Malta
The basics Full country name Republic of Malta Capital Valletta Facts First participation 1971 (Joe Grech) Victories None Hosts None
Malta, one of the smallest countries in the Eurovision Song Contest, joined the competition in 1971. Under the previous rules of the contest, Malta was permitted to sing in English as it is one of the official languages of the country.
After Malta's debut in the 1971, the country withdrew from the competition after 1975 but returned again in 1991 and has participated every year since.
Malta finished third behind the UK and Ireland in 1992 and finished third again in 1998 despite nearly winning the entire competition in one of the closest voting sequences ever. Chiara represented Malta that year with the song The One That I Love.
In 2002 Ira Losco finished second for Malta with the song 7th Wonder, a record equalled by Chiara when she returned with the song Angel in 2005. Chiara participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time in 2009, taking Malta to the Grand Final once again.
Whilst the country has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest, Malta is one of the most successful countries in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest having won the competition twice, in 2013 and 2015, and hosted the event in both 2014 and 2016.
