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Schedule:
Explore the full line-up of panels, workshops, networking sessions, and cultural moments that happened during our previous festa held between the 23rd and 27th of June 2026
Each day of FESTA were designed to spark ideas, foster connections, and celebrate both Malta’s vibrant traditions and its bold future. Whether you're here to gain insights from global thought leaders, people connected with future collaborators, or celebrate local talent. Dive into the details, discover what’s on, and make the most of every moment.
Day 1 - Malta Success
Time | Title | Description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
15:00 - 16: 30 | Pre-workshop: From Idea to Impact - Designing Innovation That Matters | Explore how to take a raw idea and turn it into something that solves real-world problems, resonates with customers, and stands out to investors. In just 90 minutes, you’ll move through proven frameworks, challenge assumptions, and spark ideas that scale. | Rozina Sidhu Koskela & Gabriela Tussolini (The Garage) |
16:30 - 16: 55 | Welcome Drinks & Networking | Corinthia | |
16:55 - 17.00 | Opening words - Daily Spark: Welcome to the Evening Program | A short, energizing intro to set the tone for the evening program | Emma Rubesova |
17:00 - 17.15 | Maltese Success – An Inspiring Blueprint | A small island nation with a global impact. Understand how Malta has been part of shaping the world and how it can serve as an inspiration for the next generation. | Janos Barberis |
17:15 - 17:30 | Building AI-First Companies: How Malta Can Lead in the Age of Intelligent Business | This keynote explores how Maltese businesses can embrace AI-first thinking to gain strategic advantage and scale globally.
| Gege Gatt |
17:30 - 18:00 | Does Size Matter? Malta's advantage to pilot innovation | Small is beautiful. When piloting Innovation. Markets limit Malta can provide the best testing-ground to validate before scaling globally. Learn how during this conversation | Andrei Linnas, Jacopo Lai |
18:00 - 18:30 | Returning Home: Lessons from Abroad | We are the sum of our experiences. Hear why going abroad provides you with the fresh perspective needed to be succesfull and go beyond our own limitations.
| Vladimir Milovanovic & Amber Ward |
18:30 - 19:00 | Removing Borders: What thinking globally gives you | Being global from Day One. How do you balance a global vision when starting in a local market? Hear from the story that achieved their goal beyond their borders. | Emily Micallef , Janos Barberis |
19:00 - 19:15 | Passag: Paving the way for Malta Startup Ecosystem | What are lessons from Malta Startup Report. From policy to community, this session outlines what’s being done to make Malta a true startup launchpad.
| Iusef Hafith-Russo & David Sciberras |
19:15 - 21:00 | Networking & Finger Food
| Drinks, finger food & catering
| Corinthia |
Day 2 - EU Career Summit
Time | Title | Description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
16:00 - 16:15 | Opening Talk | TBC | |
16:15 - 16:55 | Freelance, Full-Time, or Founder? Choosing Your Career Journey | Unsure of your career path? This panel explores freelancing, full-time jobs, and starting a business, their pros, cons, and realities. Gain clarity and practical advice to align your passion with your career goals. | Michela Scerri, Christine Gingell, Reinhold M. Karner, Michelle Vassallo Pulis, Malorie Galligan
|
16.55 - 17:00 | Q&A | ||
17:00 - 17:30 | Your Network, Your Net Worth: How to Create Opportunities Where None Exist | In today's job market, networking is key. This talk shows you how to build meaningful connections, use LinkedIn and events, and find mentors to turn your network into a career asset. | Alexia Stafrace |
17:30 - 18:10 | More Than a Game: Esports, AI & The Future of Digital Entertainment | Esports is now a booming industry. This panel explores esports growth and digital entertainment, from pro gaming to AI content and Malta's esports careers. Learn where the future is headed! | Kersten Chircop, Chris Cachia, Ryan Camilleri, Yasmeen Samy |
18:10 - 18:15 | Q&A | ||
18:15 - 19:00 | Networking Career Circle | This interactive activity is open to all! Meet professionals, speakers, and guests, build connections, and find new career opportunities in a welcoming space. | |
18:15 - 19:00 | Career Coaching activity | Get one-on-one guidance from expert career coaches to help you clarify your goals, improve your CV, and plan your next steps with confidence. Open to all attendees! | Joelle Merheb, Daphne Grech Cumbo |
19:00 - 19:30 | Fireside Chat: Happy Employees, Stronger Teams: The Future of Well-being at Work | Discover how workplace happiness boosts productivity and retention. This talk covers mental health, work-life balance, flexible policies, and leadership, highlighting Gen Z's role in creating healthier, more human workplaces. | Olivia Bilocca, Francina Moisa |
19:30 - 20:10 | Panel: Making Art, Making Money: How Creatives Can Build a Sustainable Career | Artists, designers, and creatives! Learn to turn your talent into a thriving career. Discover strategies for monetizing your creativity, building your brand, and master the business side of art. | Victoria Chan, Francis Ghersci, Keith Pillow, Neil Attard
|
20:10 - 20:15 | Q&A | Victoria Chan, Francis Ghersci, Keith Pillow, Neil Attard | |
20:15- 20:45 | Session: Mindset Mastery: The Key to Personal Growth | Feeling stuck or ready for change? This session explores harnessing the mindset for personal growth: what it means, why it matters, and how to activate it. Learn simple, powerful ways to shift your thinking, break mental barriers, and build a mindset that supports your goals and lifelong development. | Fabianne Ruggier |
20:45 - 21:00 | Closing |
Day 3 - Imagine the Future
Time | Title | Description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
15:00 - 16:30 | Pre-workshop: The Real VIP - Values • Identity • Purpose | Join a high-energy, 90-minute workshop designed to spark bold ideas, test real-world solutions, and build investor-ready ventures. Perfect for startups, founders, and investors ready to accelerate innovation and make powerful connections. | Alena Rubesova and Dr. Anish Rakheja (I can Retreats) |
16:30- 16:55 | Welcome Drinks & Networking | Corinthia | |
16:55 - 17.00 | Opening words - Daily Spark: Welcome to the Evening Program | A short, energizing intro to set the tone for the evening program | Emma Rubesova |
17:00 - 17:15 | Humanity x Machine – Designing a Future Worth Living | AI is changing everything — but what kind of future are we designing? What is the role of Humans in a world that is eaten by software. This keynote will explore that.
| Pier Massa |
17:15 - 17:30 | 2035 Starts Now – What the Next Decade Demands from Innovators | The only certainty about the future is that it will be different from today. What are the skills society needs to invest today to ensure relevance in a decade from now. | Arif Anis |
17:30 - 19:00 | AI Will Destroy All Jobs | Bold, controversial, and necessary. This thought provocative debate is here to establish whether or not Artificial Intelligence will replace humans.
| Janos Barberis, Vincent Aliquo, Arif Anis, Sarosh Anees, Moderated by Philip Lingard
|
19:00 - 19:15 | Being AI Ready – Educating Our Future | To thrive in an AI-driven world, we must rethink how we educate. This session explores the strategies for organizations and governments to future proof themselves.
| Alessandro Di Lullo |
19:15 - 21:00 | Networking & Finger Food | Drinks, finger food & catering | Corinthia |
Day 4 - Demoday
Time | Title | Description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
17.15 - 18.00 | Welcome Drinks & Networking | Corinthia | |
18:00 – 18:05 | Opening Words: Daily Spark: Welcome to the Evening Program | A short, energizing intro to set the tone for the evening program.
| Emma Rubesova |
18:05 - 18:20 | Building a Unicorn - A Decade of Experience | What does it really take to build a billion-dollar company? Gain rare insights into the mindset, risks, and strategic plays behind building a unicorn over ten years.
| Mohammad Alashmawi |
18:20-18:30 | Keynote by Iusef | Speach on Cohort 4.0 | Iusef Hafith-Russo |
18:30 - 18:40 | Keynote Opening | Details to be announced
| George Gregory |
18:40 - 19:45 | Startup Pitches | Details to be announced | Cohort 4.0 Pitches |
19:45 - 20:00 | From Malta to the World - Building Ecosystem Differently | Malta’s strength isn’t in copying others — it’s in charting its own path. This session explores how Malta’s ecosystem is creating its own rules for global leadership.
| Janos Barberis |
20:00 - 21:00 | Networking & Finger Food
| Drinks, finger food & catering
| Corinthia |
Day 5 - Investor Day
Time | Title | Description | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
16: 30 - 17:15 | Welcome Drinks & Networking | Corinthia | |
17:15 - 17:20 | Opening words - Daily Spark: Welcome to the Evening Program | A short, energizing intro to set the tone for the evening program.
| Emma Rubesova |
17:20 - 17.25 | Investor Club, invest in what matters | A short, energizing intro to Investor Club | Alex Aabol |
17:25 - 17:35 | Opening Keynote | Details to be announced. | Silvio Schembri |
17:35 - 18:00 | Keynote: Malta on the Map – Building the Next Global Investment Hub | Discover the vision and strategies behind positioning the island as a top destination for international capital.
| Mark Watkinson, Graziella Grech |
18:00- 18:30 | How to Catch a Unicorn – Startup Investment Master Class | What do unicorn investors look for? This chat offers insider strategies for identifying and backing the startups that break the billion-dollar barrier. | Nikola Pavesic, Chircop Ranier & Vasily Alekseenko |
18:30 - 19:00 | The Investor with a Gold Touch – Wisdom of Crowd vs Professional Investors | Is intuition better than data? Can a crowd outperform the pros? This lively panel debates traditional versus alternative investment strategies in the startup world.
| Keith Zammit, Kari Pisani |
19:00 - 19:15 | How investors and Edtech Founders can work together to improve educational outcomes for everyone?
| Democratise access to education at K to 12, Higher Education and for adults.
| Mark Hanley-Browne |
19:15 - 21:00 | Networking & Finger Food | Drinks, finger food & catering | Corinthia |
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