheduled for tomorrow, Friday 3 July, at St Augustine Church has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Address

St George's Square
Victoria
GOZO

Website

http://www.viaf.org.mt/

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