Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025

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Malta in the
Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Participating broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS)
CountryFlag of Malta.svg  Malta
Selection processMalta Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Selection date8 February 2025
Competing entry
Song"Serving"
Artist Miriana Conte
Songwriters
Placement
Semi-final resultQualified (9th, 53 points)
Final result17th, 91 points
Participation chronology
◄202420252026►

Malta was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "Serving", written by Benjamin Schmid, Matthew Mercieca, Miriana Conte, and Sarah Evelyn Fullerton, and performed by Conte herself. [1] The Maltese participating broadcaster, Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), selected its entry for the contest through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) 2025.

Contents

Malta was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 15 May 2025 and was later selected to perform in position 9. At the end of the show, "Serving" was announced among the top 10 entries of the second semi-final and hence qualified to compete in the final, marking the first qualification for the country since 2021. It was later revealed that Malta placed ninth out of the sixteen participating countries in the semi-final with 53 points. In the final, Malta performed in position 20 and placed seventeenth out of the 26 participating countries, scoring a total of 91 points.

Background

Prior to the 2025 contest, the Maltese Broadcasting Authority (MBA) until 1975, and the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) since 1991, have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Malta thirty-six times since MBA's first entry in 1971. MBA briefly competed in the contest in the 1970s before withdrawing for sixteen years, while PBS competed in every contest since their return in 1991. Their best placing in the contest so far is second, which it achieved on two occasions; 2002 with the song "7th Wonder" performed by Ira Losco, and in 2005 with the song "Angel" performed by Chiara. [2] In the 2024 edition, "Loop" performed by Sarah Bonnici finished last in the second semi-final.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, PBS organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2025 contest on 21 October 2024. [3] Since 2022, PBS has selected its entry through a national final procedure called Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC), a method that is continued for its 2025 participation. [4]

Before Eurovision

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025 was the national final format developed by PBS to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The competition consisted of two semi-finals and a final held between 4 and 8 February 2025 at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali, hosted by Pauline Agius, Davide Tucci and Valentina Rossi. [5] The competition was broadcast live on TVM as well as on TVM+ with Maltese sign language interpretation and lyrics, as well as on the broadcaster's streaming service tvmi.mt. Backstage interviews during the shows were hosted by Daniel Testa (who represented Malta in Junior Eurovision 2008) and Ylenia Spiteri, and streamed online on tvmi.mt. [6] [7]

Format

The competition consisted of twenty-four competing songs. Two semi-finals with twelve songs each took place on 4 and 6 February 2025 where the top eight entries qualified from each semi-final to compete in the final on 8 February 2025. [8] [9] Nine judges and the public via televoting evaluated the songs during the shows, both of which had an equal stake (50%) in the final result. Ties in the final results were broken based on the entry which received the higher score from the public. [9] [10] The nine members of the jury that evaluated the entries during the semi-finals and final consisted of: [11]

  • Alison Abela (Malta) – Actress
  • Kryštof Šámal (Czechia) – Head of Delegation for Czechia at the Eurovision Song Contest
  • Nicola Said (Malta) – Soprano
  • Mariangela Borneo (Italy) – Director of International Relations and European Affairs at RAI
  • Chris Gatt (Malta) – Singer and musician
  • Jill Morgan (Ireland) – Talent executive
  • Keith Muscat (Malta) – Artist manager and music producer
  • William Lee Adams (United States) – Journalist at Wiwibloggs
  • Moira Stafrace (Malta) – Singer, represented Malta in 1994 as part of Chris and Moira

Competing entries

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 18 and 29 November 2024. Songwriters from any nationality were able to submit songs as long as the artist was Maltese or possessed Maltese citizenship. Artists were able to submit as many songs as they wish, however, they could only compete with one in the semi-finals. [9] A song writing camp called the 'MESC Music Exchange Camp' was held in Valletta between 16 and 21 June 2024 in order to create songs to be submitted for the competition, with 60 songs eventually created in the camp. [12] [13]

24 semi-finalist entries were selected and announced during a special programme aired on TVM+ on 12 December 2024. [14] Among the selected competing artists are former Eurovision entrants Fabrizio Faniello (who represented Malta in 2001 and in 2006) and Jessika Muscat (who represented San Marino in 2018), both as part of the group JVF, as well as Kurt Calleja (who represented Malta in 2012). [15] Ahead of the competition, TVM broadcast a daily preview show titled #togetherformusic starting on 12 January 2025, which was hosted by Daniel Testa and Ylenia Spiteri. [16]

On 16 December 2024, Alexandra Alden was disqualified from the competition as her competing song "Magnolia" was published before 1 September 2024, which breaches the contest's rules. [17] "Għażliet" performed by Dario Bezzina featuring Żeppi Il-Muni was announced as the replacement entry on 17 December 2024. [18]

  Entry disqualified   Replacement entry

ArtistSongSongwriters
Adria Twins"Qalb ma' qalb"
Alexandra Alden"Magnolia"Alexandra Alden
Dario Bezzina ft. Żeppi Il-Muni"Għażliet" Philip Vella
Dre' Curmi"Te amo"
  • Dre' Curmi
  • Matthew 'Muxu' Mercieca
  • Søren Emil Lunøe Schiødt
  • Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen
Haley"Whistleblower"
  • Benjamin Schmid
  • Emil Calleja Bayliss
  • Haley Azzopardi
  • Siv von Bulow
  • Tom Hugo
Justine Shorfid"Still I Rise"
  • Benjamin Alasu
  • Justine Shorfid
  • Mateus Augusto Da Silva
  • Sarah Evelyn Fullerton
JVF"Festa (No Time for Siesta)"
  • Alexander Nyborg Olsson
  • Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen
  • Erba'
  • Emil Calleja Bayliss
  • Leire Gotxi Angel
  • Maria Abdilla
  • Tom Hugo
Kantera"Lalaratatakeke lalaratakabum"
Kelsey Bellante"365"
  • Andreas Stone Johansson
  • Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen
  • Sarah Evelyn Fullerton
Kelsy Attard"Love Me Loud"
Krista Šujak"Unheard"
  • Dana Burkhard
  • Krista Šujak
  • Pelle Nylén
  • Tom Oehler
Kristy Spiteri"Heaven Sent"
Kurt Anthony"Miegħek biss"
  • Emil Calleja Bayliss
  • Enrico Palmosi
  • Gilbert Camilleri
Kurt Calleja "Aziz/a"
  • Edward Abela
  • Kevin Paul Calleja
  • Kurt Calleja
Marie Claire"Wildflower"
Mark Anthony Bartolo"Hideaway"
  • David Meilak
  • Mark Anthony Bartolo
  • Sebastian Pritchard-James
  • Silje Montsko Blandkjenn
Martina Borg"Yo Listen"
  • Martina Borg
  • Tom Oehler
  • Andreas Stone Johansson
  • Christina Magrin
Matthew Cilia"Control"
  • Andreas Lindberg
  • Marcus Winther-John
  • Matthew Cilia
  • Rasmus Olsen
Miguel Bonello"Breaking the Cycle"
  • Miguel Bonello
  • Annemaríe Reynis
  • Ivo Blahunek
  • Håvard Haugland
Miriana Conte " Kant "
  • Benjamin Schmid
  • Matthew 'Muxu' Mercieca
  • Miriana Conte
  • Sarah Evelyn Fullerton
Nathan"Concrete"
  • Andreas Stone Johansson
  • Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen
  • Henrik Tala
  • Nathan Psaila
Raquela"Silenced"
  • Jean Paul Borg
  • Matteo Depares
  • Raquela Dalli
Stefan Galea "Lablab (Talk Talk)"
  • Itamar Lapidot
  • Matt Blxck
  • Silje Montsko Blandkjenn
  • Stefan Galea
The Alchemists"Rubble & Stone"
  • Argyle Singh
  • Klinsmann Coleiro
  • The Alchemists
  • Rasmus Olsen
Victoria Sciberras"Juno"
  • Bas Wissink
  • Dave Hutchinson
  • Henk Pool
  • Mie Louise Nielsen
  • Niels Sakko
  • Victoria Sciberras

Semi-finals

The two semi-finals took place on 4 and 6 February 2025. In each semi-final twelve songs competed for eight qualifying spots in the final. [19] The interval act of the semi-finals featured performances by former Eurovision artists: Mihai Trăistariu, who represented Romania in 2006, and Adonxs, who is set to represent Czechia in 2025 (premiering his entry "Kiss Kiss Goodbye" in an acoustic version), performed in the first semi-final, while Denmark's 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest, Richard Edwards, who represented Malta in 2014 as part of Firelight, and Claudia Faniello, who represented Malta in 2017, performed in the second semi-final. The shows also featured performances by former Maltese national final participants: Brooke, Klinsmann, and Lawrence Gray in the first semi-final, and Janvil in the second semi-final. [20] [21]

Semi-final 1 – 4 February 2025
DrawArtistSongResult
1Mark Anthony Bartolo"Hideaway"Advanced
2Dre' Curmi"Te amo"Eliminated
3Raquela"Silenced"Advanced
4Kristy Spiteri"Heaven Sent"Advanced
5Matthew Cilia"Control"Eliminated
6Marie Claire"Wildflower"Eliminated
7Justine Shorfid"Still I Rise"Advanced
8JVF"Festa (No Time for Siesta)"Advanced
9Adria Twins"Qalb ma' qalb"Advanced
10Haley"Whistleblower"Eliminated
11Victoria Sciberras"Juno"Advanced
12 Kurt Calleja "Aziz/a"Advanced
Semi-final 2 – 6 February 2025
DrawArtistSongResult
1Kelsey Bellante"365"Eliminated
2Dario Bezzina ft. Żeppi Il-Muni"Għażliet"Advanced
3Kelsy Attard"Love Me Loud"Eliminated
4 Miriana Conte " Kant "Advanced
5The Alchemists"Rubble & Stone"Advanced
6Martina Borg"Yo Listen"Advanced
7Nathan"Concrete"Advanced
8Kurt Anthony"Miegħek biss"Eliminated
9Kantera"Lalaratatakeke lalaratakabum"Advanced
10Krista Šujak"Unheard"Advanced
11 Stefan Galea "Lablab (Talk Talk)"Advanced
12Miguel Bonello"Breaking the Cycle"Eliminated

Final

The final took place on 8 February 2025. The sixteen entries that qualified from the semi-finals were performed again and the 50/50 combination of votes of a nine-member jury panel and the results of public televoting determined the winner. The interval act of the show featured performances by the Mużika Mużika 2024 winner Maxine Pace, Ramires Sciberras, who represented Malta in Junior Eurovision 2024, as well as former Eurovision artists: Alexander Rybak, who won Eurovision for Norway in 2009, and Sarah Bonnici, who represented Malta in 2024. [22] After the votes from the jury panel and televote were combined, "Kant" performed by Miriana Conte was the winner. [23] Around 27,000 televotes were received by the public. [24]

Final – 8 February 2025
DrawArtistSongJuryTelevoteTotalPlace
1 Miriana Conte " Kant "88941821
2Victoria Sciberras"Juno"74401144
3Dario Bezzina ft Żeppi l-Muni"Għażliet"1062726
4JVF"Festa (No Time for Siesta)"3046765
5The Alchemists"Rubble & Stone"3011419
6Krista Šujak"Unheard"4415597
7Raquela"Silenced"2152612
8Kantera"Lalaratatakeke lalaratakabum"52851373
9Nathan"Concrete"0101016
10Justine Shorfid"Still I Rise"14102413
11Adria Twins"Qalb ma' qalb"1262710
12Martina Borg"Yo Listen"691514
13Mark Anthony Bartolo"Hideaway"15122711
14 Kurt Calleja "Aziz/a"3116478
15Kristy Spiteri"Heaven Sent"102721742
16 Stefan Galea "Lablab (Talk Talk)"491315
Detailed jury votes
DrawSong
A. Abela
K. Šámal
N. Said
M. Borneo
C. Gatt
J. Morgan
K. Muscat
W. L. Adams
M. Straface
Total
1" Kant "81010101210812888
2"Juno"10687761081274
3"Għażliet"1152110
4"Festa (No Time for Siesta)"734237430
5"Rubble & Stone"561461730
6"Unheard"28236737644
7"Silenced"4553421
8"Lalaratatakeke lalaratakabum"67688825252
9"Concrete"0
10"Still I Rise"1442314
11"Qalb ma' qalb"11
12"Yo Listen"1416
13"Hideaway"325515
14"Aziz/a"327355631
15"Heaven Sent"121212121012121010102
16"Lablab (Talk Talk)"44

Ratings

Viewing figures by show
ShowDateViewersRef.
Final8 February 2025214,000 [25]

Controversy

Following Miriana Conte's win at the national final, it was speculated that the lyrics of her song "Kant" would have to be altered, as "kant" is the only Maltese word in the song, and bears a phonetic resemblance to the English-language expletive cunt . It was reported on 11 February 2025 that the song had been greenlit by the EBU. [26] However, on 4 March, following a complaint reportedly levied by the British participating broadcaster, the BBC (in accordance with Ofcom regulations), the EBU requested the word be removed from the song and its title. This move faced backlash in Malta, including from PBS, Maltese government officials and musicians, with some labelling the move as "discriminatory" towards the Maltese language. [27] [28] [29] On 13 March, PBS and Conte confirmed that the song's title was changed to "Serving" for the contest, with an accompanying music video released the following day. [30]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, and will consist of two semi-finals to be held on the respective dates of 13 and 15 May and the final on 17 May 2025. [31] During the allocation draw held on 28 January 2025, Malta was drawn to compete in the second semi-final, performing in the second half of the show. [32] Malta qualified for the final. [33]

Voting

Points awarded to Malta

Points awarded by Malta

Detailed voting results

Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. Each jury, and individual jury member, is required to meet a strict set of criteria regarding professional background, as well as diversity in gender and age. No member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. [35] The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.

The following members comprised the Maltese jury: [36]

Detailed voting results from Malta (Semi-final 2)
DrawCountryTelevote
RankPoints
01Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 65
02Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 15
03Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 56
04Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 83
05Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 101
06Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 47
07Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 38
08Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 92
09Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
10Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 14
11Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 74
12Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechia 11
13Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 13
14Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 112
15Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 12
16Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 210
Detailed voting results from Malta (Final) [34]
DrawCountryJuryTelevote
Juror AJuror BJuror CJuror DJuror ERankPointsRankPoints
01Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 19221817192456
02Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1118161281323
03Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 814142983112
04Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 771320141265
05Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 24211721222516
06Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 6471346514
07Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 2582022241915
08Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12162319212018
09Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 4566347210
10Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 16202515101821
11Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 21131924182217
12Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1424217111413
13Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 5914125647
14Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1839867438
15Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 9151123151592
16Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 22231514162112
17Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 210121221011
18Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 1243111219
19Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 101151159225
20Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
21Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 23122225232324
22Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 17171016201620
23Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 13631017101101
24Flag of France.svg  France 3129133822
25Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 151924571183
26Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2025818251774

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