Events

Three flagship events marking the reopening of the Mdina Cathedral Archives, celebrating the life and music of Benigno Zerafa.

Historical manuscript from the Mdina Cathedral Archives

10 – 11 October 2026

Open Archives Weekend

During the Open Archives Weekend, visitors are invited to explore the Mdina Cathedral Archives through guided tours, educational workshops, and interactions with the archival team. The event offers a rare opportunity to visit the recently restored premises, view unique manuscripts, access the upgraded library and upper floor, and learn about the preservation of Malta's documentary heritage. To mark the reopening of the exhibition space, the Archives are presenting a display on Benigno Zerafa, one of Malta's leading eighteenth-century composers, featuring rare music manuscripts and historical records.

Ornate baroque ceiling fresco in Mdina Cathedral

5 November 2026

International Seminar

Benigno Zerafa at the Cathedral of Malta: Music and the Arts in Eighteenth-Century Mdina (1726–2026) is an academic hybrid half-day seminar held on 5 November 2026 at the Aula Capitulare, Mdina Cathedral. The event brings together local and international scholars to explore the musical, artistic, liturgical, and cultural life of eighteenth-century Malta, with particular focus on Mdina Cathedral and its wider Mediterranean context. A full publication of the seminar proceedings will be launched during the event.

7 November 2026

Sacred Music Concert

On 7 November, a special concert will present newly transcribed eighteenth-century works preserved at the Mdina Cathedral Archives, as part of efforts to revive Malta's musical heritage. The programme includes selected sacred works and the Missa da Requiem (ACM Mus MS 256) for soloists, choir, and orchestra. Featuring leading soloists and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Chris Muscat, the concert brings archival music to life in its original sacred context.