Malta

Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 30 times since its debut in 1971. The history of the Malta Song Festival dates back to 1960. Malta has never won the contest but has twice finished second and twice finished third.

At first, the island state sent songs in its native language, Maltese, but it failed to rank highly, finishing last in its first two attempts in the contest in 1971 and 1972 and withdrew from the 1975 contest. Malta's return to the contest in 1991, after a sixteen-year absence, proved to be more successful, with eight consecutive top ten placings (1991-1998) and finishing in the top ten in 12 out of 15 contests from 1991-2005. These results included third place in 1992 for Mary Spiteri, second-place finishes in 2002 and 2005 with Ira Losco and Chiara, who had previously finished third in 1998. In 2009, Chiara was the first Maltese artist to represent her country on 3 occasions.

Debbie Scerri, who represented Malta in 1997, had the "honor" of being the first Barbara Dex Award winner.

Malta's two seconds and two-thirds, making it the most successful country not to win the contest. Since 2006, Malta has struggled to make an impact in the contest, finishing last in 2006 with Fabrizio Faniello, who had previously finished ninth in 2001, and failing to qualify for the semi-final round four times, in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Malta has failed to reach the top ten in eight of the last nine contests (2006-2014), the exception being Gianluca Bezzina, who finished eighth in 2013.

The country has been one of the few to have never missed the contest under the relegation rule.

Participants