Who is AIDAN? Get to Know Malta’s Eurovision 2026 entry

The Eurovision Song Contest is heading towards its 70th edition, which will take place in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle.

Little by little, the participating countries are immersed in preparations to refine the details of their entries with which they will compete to win the coveted glass microphone.

The Eurovision season of the European contest has brought a wide variety of proposals, and among them stands out Malta, which has opted for a proposal with a strong cultural identity. The broadcaster PBS selected its representative through the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026, where the artist AIDAN managed to prevail with his song, thus securing the ticket to Vienna.

How has his journey to Eurovision been? What lies behind his musical proposal? How has he built a unique identity within the current music scene?

On this occasion, we review the musical career of AIDAN, the context of his candidacy, and his song. The Maltese representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will attempt to achieve victory in the European contest with “Bella”, an entry that blends contemporary sensitivity and artistic personality on stage, in what will be Malta’s 40th participation in the European contest.

This is AIDAN, his origins and early years in the music industry

Aidan Cassar, known professionally as Aidan, was born in December 1999 in Żejtun, Malta. From a very young age he showed a great passion for music and for the Eurovision Song Contest, a goal that shaped his artistic development from childhood. This vocation materialized during his teenage years, when he began taking his first steps in the music industry.

His recording debut came in 2015 with the single “Rule the World”, the starting point of a career focused on contemporary pop with Mediterranean influences. In 2018 he got his first big opportunity by participating in the Maltese Eurovision national selection with “Dai Laga”, achieving a notable fourth place that gave him national visibility. During those years he also tried to make his way through talent shows and released new tracks such as “Mine”, consolidating his presence in the music scene.

In 2019 he represented Malta in the OGAE Song Contest with “The Feeling”, expanding his recognition. One of his milestones came in 2021 with “Naħseb Fik”, performed in Maltese at the Mużika Mużika festival. The song was awarded for its music video and sparked debate due to similarities with international songs, something the artist publicly defended. That same period included hits such as “24/7”, alongside Carlo Gerada, which reached number one in Malta. In 2022 he returned to the national selection with “Ritmu”, one of the most popular songs of the edition.

Although he finished in second place, it achieved great commercial success and topped radio charts. That year he also expanded his international exposure by taking part in Eurovision-related events and performing at festivals such as Isle of MTV. In 2023 he experienced a controversial moment when he was disqualified from the national selection with “Reġina”. However, that same year he released his first album, This Is Aidan, and collaborated with Ira Losco on “Rip (Rest in Peace)”. After new releases in 2024 and 2025, his breakthrough came in 2026 when he won the Maltese national selection with “Bella”, thus earning the right to represent Malta at Eurovision.

This is “Bella”, the proposal by AIDAN to represent Malta at Eurovision 2026

Aidan Cassar, born in Żejtun in December 1999, grew up with a clear fascination for music and the Eurovision Song Contest, which he dreamed of reaching since childhood. That early passion eventually became a firm vocation that started to take shape during his teenage years.

His recording debut came in 2015 with his first single, “Rule The World”, which marked the beginning of his career. From that moment on, he continued releasing new songs that gradually shaped a modern pop style, with a Mediterranean foundation and a production aimed at the mainstream radio market.

The year 2018 marked his first major appearance on the national stage when he participated in the Maltese preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Dai Laga”. His proposal managed to reach fourth place, a result that allowed him to become widely known throughout the country.

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Malta at Eurovision: A Quick History

Malta debuted in Eurovision in 1971. It has traditionally opted for songs in English, except in its early participations. Its best result is 2nd place, achieved in 2002 with Ira Losco and “7th Wonder” and in 2005 with Chiara and “Angel”.

In addition, it has achieved 14 Top 10 finishes and several additional podiums, also highlighting the third places in 1992 and 1998, again with Chiara. In 2021, Destiny achieved a 7th place with the country’s highest-ever score.

After several years without qualifying for the final between 2022 and 2024 with such high-profile figures as Sarah Bonnici, in 2025 Miriana Conte and her controversial “SERVING” brought Malta back to the final with a 17th place.