It’s that time of year where we are desperate for our next Eurovision fix. And what better way to cope with those winter blues, than to ponder which artists would be fantastic picks for their countries at Eurovision? Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing our top wishlist pick for each country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The greatest thing about our wishlist is that there are no rules. No “they would never do Eurovision!” No “but that wouldn’t be possible because…” Not even a “but that country hasn’t participated in X number of years”.
Welcome to the Wiwi Wishlist, where we fantasize about the perfect artists for each country. Dozens of our wishes have been granted in the past. Who will be next?
Wiwi Wishlist: Kantera for Malta
Kantera is a band formed in 2020 with one clear mission: to bring Malta’s traditional folk music back into the spotlight , but with a modern twist. They combine a variety of traditional instruments with contemporary vibes. Their aim is to preserve Malta’s cultural heritage while giving it a fresh sound.
Their songs are all in Maltese, which would be a great move for Eurovision. The last time Malta sent a song entirely in its native language was back in 1972, with Helen & Joseph’s “L-Imħabba.” Since then, Maltese has rarely been heard on the Eurovision stage, except for Claudette Pace’s 2000 entry “Desire,” which included a single verse in Maltese. Of course, Miriana Conte tried in 2025, but this effort was road-blocked due to the level of innuendo.
But maybe this year, it’s time to serve KANTera, whose very name draws inspiration from the Maltese word kant (which as we learned this year, means ‘Singing’). Shedding new light on local traditions, Kantera’s music targets “people of all ages who appreciate the modern folk genre.” Among the traditional instruments they use are the piano-accordion, flejguta (Maltese flute), and żafżafa (friction drum), alongside modern instruments such as the aerophone, keyboards and electric guitars.
The band participated in MESC 2025 with “LalaRataTakeke LalaRataKabum,” a joyful song about celebrating L-Imnarja, Malta’s Harvest Festival. They finished third in the final, ranking as runner-up in the public vote. This might be a sign that Malta is ready to bring something more traditional to the Eurovision stage.
Many Eurovision fans have compared their sound of Kantera to Moldova’s Zdob și Zdub, whose folk-inspired track “Trenulețul” earned a Top 10 placement in 2022.
Discography must-listens: LalaRataTakeke LalaRataKabum (2025), Vjaġġ Sabiħ (2024), Mur Ara (2023)
Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025
In 2025, Malta was represented by Miriana Conte with the song “Serving” (initially titled “Kant” before the word was banned in the song. The track quickly gained popularity among Eurovision fans, thanks to its strong pop sound and cheeky chorus line, “Serving kant.” Of course, that wasn’t the only reason the song stood out. Miriana impressed fans with her powerful vocals, natural stage presence, and bubbly personality that instantly won hearts. Despite all the love from fans, however, the song ultimately finished 17th out of 26 in the Grand Final.
Looking at Malta’s recent Eurovision history, the country has clearly leaned heavily into pop music in the past decade, always sung in English. With one exception, The Busker in 2023, every Maltese act from 2015 to 2025 has been a female solo artist performing pop in some form. The results have been mixed. Malta reached the Top 10 only once during that period. Thank you, Destiny Chukunyere. While this approach helped introduce some rising female pop stars to the Eurovision stage, relying on upbeat pop tracks has become less effective in a competition overflowing with similar songs each year.
That’s why sending a band like Kantera would be a bold and refreshing shift for Malta, a complete change from what audiences expect. Their blend of folk tradition and modern sound could easily have the same impact as Moldova’s Zdob și Zdub,. In recent years, folk-inspired songs and native-language entries have been gaining more success at Eurovision, often ranking higher than English-language pop tracks.
So Kantere is our pick for Malta, but who would yours be? Who would you love to see take to the stage in Vienna in May 2026? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
