Spettaklu pirotekniku fuq il-Fosos tal-Floriana

Permezz ta’ konferenza tal-aħbarijiet, il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana ħabbar l-aħħar dettalji dwar l-organizzazzjoni tal-Festival Nazzjonali tan-Nar tal-Art Mekkanizzat, li din is-sena se jsir is-Sibt, 18 ta’ April 2026, fi Pjazza San Publju (fuq il-Fosos).

Fl-ewwel kummenti tiegħu, is-Sindku Nigel Holland spjega li l-Festival din is-sena, li huwa s-17-il edizzjoni, se jkun qed jieħu xejra ftit differenti, b’organizzazzjoni aktar diretta mill-Kunsill Lokali tal-Floriana. Huwa fakkar li f’kull edizzjoni, il-Kunsill dejjem fittex li jagħti opportunità lill-kmamar tan-nar biex jesebixxu l-aqwa xogħlijiet tagħhom tan-nar tal-art mekkanizzat matul dan il-Festival Nazzjonali prestiġġjuż. Is-Sindku żied li l-Kunsill se jkompli jinvesti ħin, enerġija u riżorsi biex dan l-avveniment ikompli jikber fil-kwalità u fir-reputazzjoni tiegħu sena wara sena, anke permezz ta’ kollaborazzjoni mal-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija. Huwa enfasizza wkoll li l-impenn tal-Kunsill jibqa’ dak li jtejjeb l-istandards organizzattivi kemm fuq livell tekniku kif ukoll logistiku, sabiex il-parteċipanti jkollhom l-aħjar kundizzjonijiet possibbli biex jippreżentaw xogħolhom.

Il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul tenna li festival bħal dan isaħħaħ il-valur storiku u kulturali tal-piroteknika f’pajjiżna, filwaqt li rrimarka li l-Maltin huma pijunieri f’dan il-qasam kemm fuq livell mekkanizzat kif ukoll pirotekniku. Huwa spjega li din is-sena l-Festival se jkun maqsum f’ħames kategoriji distinti li jiffokaw fuq tipi differenti ta’ raddieni mekkanizzati: il-Kategorija 1 (tal-Katina), il-Kategorija 2 (tal-Universal), il-Kategorija 3 (2D), il-Kategorija 4 (3D) u l-Kategorija 5 (tal-Funtani tal-Kulur). L-ewwel erbgħa jiffukaw fuq mekkaniżmi u disinji li jixegħlu prinċipalment bil-gassijiet u jduru permezz tal-funtani tal-porvli, filwaqt li l-ħames kategorija tagħti prominenza lill-funtani tal-kulur u l-effett viżiv tagħhom.

Ellul żied li kull raddiena tiġi evalwata fuq kriterji ċari bħad-disinn, il-kwalità tal-prodotti pirotekniċi, il-manifattura mekkanika u l-andament tal-ħruq skont il-pjan ippreżentat lill-ġurija. Huwa enfasizza wkoll li l-organizzazzjoni tal-festival hija strutturata b’mod rigoruż, b’limitu ta’ parteċipanti u sistema ta’ polza biex jiġu assenjati l-kategoriji u s-sekwenza tal-armar u l-ħruq. Il-ġurija, magħmula minn esperti barranin u Maltin, tevalwa kemm l-armar kif ukoll il-ħruq, filwaqt li l-parteċipanti jridu josservaw regoli stretti ta’ sigurtà, konformità legali u preżentazzjoni teknika.

Fl-istess waqt, huwa aċċenna għall-importanza li entitajiet governattivi u kulturali jagħtu aktar sostenn lill-Kunsill, hekk kif il-fondi allokati għall-Kunsilli qed jibqgħu l-istess filwaqt li l-ispejjeż għall-organizzazzjoni ta’ attivitajiet qed dejjem jiżdiedu, speċjalment fir-rigward tal-materja prima li jużaw l-għaqdiet tan-nar.

Ellul għalaq billi rringrazzja lill-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija u lill-voluntiera kollha għall-impenn tagħhom, u fakkar li minkejja li dan il-festival huwa kompetizzjoni, l-artisti Maltin tan-nar jibqgħu magħqudin fl-istess spirtu ta’ kreattività biex jippreżentaw xogħol mill-ogħla livell.

EN: Through a press conference, the Floriana Local Council announced the final details regarding the organisation of the National Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival, which this year will take place on Saturday, 18 April 2026, at St Publius Square (The Granaries), Floriana.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Nigel Holland explained that this year’s Festival, now in its 17th edition, will take on a slightly different format, with a more direct organisational role being assumed by the Floriana Local Council. He recalled that in every edition, the Council has consistently sought to provide an opportunity for fireworks factories to showcase their finest mechanised ground fireworks displays during this prestigious National Festival. The Mayor added that the Council will continue to invest time, energy and resources to further enhance the quality and reputation of this event year after year, including through collaboration with the Malta Pyrotechnic Association. He also emphasised the Council’s commitment to improving organisational standards, both on a technical and logistical level, to ensure that participants are provided with the best possible conditions to present their work.

Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul highlighted that festivals of this nature sustain the historical and cultural value of pyrotechnics in Malta, noting that Maltese artisans are pioneers in both mechanised and pyrotechnic fields. He explained that this year’s Festival will be divided into five distinct categories focusing on different types of mechanised structures: Category 1 (Chain), Category 2 (Universal), Category 3 (2D), Category 4 (3D) and Category 5 (Coloured Fountains). The first four categories focus on mechanisms and designs primarily powered by gas and rotated through powder fountains, while the fifth category emphasises coloured fountain effects and their visual impact.

Ellul further stated that each structure will be evaluated according to clear criteria, including design, the quality of pyrotechnic products, mechanical craftsmanship, and the execution of the burn in line with the plan submitted to the adjudicating panel. He also stressed that the organisation of the Festival is highly structured, with a limit on participants and a ballot system used to assign categories and the sequence of installation and firing. The jury, composed of both local and international experts, will assess both the installation and the firing, while participants must adhere to strict regulations regarding safety, legal compliance and technical presentation.

At the same time, he underlined the importance of increased support from governmental and cultural entities, noting that while funding allocated to Local Councils has remained unchanged, the costs associated with organising such events continue to rise, particularly with regard to the raw materials used by fireworks associations.

Ellul concluded by thanking the Malta Pyrotechnic Association and all volunteers for their dedication, and reiterated that although the Festival is a competition, Maltese fireworks artisans remain united in a shared spirit of creativity, presenting works of the highest standard.