Covid-19 took a toll on Carnival companies but Carnival 2022 ‘will be one of the biggest yet’

Covid-19 has taken its toll on Carnival companies this year, but plans are already underway for 2022 and it is expected to be one of the best yet, Festival Malta Carnival Artistic Director Jason Busuttil told this newsroom.

For the first time since WWII, the boisterous Carnival celebrations that take over the islands during the month of February have been cancelled as the ban on mass events and high numbers of daily Covid-19 cases persist.

Instead, a downscaled and safer version will take place, with an exhibition of Carnival floats and costumes across Malta which will be broadcasted on television and online.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Carnival Artistic Director Jason Busuttil said that this was quite a tough pill to swallow for Carnival companies who are usually bustling about their workshops during this time of year.

“Preparations usually start from the previous summer, but this time around, participants and volunteers could not meet to rehearse or anything. Even financially, sponsors have had to hold back from contributing this year as they were not in a position to do so,” Busuttil explained.

The floats which will be exhibited are at a much smaller scale than usual, he said, adding that they only require one or two people to be developed so that not many people have to gather at their workshops.

The themes were chosen by art students at the University of Malta with each theme delivering a strong message on current issues, such as the environment.

Additionally, there will also be four installations set up in Valletta, strategically placed in areas that are not typically filled with masses of people to avoid instigating any spontaneous gatherings. More information on this is expected to be revealed during the coming month.

Busuttil believes that there is hope for the summer Carnival to take place in August, as long as restrictions permit, with some preparations already underway. However, expectations are at their highest for the upcoming Carnival in 2022 which “will be one of the biggest yet!”.

Nonetheless, he noted that this all depends on whether the teams behind the companies that make Malta’s Carnival what it is reunite once more as the number of volunteers has decreased drastically due to Covid-19 restrictions – “I just hope that in 2022 they return back to their respective company.”

The Malta Independent spoke with a number of Carnival companies who shared the challenges they faced during the pandemic, what effects they think this year will have on Carnivals to come and their hopes for the next year.