PBS, the Maltese national broadcaster announced yesterday that Malta will select its 2015 Eurovision entry and representative on 22 November.

The 2015 Maltese national final will be held at MARSA, the same venue that will be used for the 2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest on 15 November.

The Maltese broadcaster confirmed to ESCToday.com its participation at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest yesterday, thereafter announcing the dates for the 2015 MESC and releasing the rules and regulations for the 2015 Maltese Eurovision national selection, which will consist of 2 shows ( a semifinal and grand final), scheduled to be held on 21 and 22 November.

The Malta Eurovision National Final will take place just one week after the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.  The festival will be held on the same stage of the Junior Eurovision in the former shipyard in Marsa. The news was announced last tonight on the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) media.

PBS published the new set of regulations of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, which will lead to the selection of the Maltese representation in the Eurovision to be held in Austria in May of next year.  PBS explained that the decision was taken in order to allow enough time for PBS to make the necessary arrangements to the winning song, with the aim to present a very high quality performance on the big stage in Austria.

Consequently, this year, this will be the second time that PBS will be organising the national final in a space of a few months.  Traditionally, the national final is held around the end of January and the beginning of February.  However, the next edition of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 21 and 22 November 2014.

Among the new regulations, PBS along with the singer, author and composer of the winning song will have the right to change a part of the song or even the entire song.  This means that while the author, composer and singer will remain the same, the song might be totally changed.

Another new regulation stipulates that the applicant needs to submit an original song as well as a cover version.  The aim is to allow the jury to assess the quality of the voice of the artist.

Applications will be received on 28th and 29th August at PBS Creativity Hub in Gwardamanga.  The full set of regulations can be obtained online by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

In 2014 Firelight represented Malta at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen with their entry Coming home, achieving a 23rd place in the grand final.

Malta debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and is yet to win the event. The beautiful Mediterranean island’s best placing at the Eurovision Song Contest has been in 2003 with Ira Losco  and in 2005 with Chiara. Malta has not missed a single contest since its return in 1991.

Stay tuned to ESCTOday.com for the latest news on Malta, MESC 2015 and the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest!