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Jitħabbru r-riżultati tal-Festival Nazzjonali tal-Logħob tan-Nar tal-Art Mekkanizzat 2026.

Ir-rebbieħa tal-festival kienu l-Kummissjoni tan-Nar San Pietru fil-Ktajjen, Birżebbuġa, li kisbu l-ogħla unur ta’ din il-kompetizzjoni prestiġjuża li ttellgħat fi Pjazza San Publju, fuq il-Fosos tal-Floriana, is-Sibt 18 ta’ April.

Fil-kategoriji rispettivi, dawn kienu r-riżultati:

• Kategorija 1 – Raddiena Mekkanizzata tal-Katina: Kamra tan-Nar San Filep, Ħaż-Żebbuġ – Għaqda Każin Banda San Filep (Omm il-Baned Maltin)
• Premju ta’ Mertu, Kategorija 2 – Raddiena Mekkanizzata tal-Universal: Għaqda Piroteknika San Pawl, Safi
• Kategorija 3 – Raddiena Mekkanizzata 2D: Għaqda tan-Nar Marija Bambina, Naxxar (A.D. 2012)
• Kategorija 4 – Raddiena Mekkanizzata 3D: ma kien hemm l-ebda parteċipazzjoni
• Kategorija 5 – Raddiena Mekkanizzata tal-Funtani tal-Kulur: Kummissjoni tan-Nar San Pietru fil-Ktajjen, Birżebbuġa

Il-Premju ta’ Mertu għall-isportsmanship ingħata lill-Għaqda tan-Nar Marija Bambina, Naxxar, bħala rikonoxximent għall-ispirtu sportiv u l-kontribut tagħhom matul il-festival.

Il-ġurija għal dan il-Festival kienet komposta minn Luis Fuentes minn Spanja, Mark Kelsall mir-Renju Unit u Roberto Orlando mill-Italja.

Il-Kunsill Lokali jesprimi r-ringrazzjament tiegħu lill-kmamar tan-nar kollha li pparteċipaw, kif ukoll lill-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija, lill-Awtorità Maltija għat-Turiżmu u lill-Valletta Waterfront għall-appoġġ u l-kollaborazzjoni tagħhom fl-organizzazzjoni ta’ dan l-avveniment.

Għall-preżentazzjoni tar-riżultati attendew is-Sindku Nigel Holland, il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul u l-Kunsillier Dale Cachia, flimkien ma’ Stanley Azzopardi f’isem l-Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija.

Kummissjoni tan-Nar San Pietru fil-Ktajjen, Birżebbuġa wins the National Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival

The results of the National Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival 2026 have been announced.

The overall winners of the festival were Kummissjoni tan-Nar San Pietru fil-Ktajjen, Birżebbuġa, who obtained the highest honour in this prestigious competition held at St. Publius Square, the Floriana Granaries, on Saturday 18 April.

The results by category were as follows:

• Category 1 – Mechanised Chain Catherine Wheel: St. Philip Fireworks Factory, Ħaż-Żebbuġ – St. Philip Band Club Association (Mother of Bands)
• Merit Award, Category 2 – Mechanised Universal Catherine Wheel: St. Paul Pyrotechnic Association, Safi
• Category 3 – Mechanised 2D Catherine Wheel: Maria Bambina Fireworks Association, Naxxar (A.D. 2012)
• Category 4 – Mechanised 3D Catherine Wheel: no participation was registered
• Category 5 – Mechanised Colour Fountain Catherine Wheel: St. Peter in Chains Fireworks Commission, Birżebbuġa

The Merit Award for Sportsmanship was presented to the Maria Bambina Fireworks Association, Naxxar, in recognition of their sportsmanship and contribution throughout the festival.

The jury for this Festival was composed of Luis Fuentes from Spain, Mark Kelsall from the United Kingdom, and Roberto Orlando from Italy.

The Local Council extends its gratitude to all participating fireworks factories, as well as to the Malta Pyrotechnic Association, the Malta Tourism Authority, and Valletta Waterfront for their support and collaboration in the organisation of this event.

Present for the awards presentation were Mayor Nigel Holland, Deputy Mayor James Aaron Ellul, and Councillor Dale Cachia, together with Stanley Azzopardi representing the Malta Pyrotechnic Association.

Jum il-Floriana – Serata ta’ Premijiet 2026.

L-attività ttelgħat fil-binja tal-Kunsill Lokali fl-10 ta’ April. Bir-rebbieħa jkunu;

• Premju għat-Tfal – Trofew Marcelle Holland: Leliani Glaum
• Premju Żagħżugħ tas-Sena – Trofew Mario Muscat: Kirstel Giusti
• Premju għall-Kuraġġ “Qalb ta’ Ljun” – Trofew Anthony Brincat: Lorraine Marie Farrugia
• Premju Anzjan tas-Sena – Trofew John Mary Brincat: Rev Dun Pawl Camilleri
• Premju Resident tas-Sena – Trofew Anthony Piscopo: Paul John Farrugia
• Premju għall-Uffiċċjal tal-Pulizija tas-Sena – Trofew Domine Dirige Nos: PC 2028 Karen Chircop
• Premju Ġieħ il-Floriana: Dr David Fabri

Matul is-serata, wara qbil bejn il-membri eletti fil-Kunsill, Dr Yana Vladislavovna Psaila u Julia Ann Cluett ingħataw iċ-Ċittadinanza Onorarja tal-Floriana.

Fl-istess serata waslu wkoll diskors, is-Sindku Nigel Holland, il-Viċi Sindku James Aaron Ellul u l-Arċipriet tal-Floriana l-Kan. Dun Charles Cini.

Is-serata ntemmet billi ndaqq l-Innu tal-Kunsill Lokali.

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.