Malta Festival

Malta began in 1991 on the shore of Lake Malta in Poznan as a festival of open-air and street theatre, taking its name from the lake, and grew into one of the larger performing arts festivals in Central Europe. Its identity has always been about siting: work staged on water, in squares, in disused buildings and in the street rather than only in theatres, with an emphasis on physical and visual performance that crosses language. Since the 2010s it has been organised around annual curated themes with an invited artistic director, bringing in dance, music, debate and visual art alongside theatre, and it has been the subject of public argument more than once over its programming, which is part of its character. It runs in late June, mostly free in the outdoor parts and ticketed for the indoor programme, and it takes over central Poznan for about a week.

What you actually see

• Theatre outside theatres - work sited on water, in squares and in disused buildings.
• A curated theme each year - with an invited artistic director shaping the programme.
• Physical and visual performance - forms that cross language barriers.
• A week across the city - free outdoors, ticketed indoors.

When to go

Late June, for about a week. Several days.

Honest expectations

The programme changes completely each year - check what is actually on before travelling for it. Indoor events sell out. Outdoor performances are weather-dependent. Accommodation in Poznan is tight that week.

Nearby

Lake Malta with its regatta course and ski slope is east of the centre.