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FORTE CULTURA Malta Symposium 2026, Valletta (MT)

14. October – 17. October CEST

Latest update – 8 September 2026

Just 5 weeks to go. Preparations for the FORTE CULTURA Symposium are being finalised. There are still a few places left and you are still in time to register. 

Registration
(google form)

A limited number of places are available. The deadline has been extended to the end of September.

The symposium workshops include presentations by heritage experts from across Europe as well as from Malta. A few time slots for speakers are still available.  If you are interested, write to john.ebejer@um.edu.mt.

The Department of Tourism Management of the University of Malta is pleased to announce that it will host the FORTE CULTURA Malta Symposium 2026. 

  • Are you a manager or a curator of a fortified heritage site?
  • Were you involved in a conservation project of a castle or fort?
  • Were you involved in discussions on the appropriate adaptive reuse of a heritage site?
  • Have you considered a tourism or leisure use for the fortified heritage site in which you are involved? 

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, the FORTE CULTURA Malta Symposium 2026 is of interest to you. The University of Malta invites you to the Symposium. Attendance to the Symposium is free. This includes the organised visits to fortified heritage sites.

The Symposium will be an excellent opportunity for you to network and share your thoughts and ideas with like-minded people. You will also have the opportunity to be part of organised visits to several fortified historical sites in Valletta and at other places in Malta. Each site is a case study that offers lessons in relation to management, funding and/or conservation.

Dates:             14 to 17 October 2026.
Venue:            Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta

Programme:

Day 1 – Wednesday 14 October 2026
Conference (Venue: Fort St. Elmo) + Visit to Valletta fortifications

09.00 Formal Opening and Keynote presentations

10.30 Coffee break

11.00 Workshops A & B : Presentations by international delegates.

13.00 Stand-up lunch with finger foods and soft drinks.

15.00 – 17.00 Visit to Fort St. Elmo and lower Valletta (guided walk tour).

17.00 – 19.00 Welcome Reception and Networking at Fort St. Elmo

Day 2 – Thursday 15 October:   Day Tour of Malta Fortifications

09.00 Coach departure from Sliema Ferries – travel to Birgu. 

09.30 Meeting at Birgu, in front of Maritime Museum.

09.30 – 11.30 Visit to Birgu and Fort St. Angelo (guided walk tour).

11.30 Free time in Birgu  

12.30 Lunch at a restaurant in Birgu (at delegate’s expense)

14.30 Coach departure from Birgu – travel to Fort Rinella.

15.00-17.00 Visit to Fort Rinella 

17.00 Coach departure from Fort Rinella – travel to Mdina.

17.30 Free time in Mdina

19.00 Dinner at a restaurant in Rabat (at delegate’s expense)

Day 3 – Friday 16 October: Conference (Venue: Fort St. Elmo) + More visits to Valletta fortifications

09.00 Workshop C:  Presentations on Malta’s fortifications 

10.30 Coffee break  

11.00 Workshop D:  Presentations on Malta’s fortifications 

13.00 Stand-up lunch with finger foods and soft drinks.

15.00 Free time in Valletta

16.30 – 17.30 Visit to Msida Bastions Garden

Day 4 – Saturday 17 October 

09.00 – 11.00 Visit to City Gate/ Castille Square area and to Spazju Kreativ- St James Cavalier (guided walk tour/ theatrical presentation). 

11.00 – 12.30 Visit to Lascaris War Rooms

The programme is also available here (pdf file). The file also includes summary information about the various sites that will be visited during the four days of the Symposium.

Department of Tourism Management of the University of Malta

Fort St. Elmo, Valetta

Valetta, Malta + Google Map
View Venue Website