Malta is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. The Maltese entry for the 2024 will be selected through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS).
Background
Prior to the 2024 contest, Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-five times since its first entry in . Malta briefly competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1970s before withdrawing for sixteen years. The country has competed in every contest since their return. Malta's best placing in the contest thus far is second, which it achieved on two occasions: in with the song "7th Wonder" performed by Ira Losco and in the with the song "Angel" performed by Chiara. Both in and , Malta failed to qualify for the final with the songs "I Am What I Am" performed by Emma Muscat and "Dance (Our Own Party)" performed by the Busker.
The Maltese national broadcaster, Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), broadcasts the event within Malta and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. For the third year in a row, the broadcaster opted to select the Maltese entry through the national selection show Malta Eurovision Song Contest, a format previously held between 2012 and 2018.
Before Eurovision
Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is the national final format developed by PBS to select the Maltese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The competition consists of a semi-final phase and final, and is being held between October 2023 and January 2024. Both phases are being broadcast on Television Malta (TVM) as well as on the broadcaster's streaming platform tvmi.mt.
Format
The competition is divided into a semi-final and a final. The semi-final phase consists of nine performances in each of the four weekly episodes of the TV show between 27 October and 17 November 2023, where a combination of votes from a jury and a public televote will determine a total of twelve qualifiers for the final. This will consist of a one-night show in January 2024 featuring pre-recorded performances and ad-hoc music videos created by the contestants, with the winner being decreed by a similar combination of votes from the jury and the public.
Competing entries
On 15 April 2023 PBS announced the songwriting camp MESC Music Exchange Camp would be held between 12 and 15 June, dedicated to the creation of 18 competing songs for their next national selection.
On 21 August 2023, PBS published the regulations of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2024, announcing that artists and composers would be able to submit their entries between 28 August and 20 September 2023. 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-final. A dedicated panel selected the semi-finalist entries, which were announced on 18 October 2023.
Among the selected competing artists are Moira Stafrace of Chris & Moira, who represented Malta in the 1994 contest, and Eliana Gomez Blanco, who represented Malta in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019, as well as 2016 and 2023 national final entrant Stefan Galea.
Shows
Semi-final
The semi-final is taking place over four episodes of on 27 October, 3 November, 10 November and 17 November 2023, with nine acts performing in each show. The results of the voting will only be made public after the last show.