Malta has confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, as it announces the third Malta Eurovision Music Exchange Camp.
The Malta Eurovision Music Exchange Camp is in its third year and brings together songwriters and producers from Malta and Europe to collaborate with Maltese singers for the Malta Eurovision Song Contest. PBS has confirmed that the Malta Eurovision Song Contest will be held in 2026 to select its representative for the contest in Austria.
Submissions are now open for artists interested in participating in this year’s Malta Eurovision Music Exchange Camp, they can apply here until June 5, 2025, at 18:00 CEST. The camp will be held between June 15 and 24. Last year’s camp produced 18 songs for MESC, with 40% of the participants also going on to work on songs for other countries that competed in Eurovision 2025.
The writers that will be taking part in the camp have been announced, including: Dav Jr and Jean-Paul (of The Busker, Malta 2023), Peter Borg, Christina Magrin (Malta Junior Eurovision 2016), Sarah Bonnici (Malta 2024), Cyprian Cassar, Muxu, Emil Calleja Bayliss and Gerard James Borg. They will be joined by international songwriters such as Linnea Deb (co-writer of seven Eurovision entries including “Heroes”), Marcus Winter John, Melanie Wehbe (co-songwriter of Denmark 2019, 2024 and 2025), Bas Wisnik, Patrik Jean, and Abi Jones.
A spokesperson for PBS commented:
Miriana and the team did such a great job! She created a lot of buzz around Malta and brought us back to the finals. We’re confident more eyes will be on MESC next year, which can only benefit our artists.
Malta was represented by Miriana Conte at Eurovision 2025 with “Serving”; she brought Malta to their first final since 2021. Malta placed 17th in the final, scoring 91 points.
Image source: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU | Source: PBS
Malta debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and was represented by Joe Grech and the song “Marija L-Maltija”, which finished last. Malta competed again in 1972 and 1975 but then withdrew until their return in 1991. During the 1990s, Malta only once finished outside of the top 10, and in 1998, they came within just 7 points of victory. It was Chiara who brought the country their 3rd place finish in 1998, and who went on to finish in 2nd at the 2005 contest in Kyiv. The only other artist to finish 2nd for Malta is Ira Losco, who was 12 points away from victory in 2002. They are the longest and most successful participating country never to have won the Eurovision Song Contest.
