The Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026 (MESC 2026) is ready to electrify fans once again as 18 incredible acts battle it out tomorrow on January 15th at the first semi final of MESC 2026 starting the race to represent Malta at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria next May. With a blend of established competitors, veteran Maltese voices, and fresh talent, this year’s national final promises dramatic moments, unforgettable songs and stellar staging.
🎧 Behind the Songs: Songwriters & Camp News
Malta’s annual Malta Eurovision Music Exchange Camp played a big role in shaping the MESC 2026 entries once again in 2025. This collaborative camp brings Maltese artists together with international composers every year, including seasoned Eurovision songwriters to develop cutting-edge tracks and polish potential hits. After a successful Malta Song Contest Camp happened last June in the mediterranean island, very big names in the Eurovision songwriting world as well as very renowned names in the Maltese music industry gathered in Valletta to find the song that will hopefully finally bring the big Eurovision Song Contest to Malta next year.
Past camp alumni include people who have written for various Eurovision entries such as Linnea Deb, and some have worked on multiple Eurovision-linked projects such as the Belgian duo Midfall, who been also involved in writing songs for the Luxembourg Song Contest 2026. The creative ecosystem around MESC is more competitive and internationally connected than ever before, which will eventually lead to MESC becoming an upfront national final to the level of big competitions such as Melodifestivalen in Sweden or UMK in Finland.=
🗓️ MESC 2026: What you need to know
Submission window open for a brief amount of time last 17–23 November 2025. After receiving a record amount of entries, the 18 lucky finalists were announced last December. The 18 acts will battle first tomorrow, Thursday the 15th of January in a single Semi-Final when the 18 artists will perform live their songs for the first time, with only 12 advancing to the Grand Final of this Saturday, 17th January 2026. This new contest style comes in contrast to previous editions, where more artists would battle for the final spots in two different semi finals. Malta’s Eurovision 2026 representative will be chosen this Saturday by combination of public televote and jury vote as previous years at the Eurovision style.
Both shows will take place as usual at the iconic Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre, Ta’ Qali, and hosted by Eurovision royalties Destiny Chukunyere (Malta 2021 & Junior Eurovision winner), Gaia Cauchi (Junior Eurovision winner), and Maltese legend Keane Cutajar, a trio that will bring big energy and fun times carrying a big Eurovision fandom behind.
🎶 Meet the MESC 2026 Contenders and the Semi-Final Running Order
The complete line-up of artists and songs competing in the MESC 2026 Semi-Final in the show order designed for maximum impact and momentum by TVM PBS, the Maltese broadcaster resulted as follows:
- Aidan – “Bella”
- EMA – “Achikuku (Don’t Think About It)”
- Chess Galea – “Shout It Out”
- Liston Bongailas – “Mela”
- Franklin Calleja – “Guide You Home”
- Kelsey/Kelsy Attard – “Perfectly Broken”
- Matthew Cilia & The AfterParty – “Brutality Mentality”
- Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Mumenti sbieħ”
- Denise – “Trophy”
- Kurt Anthony – “On The Borderline”
- Rhiannon Micallef – “Hold Myself Up”
- Stefan Galea – “Pose”
- Matt BLXCK – “Ejja lejja ħdejja ‘l hawn (The Flute)”
- Adria Twins – “Nerġa’ nqum”
- Kelsie Borg – “Let a Girl Breathe”
- Mychael Bartolo Chircop – “My Sweet Angel”
- Janice Mangion – “Univers”
- Nathan Psaila – “Ganador”
Many Eurovision fans will notice very exciting and long awaited names, such as this year’s opening act Aidan, who brings his catchy pop anthem to kick off the night, or the closing act Nathan Psaila with “Ganador” who will be closing the Semi-Final with a dramatic and powerful finish. The show has bene put together to maximise the impact of each entry, combining emotional ballads followed by ethnic Maltese bangers. The sequence of songs gives us a hint on how the live performances and staging could look like, and we cannot wait to find out finally tomorrow.
⭐ Returnees & Fan Favorites
One of the biggest hypes for this year is the number of returning contenders with deep Malta Eurovision histories:
- Aidan, the biggest Maltese pop star, and a huge fan favourite in the Eurovision community, who finished 4th in 2018 and 2nd in 2022, has been chasing that Eurovision ticket for years and been working on shaping his both Maltese and international music career by becoming one of the biggest stars on the Maltese music industry. His entry Bella, a strong and very personal song to him, has written by ESC 2024 Maltese singer Sarah Bonnici, making the song even more special and intriguing – having a ESC seasoned artist like Sarah who is known for her bold and creative mindset on stage is a clear move aiming for the win by Aidan.
- Matt BLXCK is a long-time MESC staple, placing 7th in both 2018 and 2022, 3rd in 2023, and 2nd in 2024. If there’s anyone in Malta who can top and go beyond Miriana Conte’s sass and extravaganza, that’s Matt BLXCK. Known for his iconic performances and catchy bangers with a taste of Malta, he is back with a pure Maltese ethnic bop who promises to be the next song of the summer,
- Janice Mangion has competed across multiple MESC editions, from 2012 to 2022, coming very close to winning, brings us back to the successful times of Malta at Eurovision with their emotional big voice ballads. Deeply rooted in the Maltese language and universe, Janice brings the heartfelt touch to this MESC 2026.
- Other big fan favourites who return to the contest ready to take the first place and represent Malta at ESC2026 are Denise, Stefan Galea and Adria Twins also return, each bringing experience and loyal fanbases to the stage serving from electrifying bangers to emotional ballads.
Fans have been buzzing about Denise’s “Trophy”, written by Eurovision legend Linnea Deb, whose song always reach the top 5 year after year , and Matt BLXCK’s upbeat Maltese-English fusion as early standout tracks. Aidan’s return with Bella, has been always a talking point across forums and fan polls, and giving his success in the mediterranean island, we expect him to be fighting for the ESC ticket with a highly expected breathtaking staging. Who will be succeeding Miriana Conte in representing the Mediterranean island in ESC in Austria and continue with the Maltese success at being iconic at the big ESC stage? The race is on!
🔥 Two amazing shows celebrating Maltese music
Both the Semi Final and Final promise to be such iconic shows full of both Maltese music and Eurovision Malta melancholic comebacks
Semi Final acts include:
- Gaia Cauchi: Winner of Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) 2013 and the very first Maltese winner of JESC with her iconic “The start”
- Ivan Grech and band
- Jamie Cardona: Famous Maltese comedian and last winner of the iconic Muzika Muzika contest back in 2025 with his heartfelt anthem “Stajna Konna Aħjar”
- Tommy Cash: Estonian entry of ESC 2025 who came third being a fan favourite and worldwide viral moment “Espresso Macchiato”
Grand Final acts include:
- Destiny: Second winner for Malta at JESC 2015 and Eurovision entry for Malta in 2020 and 2021, where se reached 7th place overall, breaking all the record of Malta at ESC with “Je me casse” – a true Maltese ESC star
- Scream Daisy
- Baby Lasagna: Croatian entry of ESC 2024 who came second being a fan favourite and almost winning the competition with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”
- Miriana Conte, 1/3 of the beauty blenders who served Kant at ESC 2025 in Basel taking the mediterranean island back to the finals after many years missing a spot in the finals
Will we be seeing the iconic Miriana serving Kant at MESC 2026 finals and passing the trophy to the ESC 2026 Maltese representative? We cannot eait to find out in few days!
🎤 Countdown to Malta’s Eurovision 2026 Choice
With the Semi-Final coming up tomororw and the Grand Final looming this Saturday 17th January, the MESC 2026 journey is ticking up to fever pitch. Who will carry the Maltese flag to Vienna? Will a seasoned contender finally clinch their Eurovision dream? Or will a new face surprise fans and juries alike?
Stay tuned to ESCplus International for exclusive insights, fan polls and the latest MESC 2026 updates as insiders in our socials such as Instagram and TikTok! Let the Maltese music party begin 🇲🇹✨!
