One of the most anticipated events of the year has kicked off as Malta picks its song for the Eurovision Song Contest this evening.
A total of 16 finalists are taking part in the finals, taking place at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali, vying for the ticket to Ukraine.
The song this year will be chosen solely through televoting with the jury being dropped from the selection process.
Only one vote per song will be allowed per telephone number and repeat voting will be rejected by the computerised system.
Presented by Daniel Azzopardi and Charlene Mercieca, the festival opened with a medley of many of the past winning songs, performed by this year's performers.
Public Broadcasting Services CEO John Bundy has also given a guarantee that the winning song will not be replaced, as had happened last year with Ira Losco. The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Kiev in May.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Kiev in May.
The songs taking part in this year's final are:
- Klinsmann Coleiro – Laserlight
- Raquela Dalli Gonzi – Ray of light
- Deborah C & Josef Tabone – Tonight
- Kevin Borg – Follow
- Jade Vella – Seconds away
- Crosswalk – So simple
- Franklin Calleja – Follow me
- Rhiannon Michallef – Fearless
- Miriana Conte – Don’t look down
- Shauna Vassallo – Crazy games
- Janice Mangion – Kewkba
- Cherton Caruana – Fighting to survive
- Maxine Pace – Bombshell
- Richard Edwards – You
- Brooke Borg – Unstoppable
- Claudia Faniello – Breathlessly
Click here to watch a snippet of all competing songs.
The winner of this evening's contest will represent Malta at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in the second semi-final on May 11, vying for a place in the grand final of the competition on May 13.
Ira Losco at last year's Eurovision.