Malta Is Quietly Becoming One of the World’s Hottest Art Destinations—How to Experience It

When the Uber dropped off me at the limestone plaza more than 500 dignitaries, artists, ambassadors and collectors had already taken their seats. They looked sharp in black tie, sparkly dresses and a variety of other attire. Under the pink sky, a ring-shaped, wheel rim and crystal whiskey glass sculpture shone like a brilliant diamond. 

Fireworks lit up the old harbor after a speech from Malta’s young prime minister Robert Abela to mark the grand opening. Malta International Contemporary Art Space, MICAS. The museum of glass and steel is more than a display for contemporary art. It aims to enhance the image of this small nation in the international art scene, much like the Guggenheim Museum transformed Bilbao from an industrial Spanish city into a major stop for the art circuit.

“Malta Francis Sultana is a noted London interior designer who led VIPs on a tour of the museum. Sultana was raised in Malta and is the ambassador for culture of his country. He also maintains an art-filled palace in town.

Malta hosted its first Biennale last year. It joined a group of Mediterranean art hubs, which includes the Greek Island of Hydra Ibiza, a paradise for all. MenorcaIn Spain.

Floating between Sicily and North Africa, this archipelago nation—about twice the size of Brooklyn—is known for its 300 days of sunshine, crystal-blue waters, megalithic temples, and handsome limestone architecture. It also has a rich and layered culture, having been occupied by a revolving door of foreign rulers, most recently the British, before gaining its independence in 1964. 

Malta has seen an increase in tourists, particularly from Italy and France, since the pandemic. The once-quiet alleyways of Valletta, its UNESCO-protected capital, now echo with the din of late-night cafés and bars. The number of cruise ships and low-cost airlines flying to Malta, the smallest EU member state, has increased. MICAS, built with government support, is part of an effort to attract more cultured travelers. 

The museum opened in October last year, so I checked into my hotel a few days prior to that date. Phoenicia Malta, a 77-year-old grande dame that once hosted Queen Elizabeth II. After a bite on its terrace, I explored the city’s galleries—all a short walk away, just past the angular City Gate designed by Renzo Piano a decade ago.

Start with a good place to start Il-LokalA gift shop and gallery which serves as a sort of community hub. Flyers for art shows were tacked onto a bulletin board, under a purple neon sign that read supporting locals. It was a bit of an art school vibe in the store, partly due to its student-heavy staff.

Nearby was MużAA well-edited, centuries-old building houses a museum that displays works from the 15th through 21st centuries. The previous day, “Topia”, an installation by London-based artist Barnaby Barford had opened. It consisted of 1000 brick-size replicas of Maltese shopfronts painted on bone china, stacked up atop a stone wall.

Next door was Spazju Kreattiv It is located in a 16th century fort which has been converted into an art-house theater, cinema and galleries. Alfred Chircop died in 2015, and there was a retrospective of his work. I had never heard of him before, so I googled his name. Malta has always held its artists in high esteem, and this was evident from the numerous reviews. 

Malta’s support of artists goes back a long way. The next day, I stood in a line to see Caravaggio’s Beheading St. John the Baptist Enjoy the best of both worlds with our new and improved service. St. John’s Co-CathedralThe painting was completed in 1608, during Caravaggio’s brief and troubled stay on the island (the artist got into a brawl with the Knights of Malta, but not before he had finished his commission for St. John’s, where it still hangs). The painting was painted in 1608, during Caravaggio’s troubled and short stay on Malta (the artist had a spat with the Knights of Malta before being expelled but not after he’d finished his commission for St. John’s where the masterpiece is still hanging). 

After the cathedral I continued with my gallery crawl. Although Valletta was built on a grid, I found myself getting lost on its steep, stone-paved roads. The roads, with the exception of Republic Street (the commercial corridor), were lined mostly with mom-and pops, little restaurants, grocers and other stores that had hand-painted signs. I was struck by the closed wooden balconies that protruded from façades across the island. These balconies were painted in a variety of colors, including copper, navy and fire engine red. gallariji (better known as Maltese balconies) offered flashes of color in a sea of honey hued limestone. 

After stopping by several other galleries, including a shabby experimental art gallery within the Malta Postal Museum & Arts Hub When I visited, I found that a show was just about to close. Valletta ContemporaryMalta’s most prestigious independent galleries are located here. Set in a 400-year-old warehouse with sleek concrete floors and a minimalist design, the gallery would not look out of place in Berlin or New York City, especially with its roster of blue-chip artists on display: Georg Baselitz, Joseph Beuys, Ai Weiwei, and Tracey Emin. 

Lunch was at the Iniala Harbour House, a 23-room designer hotel filled with moody, abstract artworks curated by Maria Galea, an influential local figure who runs a gallery in the nearby town of Sliema. I took the elevator up to its rooftop dining area. ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, which was recently awarded two Michelin stars—a first for Malta. The eight-course farm to table menu included truffle pud, stuffed rabbit and a bee pollen cake that was so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself eat it. The restaurant also had beautiful views of the Three Cities of Malta, a trio of fortified villages across the harbor. 

This inspired me to take a walk down to the docks and look for a water-taxi. With two other passengers, I climbed aboard a yellow-canopy gondola. As we skittered over the teal blue waters, and the forts of Three Cities appeared in view, I thought of how Malta looked like a treasure island, protecting its riches behind the golden walls. I would have liked to get out and explore, but there was a long line to reboard, so we stayed on the boat. 

The art world elite seems to be the gatekeepers for wealth these days. After the fireworks cleared at MICAS, the champagne flowed, hors d’oeuvres were passed, and Joana Vasconcelos—the Portuguese artist whose playful, large-scale works were the subject of the museum’s inaugural exhibition—held court in a bejeweled purple gown. The entourage of several assistants as well as a meditation coach followed behind her. 

Vasconcelos, in many ways was the ideal artist to christen a museum. She is highly respected by the arts establishment. Her work is both intellectually challenging and crowd pleasing (she encourages people to touch the colorful, joyful pieces she creates). And she is on a mission to make art accessible—just as Malta is trying to do. 

This story was first published in the October 2025 issue Travel + Leisure Take Root.”