Malta is a unitary state with one tier of central government and sixty-eight local councils; there is no regional or provincial government. The overwhelming majority of public cultural expenditure is therefore central-government expenditure, allocated through ministerial line votes in the Financial Estimates. Local councils receive a block grant under the Local Government Act (Cap. 363) and may allocate a portion to local cultural events (principally festi, community celebrations and minor heritage maintenance), but local-government spending on culture is not separately reported in a consolidated national figure.
Table 6: Public cultural expenditure by level of government, 2013 and 2026 (EUR millions, current prices)
|
Level of government |
2013 |
2026 estimate |
Change (EUR m) |
% change |
|
Central government — recurrent |
19.2 |
88.9 |
+69.7 |
+363% |
|
Central government — capital |
7.9 |
49.8 |
+41.9 |
+530% |
|
Central government — total |
27.1 |
138.7 |
+111.6 |
+411% |
|
Local government |
n/a |
n/a |
— |
— |
|
Total |
27.1 |
138.7 |
+111.6 |
+411% |
Source: Author’s compilation from Financial Estimates 2026 and 2025, Financial Estimates 2013.
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