These are the singers vying to represent Malta at Eurovision 2026

The 18 acts in contention to carry Malta's Eurovision hopes to Vienna this year will begin competing over two nights from Thursday. 

The semi-final will be broadcast live from the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) on Thursday at 8.30 pm, where 12 artists will qualify for the final, which takes place on Saturday.

Selected by a jury and the public through televoting, only one singer will be crowned the winner and represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in May.

The running order has been announced, with Aidan kicking off Thursday night, performing his passionate track Bella, while the show closes with Nathan Psaila’s upbeat track Ganador. Both tracks have one thing in common − both feature Maltese lyrics.

The event will be hosted by Keane Cutajar, together with former Junior Eurovision winners Destiny Chukunyere and Gaia Cauchi.

Maltese, English and Italian

After being kicked out of the competition four years ago, popular singer Aidan Cassar will return to the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with his song Bella, which, in true Aidan style, features a mixture of Maltese, English and also Italian. Many fans noticed a slight shift in his usual pop-high energy style to a more slow-paced track. 

In 2023, he was disqualified from participating after the organisers said he had broken festival regulations by uploading unauthorised social media posts. 

Ema Vella, a young Maltese-Ethiopian singer who gained prominence on X Factor Malta as part of the girl group F.A.I.T.H and a Mużika Mużika 2025 finalist, will perform her song Achikuku (Don't Think About It).

In a previous interview, she described her song as a symbol of “freedom, liberty, and to have fun".

Describing her song as "sassy, dramatic and bold", Chess Galea will make an appearance for the first time in the competition. The London-based singer and songwriter will compete with her song Shout It Out.

Maltese rapper and performer Liston will perform his blend of Maltese and English lyrics with his song Mela. His lyrics "Jiena kburi li nitkellem bil-Malti pur/ Please speak in English ghax m'ghandekx futur" may resonate with fans in the crowd. 

A slight nod to Eurovision experts and academics who have for years been advising Maltese artists to sing in their language?

Making his Malta Eurovision debut in 2013 with Let Your Heart Talk, Franklin Calleja then reached the national final the following year with Love Will Take Me Home. He also participated in 2016 and 2017. 

Will 2026 be the year he represents Malta with his track Guide You Home?

Starring on the stage from the age of three, Kelsy Attard performed in X Factor Malta and in last year's Malta Eurovision Song Contest with her track Love Me Loud. The 18-year-old will now take the stage with her heart-felt track Perfectly Broken.

Another familiar face to the competition, Matthew Cilia is participating in his heavy-rock, electro influence song Brutality Mentality, with the band The Afterparty. The sync hooks sounded as though they are influenced by Finland’s Karrija Cha Cha Cha, which came second in Eurovision 2023.

Former Malta Eurovision Song Contest semi-finalist and X-Factor participant, Mark Anthony Bartolo, will once again try his luck with his song Mumenti Sbieh.

Known for his presence on stage with a guitar in hand, from the line-up, Anthony Bartolo has the majority of his lyrics in Maltese, only with the chorus including the English lyrics “A perfect memory/Lift your head and see".

Singer Denise will once again make an appearance in the contest with her pop track Trophy. She first participated in the local competition when she placed fifth with her song Boy. In 2023, she once again placed fifth with her track Mara, despite performing while battling pneumonia.

Her song seems to be a favourite among local fans, with her video reaching 7.1k views since it was uploaded on Tuesday.

Kurt Anthony, another former Eurovision contestant, will be performing his pop track On the Borderline. He has previously competed in San Marino's Eurovision selection and also the Russian music festival New Wave.

Singer and songwriter Rhiannon Micallef will be setting foot for the first time on the Eurovision stage with her soulful and deep track Hold Myself Up. When she is not on stage, Micallef helps her mother run their family business, Ta’ Lazzru farm.

Joanne and her daughter Rhiannon, who helps her run the business.

Stefan Galea will get the crowd dancing with his track Pose. His debut in the local competition started back in 2009, when he participated in the Malta Junior Eurovision final. In 2016, he participated in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest - also a contestant on X Factor Malta Season 1. He also took part in the Malta Eurovision finals in 2023, 2024 and last year with his track Lablab (Talk Talk).

Popular artist Matt Blxck returns to Eurovision with his track Ejja lejja ħdejja ‘l hawn (The flute)” (Come to me, come here)". Another track with a mixture of Maltese and a catchy flute solo. The singer is no newbie to the Malta Eurovision stage. In 2023, he won the Jury Vote and secured third place with his track Up. In 2024, he placed second in the contest with his cheeky track Banana.

The 25-year-old Maltese twins Shaian and Celine Muscat, who go by the stage name Adria Twins, will perform their track Nerġa Nqum. They participated last year with Qalb ma' Qalb.

Kelise Borg, another singer who performed on X Factor Malta, will be a new face on the MESC stage and will perform her song Let a Girl Breathe.

Former Junior Eurovision participant Mychael Bartolo Chircop will hit the stage once again with his song My Sweet Angel. He previously placed second and third in the Maltese Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Former MESC participant Janice Mangion will perform her track Univers. She previously participated in the local competition in 2017 with Kewkba and 2022 with Army.

Janice Mangion will perform her song Univers.

For Nathan Psaila, this will be the fourth time he has performed at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest. He will be performing Ganador. He will be ending the night of the semi-final and he will also be competing in Mużika Mużika 2026 with his song L-Aħħar Jum.

Eurovision super-fans are in for a special treat, as two popular Eurovision artists will be performing during the live shows. 

Tommy Cash, the singer and rapper who represented Estonia last year with his catchy Espresso Macchiato, will perform during the semi-final. Cash, with his high-energy performance, came in third place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

And during the final, fans will get to rock out to Croatian artist Baby Lasagna, who finished second in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with his track Rim Tim Tagi Dim.