Malta will pick their 2018 Eurovision entry in January!

The Maltese national final, Malta Eurovision Song Contest, usually divides Eurovision fans, who can never agree on the favourite to win! The Maltese broadcaster, Television Malta (TVM), have just released the first details about their national selection process for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Portugal!
Last year, Claudia Faniello won MESC 2017 with her song Breathlessly, which got 4,996 points, beating second place Janice Mangion with Kewkba, which got 4,544 points.
This year, MESC 2018 will feature 16 entries, each by a different artist, and TVM have made an open call for songs to be submitted. The rules and information about how to submit a song were revealed by TVM earlier today.

The selection process

TVM will use three stages to select the 16 finalists. Once the deadline, 1 September, is reached, a local jury will shortlist 60 songs. Then, local and international juries will create a second shortlist of 30 songs. Finally, the 16 finalists will be selected, although it isn’t clear how the 30 songs are narrowed down to 16.
If one artist has more than one song in the 16 finalists, they will only be allowed to sing one. The other song will then be given to another singer.

The rules

The full list of rules for MESC lasts 12 pages, and doesn’t make for entertaining reading, so we’ve summed the rules up for you below!

• The music and lyrics of each entry must not have been commercially released before 1 November 2017
• Songs must not exceed three minutes in length
• Singers must be at least 16 years old on 1 May 2018
• No more than six people can be present on stage during the performance
• Claudia Faniello, winner of MESC 2018, may not compete
• All performing artists must have Maltese nationality or have dual citizenship. In a group, only the lead artists must have Maltese nationality or have dual citizenship.
• Authors and composers may be of any nationality

I fit the eligibility criteria, and I have the perfect song!

Great! You can submit your song for Malta Eurovision Song Contest to TVM here for €150!

Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest

Malta have competed in Eurovision 30 times, and in 24 finals. Their best result is 2nd, which they achieved in 2002, with Ira Losco’s ‘7th Wonder‘, and in 2005 with Chiara’s ‘Angel’. Their worst result in last place, which they achieved in their first two participations, and in 2006.
Last year, Malta was represented by Claudia Faniello with Breathlessly. She failed to qualify for the final, coming 16th in the second semi-final with only 55 points.
What do you think? Are you excited to see Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2018? Who would you like to see represent Malta next year? Tell us in the comments below!