Malta Book Festival Draws Record 43,400 Visitors to Ta' Qali

The Malta Book Festival drew a record 43,400 visitors to the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta' Qali between 4th and 8th November, the National Book Council (NBC) has confirmed.

The figure beats last year's attendance of 40,000 by 3,400 visitors, setting a new record for the annual event, which the NBC organises.

The headline number was not the only one to rise. The festival's €20 book voucher scheme for primary and secondary school students recorded 19,000 redemptions across the five days — 4,000 more than the 15,000 redeemed in 2025. That year, the scheme was upgraded from its previous €5 value.

The uptake translated into €380,000 spent through the voucher scheme alone, money that went directly to local publishers and booksellers exhibiting at the fair.

What does the record change for Malta's literary sector?

In the short term, cash. Publishers and booksellers — more than 40 of them, alongside NGOs and other organisations — filled the MFCC for five days with a paying, voucher-armed public. The festival also showcased works supported through the Malta Book Fund and recognised by the National Book Prize, giving local authors visibility alongside the commercial activity.

The programme ran to more than 60 events, ranging from literary activities to theatrical adaptations of Maltese books aimed at younger audiences.

National Book Council Chairperson Mark Camilleri called the edition a success and framed the numbers as proof.

"We could not be more thrilled with the outcome of the Malta Book Festival, where we this year invited visitors to 'Uncover the Story' and pinpoint that perfect volume that speaks to them," Camilleri said.

"Judging by the amount of visitors that showed up, we can say with confidence that we succeeded."

Camilleri thanked the exhibitors, sponsors and collaborators behind the event, naming Arts Council Malta, Teatru Malta, Inspire Foundation, APS Bank, Piscopo Gardens, Faber-Castell and the Embassy of Spain in Malta.

The caveats behind the record

Attendance and voucher figures measure footfall and redemptions, not sales across the whole fair, and the NBC has not published total revenue figures for exhibitors. The voucher scheme also benefits a defined slice of the market — titles that appeal to school-age readers and their families. Whether the surge in student vouchers converts into sustained reading habits, or simply concentrates spending in one week, is not addressed in the council's announcement.

What is clear is the direction of policy. The NBC says it intends to build on this year's result as part of its Strategic Vision for 2025–2030, with plans to keep improving the experience for readers and industry stakeholders alike. On the evidence of two consecutive record years and a fourfold increase in the voucher's value since 2025, the council is betting that public subsidy of book buying can anchor the festival's growth through the rest of the decade.