PBS, the Maltese national broadcaster, has released the final 16 participants ready to compete in the country’s national final for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that a total of 156 entries had been submitted for the Maltese national final, Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) 2017, of which 60 made the initial shortlist.

Following a special presentation show with an 11-member jury, featuring members familiar with the Maltese music scene, the 60 entries were whittled down to a final total of 16 which will go on to compete at MESC 2017. The finalists were revealed during the 8:00pm news segment on TVM.

MESC 2017 finalists

• Brooke Borg – Unstoppable
• Cherton Caruana – Fighting to survive
• Claudia Faniello – Breathlessly
• Crosswalk – So simple
• Deborah C & Josef Tabone – Tonight
• Franklin Calleja – Follow me
• Jade Vella – Seconds away
• Janice Mangion – Kewkba
• Kevin Borg – Follow
• Klinsmann Coleiro – Laserlight
• Miriana Conte – Don’t look down
• Maxine Pace – Bombshell
• Raquela Dalli Gonzi – Ray of light
• Rhiannon Michallef – Fearless
• Richard Edwards – You
• Shauna Vassallo – Crazy games

The 16 participants will compete in MESC 2017 on the 18 February 2017; this is the first time in recent years that the Maltese selection process has only consisted of 1 final show, with the semi-final stage being eliminated.

This will also be the first time that the Maltese representative for the Eurovision Song Contest will be determined 100% via a public televote, having previously included a jury vote within the selection.

Malta will compete in one of the two semi-finals at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in the host city of Kyiv on either the 9 or 11 May 2017, competing for a place in the Grand Final of the competition on the 13 May 2017.