In pictures: A nostalgic opening night for Malta’s Eurovision hopefuls

Nostalgia was in the air at the MFCC on Thursday night as the race to choose Malta’s next Eurovision representative began.

The semi-final of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with a lengthy medley of Eurovision winning songs featuring all the 18 participants in this year’s competition who belted a few verses of the hits that have dominated the international competition over the past 70 years including Abba’s iconic Waterloo and Conchita Wurst’s groundbreaking Rise like a Phoenix.

Minutes before the live show began, viewers were treated to an amusing short film featuring a “secret society” of former Malta Eurovision winners clad in red robes and led by Ira Losco who entrusted the three presenters Keane Cutajar and former Junior Eurovision winners Destiny Chukunyere and Gaia Cauchi with the task of finding the next winner.

“Maybe one day we’ll win this festival,” Losco quipped.

Gaia Cauchi, Destiny Chukunyere and Keane Cutajar were joined by veteran presenter Eileen Montesin. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

This year’s contest celebrated nostalgia with the theme “the first evening I loved” (“L-ewwel lejla li ħabbejt”).

Former Malta song contest presenters were invited back on stage to present several segments of the show. Each performer was introduced in a short video filmed in different Project Green open spaces singing unplugged versions of former Maltese Eurovision hits accompanied only by an acoustic guitar.

Former presenters Peppi Azzopardi and Valerie Vella introduced the first group of singers. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The 12 finalists

Malta has sent a song in English to the international contest every year since 1975 - only once singing in Maltese with Joe Grech's "Marija l-Maltija" in 1971 -  but this year several entries were bi- and even tri-lingual mixing English with a smattering of Maltese verses and even the odd Italian word. 

Aidan was the first to perform with his song "Bella". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ema performing Achikuku (Don't Think About It). Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Chess Galea sang "Shout it Out". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Liston singing "Mela". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The slick production featured elaborate lighting, high energy choreography, a dramatic entrance, barefoot singing and a wide range of musical genres, from heavy metal to soulful ballads and everything in between, though the show was marred by a couple of apparent sound issues that appeared to affect some vocal performances.

Franklin Calleja singing "Guide You Home". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Stefan Galea performing "Pose". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Singer songwriter Rhiannon Micallef belting out her soulful track "Hold Myself Up". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Kurt Anthony performing his pop track "On the Borderline". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Some performances stood out more than others, for various reasons. Chess Galea showed off her acrobatic prowess alongside her vocals with a perfect split; Liston gave the most iconic of Maltese words - Mela - a catchy rap routine that quickly lodged itself in listeners' ears; Kelsy Attard proved you don't need shoes to produce a show-stopping performance; while Mark Anthony Bartolo hit the highest notes of the evening, hands down. 

Denise singing "Trophy". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Mark Anthony Bartolo performed "Mumenti Sbieh". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Matthew Cilia and the Afterparty rocked the house with "Brutality Mentality". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Who needs shoes when you have a voice? Kelsy Attard performing "Perfectly Broken". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Aidan had the honour of opening the contest with his popular "Bella" and Nathan Psaila was responsible for wrapping up proceedings with his catchy "Ganador", but the entrance of the night goes to Matt Blxck who literally flew down to the stage.

Matt Blxck made a memorable entry as he "flew" down to perform Ejja lejja ħdejja ‘l hawn (The flute). Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Looking like a pair of angels, twin sisters Shaian and Celine Muscat charmed the audience with "Qalb ma' Qalb". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Kelsie Borg performing "Breathe". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

While the votes were computed, the show continued with guest performances from former Junior Eurovision winner Gaia Cauchi, veteran musician Ivan Grech and the winner of Mużika Mużika Jamie Cardona.

And just as the audience could barely wait any longer for the results, with the clock pushing almost 1am, their patience was rewarded with a high-octane performance from Tommy Cash, who came third in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his viral song "Espresso Macchiato". If anyone was nodding off, they were soon on their feet, waving their phones in the air.

Some four hours later, the 18 hopefuls were whittled down to 12 who will take to the stage one more time during Saturday's final. The winner will go on to represent Malta at the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in May.

Mychael Bartolo Chircop singing "My Sweet Angel". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Janice Mangion delivered a big ballad with "Univers". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Nathan Psaila was the last to perform with the catchy "Ganador". Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

• Achikuku (don’t think about it) – Ema
• Brutality Mentality – Matthew Cilia and the Afterparty
• Trophy – Denise
• Let a girl breathe – Kelsie Borg
• Bella – Aidan
• Nerġa nqum – Adria Twins
• Mumenti sbieħ – Mark Anthony Bartolo
• Univers – Janice Mangion
• Ejja lejja ħdejja ‘l hawn (The flute) – Matt Blxck
• Ganador – Nathan Psaila
• My sweet angel – Mychael Bartolo Chircop
• Guide you home - Franklin Calleja

Boycott

The international contest has already been mired in controversy facing a boycott from Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia over Israel’s participation.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici had insisted that boycotting the contest would do nothing to advance peace in the Middle East.

The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association joined NGOs supporting Palestine in calling on the government and PBS to withdraw Malta's participation from the 2026 edition.

Through their campaign Malta: No Music for Genocide, the NGOs argued that cultural events are inherently political.