Malta’s favourite national selection, MESC, takes center stage as the contest for selecting the nation’s entry for the most beloved music contest in Europe.
In October, PBS, Malta’s public broadcaster, opened the call for entries between November 18th and 29th, inviting artists to submit their songs while outlining the rules for MESC 2025. With standards similar to those of Eurovision, participants must hold Maltese citizenship (or dual citizenship with Maltese as one of them) and be at least 16 years old by May 1, 2025.
Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Who’s in the Running?
After an extensive review process by professional juries, the 24 finalists for MESC 2025 have been revealed. These talented performers will compete in the thrilling semifinals on February 4th and 6th, leading to the grand final on February 8th at MFCC, Ta’ Qali.
Here’s the list of the 24 participants, along with their songs:
- Alexandra Alden – “Magnolia”
- Kelsey Bellante – “365”
- Kristy Spiteri – “Heaven Sent”
- Kurt Calleja – “Aziz/a”
- Miriana Conte – “Kant”
- Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Hideaway”
- Nathan Psaila – “Concrete”
- Miguel Bonello – “Breaking the Cycle”
- Matthew Cilia – “Control”
- Dre’ Curmi – “Te amo”
- Martina Borg – “Yo Listen”
- Kantera – “Lalaratatakeke Lalaratakabum”
- Justine Shorfid – “Still I Rise”
- The Alchemists – “Rubble & Stone”
- Krista Šujak – “Unheard”
- Kelsy Attard – “Love Me Loud”
- JVF (Jessika, Victorio Gauci, Fabrizio Faniello) – “Festa (No Time For Siesta)”
- Marie Claire – “Wildflower”
- Kurt Anthony Cassar – “Miegħek biss”
- Raquela Dalli – “Silenced”
- Stefan Galea – “Lablab (Talk Talk)”
- Adria Twins – “Qald ma’ qalb”
- Haley Azzopardi – “Whistleblower”
- Victoria Sciberras – “Juno”
Although the name of the teams behind the songs have not been revealed yet, we expect to see familiar and known faces of both the Maltese music scene but also international recognised musicians and songwriters amongst them. One of the most known one being Matt Blxck who came second last year in MESC2024 and third in MESC2023, who has confirmed via Instagram that even if he’s not back in MESC2025, he wrote the song Lablab (Talk Talk) by Stefan Galea, promising to be a banger. Will be similar to his hits “Banana” and “Up”, or will he bring something totally new and out of the box to MESC as a songwriter? No matter what, Stefan Galea proved last year that he can defend any kind of bangers like his MESC2024 song “Numb”, so we are sure “Lablab (Talk Talk)” is also one to watch out for! Other names that had Eurofans curious to hear their song are Fabrizio Faniello (Malta ESC 2001 and 2006) and Jessika Muscat (San Marino ESC 2018) who joining forces with Victorio Gauci forming JVF promise to bring us to a nigh out in Malta with a festive song that won’t let us have a break for a nap “Festa (No Time For Siesta)”. Finally Kelsey Bellante, who is part of Erba’ who came 4th last year at MESC2024 with their banger “Sirena” written by Tom Hugo from Keiino from Norway (ESC 2019 and Norwegian national final runner-up in 2021 and 2024), is back with “365“. Will she continue with the pop banger era or will she switch to a more intimate and emotional song? We can’t wait to hear the songs in full!
Additionally, some Eurovision familiar faces such as the famous Swedish Melodifestivalen and Eurovosion Song Contest songwriters Linnea and Joy Deb and Melanie Wehbe, Benjamin Alasu and Tom Oehlerthe songwriters of the ESC 2024 winner song “The code” by Nemo from Switzerland or the songwriters of last years Maltese entry “Loop” by Sarah Bonnici, the basque Leire Gotxi and english Sebastian Pritchard-James, or the Austrian singer/songwriter Teya who represented her country back in Liverpool in Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with her song “Who the hell is Edgar”, were spotted last June 2024 in Malta attending the songwriting camp for MESC2025. Will be featuring in any of these songs as songwriters? We can’t wait to find out!
In the meantime, and until the songs are revealed, listen to a short snippet of each song here
What’s new in MESC 2025?
The upcoming edition of MESC is bringing fresh changes to its format! Unlike the 2024 contest, which featured 36 finalists, MESC 2025 narrows the field to 24, streamlining the competition with only two televised semifinals instead of four.
In the semifinals, 12 acts will compete on each night, and the top 8 from each semifinal—decided by a mix of jury votes and televotes—will advance to the grand final taking place on 8th of February in MFCC, Ta’ Qali. This means 16 stellar acts will take the stage on February 8th to compete for the ultimate prize: the chance to represent Malta at Eurovision 2025 in Basel!
This year we have a good mix of known faces from the Maltese music industry and newcomers trying to fight for the ticket to Basel.
Returning familiar faces who will try their luck once again at MESC include:
- Kelsey Bellante (Erba’)
- Miriana Conte
- Mark Anthony Bartolo
- Nathan Psaila
- Miguel Bonello
- Raquela Dalli
- Stefan Galea
- Haley Azzopardi
- Victoria Sciberras
Returning Eurovision stars include:
- Kurt Calleja (Malta ESC 2012)
- Fabrizio Faniello (Malta ESC 2001 and 2006)
- Jessika Muscat (San Marino ESC 2018)
New faces and fresh talent including 2 bands:
- Kristy Spiteri
- Matthew Cilia
- Dre’ Curmi
- Martina Borg
- Krista Šujak
- Kurt Anthony Cassar
- The Alchemists
- Adria Twins
During the live final at MFCC, Ta’ Qali, broadcast on TVM1, contestants must deliver live vocal performances, though pre-recorded harmonies are allowed under Maltese broadcaster guidelines. The winner will be chosen via a mixed voting system combining professional jury input and public votes.
The Road from Valetta to Basel
The MESC 2025 champion will step into the spotlight, carrying Malta’s flag to Eurovision 2025, held in Basel on May 13th, 15th, and 17th. The lucky winner will follow in the footsteps of Sarah Bonnici, Malta’s representative in 2024 deemed as the biggest robbery of ESC 2024 season, who came 16th in the first semifinal opening the whole contest failing to make it to the grand final, and bring the local talent of the Mediterranean island to the Alpine mountains of Switzerland. After the success of Malta in JESC 2024 who came in 5th position with Rabimeres Sciberras with his heartwarming performance of “Stilla Ċkejkna” marked a milestone in Malta’s ESC history as the first even song full in Maltese language sent by the mediterranean country. Will they follow this path for the adult contest and try their apparent good luck of the Maltese language at ESC? We shall wait and see! But MESC2025 is back stronger than ever, and just by hearing to the snippets, it promises to be a strong competition which, after a year break, will see audience coming back to cheer for their favourites ones next February. PBS is committed to bring MESC back to the ESC scene with a visually, musically and technologically curated revisited version that will pay off by hopefully bringing Malta back to the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest and to the top of the scoreboard after a long time missing several finals in a row.
Who are you most excited about? Will Matt Blxck manage to fulfil his dream to go to Eurovision but this time as a songwriter at least with his song for Stefan Galea? Or will Jesssika and Fabrizio bring their Festa all the way to Switzerland and step into the big ESC stage once again? Or will a newcomer take the crown and flight to Basel as Sarah Bonnici did last year with her show-stopping performance “Loop“? Wo are you rooting for? Let us know!
So, Eurovision fans, mark your calendars for February 4th, 6th, and 8th, and get ready to cheer on these incredible artists as they compete for their chance to shine on Europe’s grandest stage. Who will capture the hearts of Malta and Europe? Stay tuned—Malta’s journey to Eurovision 2025 is just beginning! 🌟