Hello Malta! This week, the Mediterranean nation is undertaking its search for an act to send to Basel. It all kicked off on Tuesday evening with semi-final 1 of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

Taking place at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, 12 of this year’s competitors performed during the first show. They each had a 66% chance of qualifying to the final, as eight acts advanced.

Hosting the show was Valentina Rossi, Davide Tucci and Pauline Agius.

During the interval, Czechia’s Eurovision 2025 act, ADONXS, gave the debut performance of his entry for the contest. He sang a stripped-back, acoustic version of his song “Kiss Kiss Goodbye.”

Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Semi-final 1

Qualifiers

The decision on who made it through to Saturday’s grand final was down to both the public and a jury.

  • Raquela – “Silenced”
  • Adria Twins – “Qalb ma’ Qalb”
  • Justine Shorfid – “Still I Rise”
  • Victoria – “Juno”
  • Kurt Calleja – “Aziz/a”
  • Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Hideaway”
  • Kristy Spiteri – “Heaven Sent”
  • JVF – “Festa (No Time for Siesta)”

Eliminated acts

  • Dre’ Curmi – “Te amo”
  • Matthew Cilia – “Control”
  • Marie Claire – “Wildflower”
  • Haley – “Whistleblower”

What are your thoughts on semi-final 1 of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025? Do you agree with the results? Let us know in the comments below.

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John
John
8 days ago

Kirsty has huge potential at Eurovision if the staging is elevated. Juno was a fantastic performance but the song is not strong enough.

Sally
Sally
8 days ago

When is Semi Final 2?

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
8 days ago
Reply to  Sally

Tomorrow night. And then the final on Saturday.

Samira
Samira
9 days ago

Kristy’s vocals were good but not perfect, and a song like Heaven Sent NEEDS perfect vocals. A little elbow grease and she’s gonna go far

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
9 days ago

glad Kristy’s family is rich, so i am 99% confident we will hear Heaven Sent in Basel, thankfully

this is such a perfect song, the lyrics are my type of cheese, love those high pitched vocals, Malta’s signature at esc kinda, with other vocal queens like Chiara and her namesake (not related) Mary Spiteri

but anyway i hope more people from here will also follow malta’s national festival each summer, muzika muzika, which has many gems, and similar to a festival i kenges with live orchestra and native maltese language being a requirement, i discovered Kantera from there btw

Dave
Dave
9 days ago

For me Juno was the star of the night. The staging wasn’t perfect, there’s room for improvement. But the vocals? Wow! Nailed. Every. Single. Note.

I just wish that song had more Maltese lyrics.

Emkay
Emkay
9 days ago

I do not get the hype around “Heaven Sent”
A lot of good songs but the only one I really would get behind is “Still I Rise” from this bunch.
Shame to see “Control” go, but the singer had absolutely no stage presence.

Alessio Gori
Alessio Gori
9 days ago
Reply to  Emkay

Because the song is so catchy and so good! In addict, she sing very very well…not always catchy songs have big notes, Heaven Sent have them!!

Eggboy
Eggboy
9 days ago

Malta should be proud of the show they put on! Heaven Sent for the Win!

Mike
Mike
9 days ago

Whoever made Kirsty’s staging concept should be fired! She sung so well, it sounded better then in studio version, but that staging is not for up tempo song, it is a typical ballad song staging, such a mess. I’m glad she is in the final, but she will not be in top 3, that’s a fact.

Dent
Dent
9 days ago
Reply to  Mike

tbh it reminded like Wiktoria – Not With Me staging, which was in fact a ballad.
I’m also worried for Kirsty now, her song is absolutely amazing

Tony
Tony
9 days ago

JVF! Great! ?

Sally
Sally
9 days ago

A couple of the acts that made it through struggled mightily. It will be interesting to see how they regroup for the finals.

Stian F
Stian F
9 days ago

Oh and Adonxs was AMAZING !!!! Clear favourite to win Eurovision he should be! That song was anazing in acoustic version!!!!

Stian F
Stian F
9 days ago

What a great stage Malta!!! This was very very professional! Really enjoyable, and even the performances were pretty good and visually good as well. I am impressed considering the stuff that last year was. Just too bad that there are still some that didn’t qualify that were better than the qualifiers…

Dave
Dave
9 days ago
Reply to  Stian F

Out of the non-qualifiers, I think I would only put Dre instead of Mark Anthony whose vocals were naff. The others deserve to be out, and it was obvious that JVF and Kurt Calleja would get through because of their relative star power.

PhrygesStan
PhrygesStan
9 days ago

Good job Malta! Also Adonxs slayed his performance, what a great voice, really talented.

sparkling points
sparkling points
9 days ago

Mark Anthony Bartolo! Bravo and prosit! Great show Malta, grazzi!!

Alessio Gori
Alessio Gori
9 days ago

I’m Happy for Heaven sent and Juno but sad for Hailey…i liked Whistleblower.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

And our first swerve of the night MAB qualifying despite being a mediocre singer. Ah well.

Eve
Eve
9 days ago

My first and last tine watching Maltese semis/finale. This amout of advertising is unbearable…

Sally
Sally
9 days ago
Reply to  Eve

They are really dragging things out. What is taking so long anyway? They only have to eliminate 4 acts – that should be pretty easy.

Dave
Dave
9 days ago
Reply to  Eve

Haha I don’t blame you ! It’s unbearable for me too (and I’m local).

Darko
Darko
9 days ago

I do think Juno is the whole package to go… previous years there were always some changes…to the song…revamps…that does take people not consider us serious…but Victoria slayed..

Dave
Dave
9 days ago

In order of preference (song+performance): Q Juno (not the best song but definitely the best performer, she sold the heck out of it and hit every note though she does feel to connect with the audience I feel) Still I Rise (solid song, solid performer, song lacks punch but very decent) Heaven Sent (love this song to bits but something was missing) Te Amo (Dre gave a very likeable and camp performance of an otherwise pretty mid song) Silenced (can’t stand the song but hell she can sing) Qalbi Ma Qalb (love this song but the chemistry was missing on… Read more »

Dave
Dave
9 days ago
Reply to  Dave

Ok I got Wildflower and Control right. I did consider JVF could be in instead of Haley. Still think Dre deserved the spot more than Mark Anthony who had many a bum note.

Whisker
Whisker
9 days ago

I love love love Adonxs’s voice!

LaurenMIA
LaurenMIA
9 days ago
Reply to  Whisker

Now I’m even more hyped about the full version of the song.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

I gave my bottom 4, so for positivity I will give my top 4 as well:
Kurt Calleja
Victoria
Kristy Spiteri
Haley

Malcolm
Malcolm
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

I agree they were the best. Kurt with his cheeky dance from his entry This is the Night way back in 2012 sold me.

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
9 days ago

Do Czechia really think that they can win with a bad version of “Arcade”???

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Czechia’s song hasn’t been revealed yet?

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

Adonxs performed it live during Malta’s semi.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

He performed a song. I didn’t get the impression it was the song.

LaurenMIA
LaurenMIA
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

Adonxs sang the acoustic version of the song

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
9 days ago
Reply to  LaurenMIA

Thanx

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago
Reply to  LaurenMIA

Ok, so is the song, but not the final version. Thanks for clarifying.

Andrew
Andrew
9 days ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Doesn’t sound anything like it.

sparkling points
sparkling points
9 days ago

My winner tonight is Kurt Calleja’s smile. Great stage presence and personal projection!!

Song-wise my fave is “Aziz/a” followed by “Whistleblower”. Honourable mention for “Hideaway” – the song and the sentiment are moving <3

Sally
Sally
9 days ago

That recap focused on so many bad moments of performance. SMH. Not saying they were alldisasters as performers, but there were certainly nerves on display, and flat/off-key vocals. I didn’t see the show from the very beginning, but they couldn’t have all been struggling all through their entire performance.

Or did they pre-arrange which parts of the song they wanted replayed and then unfortunately fell short of their expectations?

Malcolm
Malcolm
9 days ago

Czechia just sang live kiss kiss godebye in Malta

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
9 days ago
Reply to  Malcolm

… and it was not memorable.

Malcolm
Malcolm
9 days ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Yes true – It’s not my cup of tea. Just want to mention it first ?

LaurenMIA
LaurenMIA
9 days ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

It was the acoustic version of the song. The full version will be released later. No idea when though.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

So my 4 NQs for this semi are Mark Anthony Bartolo, Dre’ Curmi, JVF, and probably Matthew Cilia (although I missed most of Marie Claire and Justine Shorfid’s performances for buffering issues, so if either of them were awful feel free to substitute them in here so the token rock act can advance).

Dave
Dave
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

Agree with 3 of your NQs, but I thought Dre was pretty decent and his song is not the bottom of the pile either. I’d swap Dre with Marie Claire (whose song is bland and whose staging was bland).

Alessio Gori
Alessio Gori
9 days ago

My fav Is Heaven sent but Juno was my second and both were SO GOOD!!

Vegard
Vegard
9 days ago

No doubt. “Juno” was obviously the best overall package in this semi final. It really looks like she wants to win! Would be amazing on the Eurovision stage.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

“Juno” isn’t a great song, but Victoria is really selling it.

oscar
oscar
9 days ago

oh juno was GOOD lol

Gabriel Sant
Gabriel Sant
9 days ago

IF the adria twins did not shoot to the top for you idk what will ?

Sally
Sally
9 days ago
Reply to  Gabriel Sant

I spent most of their performance worried they were going to fall off the platform. That just looked dangerous in a negligence sort of way.

Poopie
Poopie
9 days ago

Guys do u think kristy can beat Mariana ?

Alessio Gori
Alessio Gori
9 days ago
Reply to  Poopie

I Hope that!

Whisker
Whisker
9 days ago

It was so nice to see JVF having so much fun on stage!

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

I didn’t get the hype for JVF before the show. I still don’t get it to be honest.

Eve
Eve
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

I think it was horrible

Sally
Sally
9 days ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

I wouldn’t put it through, but they certainly weren’t the worst.

sparkling points
sparkling points
9 days ago

The postcard concept is BRILLIANT!! Movies s ho t in Malta for a 100-year anniversary. *BRILLIANT*!!

Amber Isabel
Amber Isabel
9 days ago

I think it is lazy. Wy can’t they just use footage shot by the artists ONLY like any reasonable postcard instead of encountering many copyright costs.

George Vella
George Vella
9 days ago

Loved Kristy’s performance, with some staging she is DEFINITLEY winner material

Shush
Shush
9 days ago

Stunned by Kristy’s performance! Favourite by farrrr right now

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

I love “Heaven Sent” as a song, but this staging is awfully minimal. I am not sure I see that performance at Eurovision.

Alessio Gori
Alessio Gori
9 days ago

I love Kristyyy!

PhrygesStan
PhrygesStan
9 days ago

Kristy slayed that and I’m happy, Malta don’t mess please I want her in Eurovision!

Efthymios
Efthymios
9 days ago

Kristy ATE THIS. But she seriously needs to fix her camera work. Too many unnecessary wide angles,

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

I was a bit nervous for Raquela’s vocals right at the start, but she hit her stride and is clearly a powerhouse. Staging is a little random, but it does succeed at being interesting to watch. Probably not our winner for Malta, but I don’t see a reason for this not to go to the final.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

“Te Amo” is very stereotypical. It’s pleasant enough, but I don’t think it’s going anywhere

sparkling points
sparkling points
9 days ago

The show looks amazing!! What a brilliant effort and it’s just the semifinal. Well done!!!

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago

Thank you Mark Anthony Bartolo for your contribution. NEXT!

Whisker
Whisker
9 days ago

Good luck tonight Malta!

Shalom and Roar!

#UntilTheLastHOSTAGE

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
9 days ago
Reply to  Whisker

#release yours first

sparkling points
sparkling points
9 days ago

Hi Malta!! <3 Shalom Netta!!!!!! <3