Malta in The Eurovision Song Contest

Malta In The Eurovision Song Contest

Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1971. At first the island state sent songs in its native language, Maltese, but it failed to rank highly, and withdrew after the 1975 contest. Since its return in 1991, however, it has achieved eight top ten placings in a row, including second place finishes in 2002 and 2005. In recent years, however, Malta's fortunes in the Contest have changed, coming last in the 2006 contest and failing to qualify for the 2007, 2008 and 2010 finals. In 2011 they also didn't qualify to the final being placed 11th, only one point behind Switzerland.

Despite its mixed fortunes, Malta is the most successful country never to have won the contest, having come 2nd twice (2002 and 2005) and 3rd twice (1992 and 1998) with singers including Chiara and Ira Losco.

Chiara has represented Malta the most number of times. Her first participation came in 1998, performing "The One That I Love", which came third. She returned to Eurovision in 2005, performing her self-written song "Angel", giving her second place after Greece's Elena Paparizou. She returned to Eurovision once again in 2009 with "What If We", composed by Belgian songwriters Marc Paelinck and Gregory Bilsen, which placed only 22nd, with 31 points received. Fabrizio Faniello is the only other artist to represent Malta multiple times at Eurovision, having come ninth in 2001 with "Another Summer Night", as well as coming last in 2006 with "I Do".

Together with Croatia, France, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Malta is one of the few countries that has not missed a contest since 1991. Malta generally uses its other official language English, in which the songs are performed. As from 1991, Malta returned to the contest after an absence of 16 years.

The Maltese broadcasters of the show are the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). All shows are transmitted live on TVM (Malta) and Radio Malta.