Last month, Malta confirmed that they would be returning to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest this year. PBS also confirmed that they will be opting to select their entrant via national selection once again. Now, the twelve finalists for the selection have been revealed!
As ever, Malta will be using their national selection MJESC. This was first broadcasted back in 2015 and they have continued to use it every year since.
Competing artists are aged between 9 and 14 years old. This time, they were allowed to submit either an original song or a cover. Following the deadline, a jury selected 12 finalists to be shown on TV and social media pages during the first 2 weeks of August. Following this, the public will be able to vote online for their favourites until 13 August. The winner will be revealed on 20 August, after the televote and jury have decided on who they want to see represent Malta. The song will follow in advance of the EBU deadline.
The participants alongside their song title are as follows:
| Artist | Song | Cover or Original |
| Aiden Aquilina Cohen | Loved Either Way | Original |
| Amy Pace | Rise Up | Cover |
| Eksenia Sammut | Always Remember Us This Way | Cover |
| Eliana Gomez Blanco | Sto Male | Cover |
| Francesca Borg Ferranti | Seven Nation Army | Cover |
| Kristy Spiteri | Never Enough | Cover |
| Leah Cauchi | Illejla | Original |
| Martina Cutajar | Dynasty | Cover |
| Maya Cauchi | Creep (Postmodern Jukebox) | Cover |
| Shania Cauchi | O Mio Babbino Caro | Cover |
| Yarin Coleiro | The Power of Love | Cover |
| Yulan Law | Speechless | Cover |
Junior Eurovision 2019
This year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Gliwice Arena, Poland, on the 24th November 2019. It marks the first time Poland will host a music-based Eurovision event! Last year, Roksana Węgiel brought Poland its first Eurovision-adjacent win with “Anyone I Want To Be”.
So far, the following nineteen countries have confirmed their intention to participate:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- Belarus
- France
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan*
- Malta
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Serbia
- Spain
- Ukraine
- Wales
* Although Kazakhstan have stated their intention to participate in the contest, they must be invited by the host broadcaster in order to participate.
Malta at Junior Eurovision
Malta debuted in 2003 and, in recent years, has shown better results in this contest as opposed to the Eurovision Song Contest. So far, they have won twice, in 2013 and 2015. Since returning in 2013 after a two-year absence in 2011 and 2012, Malta has finished in the top 10 for six consecutive years. Can they make it seven this year?
Last year, Ela Mangion represented Malta in Belarus with her song “Marchin’ On”. She finished 5th with 182 points.
Are you looking forward to Junior Eurovision this year? What kind of song would you like to see Malta bring to the contest? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates!
