The Science in the City team (SitC) is the driving force behind Malta’s national science and arts festival. Since 2012, the SitC team has worked tirelessly to transform Valletta every September into a lively hub where science, the arts, and people collide, as part of the European Researchers’ Night.
Over the years, the team has expanded the festival into a major national event, attracting thousands of visitors and uniting researchers, artists, organisations, industry government and volunteers from across Malta.
Guided by strong values, the SitC team champions Open Science, gender equity, inclusion, and diversity. We strive to make research accessible to everyone, while promoting dialogue, critical thinking, and active citizenship. Through our efforts, scientists, artists, and communities are brought together, encouraging people not only to learn about science but to engage with it and use it as a tool for positive change.
Over the years, post-festival surveys reveal a steady and significant improvement in how people perceive research. In 2025, 83% of participants see research as useful, 81% as important, and 79% as beneficial. These results highlight a strong and consistent shift: research is not only better understood, but also more valued, engaging, and relevant to everyday life.
Every edition of the festival reflects the SitC team’s dedication to innovation and impact, and the 2026 edition, celebrating SitC’s 15th anniversary, carries special significance. With the theme “Research, Resist, Reimagine,” the festival becomes a true call to action. Research gives us the tools to understand the world. Resist challenges the existing norms, reimagining and building what could come next. From climate urgency to technological disruption, this edition empowers citizens (especially younger generations) to question, engage, and actively shape their future.
The 2026 festival will bring this theme to life on Friday, 25th, and Saturday, 26th of September, featuring a vibrant Street Festival filled with interactive installations, stands, live experiments, and science-inspired hands-on activities , alongside a Performance and Workshop Festival showcasing theatre, music, and shows that make research fun, engaging, and accessible for all ages.
Beyond the festival weekend, the SitC team works year-round to connect communities with science through a rich program of pre- and post-festival activities. From school visits and outreach programs to partnerships with organisations and support for artists and researchers, the team ensures that curiosity, learning, and engagement continue long after the festival ends.
Every experiment, installation, and moment of wonder at SitC is created by a team that turns ideas into experiences people can feel, question, and remember. Their work goes beyond organisation, it builds bridges between research and society, creativity and evidence, curiosity and belonging. It is this collective energy, one driven by passion, collaboration, and a shared belief in the power of knowledge, that makes Science in the City not just an event, but a movement shaping how Malta engages with science, culture, and the future.
Science in the City Team