Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543310
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 FEBRUARY 2026 CULTURE Pitbull to headline Ta' Qali summer concert in Malta with special guest Lil Jon AMERICAN rapper and sing- er-songwriter Pitbull will per- form a concert at Ta' Qali Na- tional Park in Malta on 2 August 2026, with special guest Lil Jon. The concert, organised by gre- att and NnG Promotions, is ex- pected to draw large crowds as part of the peak summer enter- tainment calendar. Pitbull, widely known by the moniker "Mr. Worldwide," has built an international fol- lowing through a catalogue of chart-topping dance and pop collaborations and is recognised for high-energy live performanc- es featuring large-scale staging and audience interaction. Lil Jon, a prominent figure in hip-hop and crunk music, will open the event, adding to expec- tations of a high-intensity show. Organisers said the production will include extensive visual ef- fects, pyrotechnics and a full live performance setup featuring Pit- bull's backing band and dancers. The performance follows Pit- bull's recent global tour, which sold out multiple arenas and generated significant social me- dia attention from fans adopting the performer's signature bald look as part of the concert expe- rience. Ticket prices have been an- nounced across several catego- ries, ranging from €60 for gen- eral standing and accessibility tickets to €200 for VIP seated packages. Organisers have announced a registration window for fans seeking early access to tickets for the Malta. Registration of interest opens on Tuesday, 17 February at 11am local time via the official event website (www. eventworks.mt/pitbull) and will close on Thursday, 19 February at 1am local time. Those who sign up during this period will receive priority access to pur- chase tickets beginning at 9am local time on Friday, 20 Feb- ruary. General ticket sales will open later the same morning, starting at 11am local time on Friday, 20 February through the same online platform. The stag- gered release is intended to man- age demand for what is expected to be one of the largest live music events on the island's summer calendar. American rapper and singer-songwriter Pitbull will perform a concert at Ta' Qali National Park in Malta on 2 August 2026, with special guest Lil Jon THE National Book Council (NBC) is inviting the general public to register for the inaugu- ral edition of the Annual Book Conference, taking place on 8 May at DoubleTree by Hilton, Qawra. Deadline for registration is 2 April at noon. The event will aim to serve as an essential annual meeting point for publishers, authors, translators, readers and all other relevant stakeholders to produc- tively chart a way forward for the Maltese publishing industry, through informed discussions with experts from various fields, both local and international. This first edition, The Econ- omy and the Book, focuses on how publishing, bookselling, and reading cultures function within small and micro econo- mies such as Malta's. Through discussions that consider scale, language, readership, and con- sumption patterns, the confer- ence aims to foster informed debate, generate ideas to sup- port future policy development, and situate Malta's book sector within a broader European and international context. A brief programme for the event may be found here: https://ktieb.org.mt/app/up- loads/2026/02/NBC-Confer- ence-2026-brief-programme- feb13.pdf "We are very excited to launch the brief initial programme for the Annual Book Conference, with a more comprehensive one to follow in the days leading up to the event on 8 May," National Book Council Executive Chair- person Mark Camilleri said. "An important deliverable within our Five-Year Strategic Vision of 2025-2030, the Con- ference will open up necessary debates on the local publishing industry within a framework that is backed by rigorous re- search that is sure to yield pos- itive, actionable outcomes," Camilleri added. Registration for the conference is against a fee of €30 which in- cludes entrance, parking and lunch. Deadline for registration is 2 April at noon. Those inter- ested are invited to register via Submittable here. Registration opens for the Annual Book Conference