Emma Muscat among line-up of international artists for this year's Notte Bianca

The organisers of this year’s Notte Bianca festival have promised an impressive line-up for this year's festival that will include Emma Muscat and her special guest Biondo, nosnow/noalps, Toploader as well as Tenishia featuring members from local band Tribali.

The event's organisers said at a press conference on Tuesday that this year's edition was expected the be the best one ever and is expected to draw larger than usual crowds.

Justice minister Owen Bonnici, who was present for Tuesday’s launch, lauded what he described as an exceptional programme, adding that Malta’s, “cultural strategy endeavours to bring forth emerging and established Maltese Artists as professional creators”.

“Every year Notte Bianca strives to forge international links and this is highlighted in this year’s programme, with five world-renowned foreign artists participating in this year’s edition,” Bonnici said. He said that the objective behind such collaborations was to “co-create multidimensional and multicultural performances” while granted local artists the opportunity to perform on stage with internationally acclaimed acts.

The five main music stages will be featuring a diverse musical assortment, including Notte Special at St George’s square, which will host the main stage of the event.

The festival’s artistic director Sean Buhagiar said the organisation was “extremely proud to present such a strong programme”.

“Our audiences can go from one legendary act to another or just camp at one of the main stages,” he said. “All this besides being able to visit all our other projects along the streets and venues of our stunning capital city.”

Rock & Metal enthusiasts can visit Notte Metal, which features local artists Beheaded. Others can let loose to the Rastafari rhythms of Notte Reggae who will feature UK two-tone giants The Selecter along with local mainstays The Riffs and newcomers Manatapu amongst others. Notte Folk will include performances by Skals, UK based I am Willow, Claire Tonna, and Etnika, topped off with a gig by renowned Italian singer-songwriter Vinicio Capossela.

The Notte Electronic stage, is headlined by German legendary pioneers Tangerine Dream with our very own Stimulus Timbre, Cynga and Fabricka.

Notte Bianca will also feature theatre and dance performances, slackline acrobatics, workshops, poetry, flamenco, clowning, burlesque, science, clay, film, and so much more.

Notte Bianca is organised by Festivals Malta within the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, with the support of Valletta 2018 Foundation, Valletta Local Council, MapfreMSV Life, and Farsons