From Tuesday 12 May to Saturday 16 May 2008 the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) presents the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest through the Russian public broadcaster Channel One Russia in Moscow. Since last year all participants in the Eurovision Song Contest must take part in a semi-final round to qualify for the final session, where they join the big four (contest founders France, Germany, Spain, and UK) and the host country, winner of the previous year's contest. The finalists will be selected during two semi-final sessions on Tuesday and Thursday before the final. Malta's entry will appear during the first semi-final contest on Tuesday 12 May 2008.

Malta's representative for 2009 Chiara will sing What If We, written by the Belgian songwriting duo Marc Paelinck and Gregory Bilsen. This is Chiara's third attempt at a Eurovision win for Malta. In 1998 she placed 2nd with The One That I Love, written by Jason Paul Cassar and Sonny Aquilina, and in 2005 she came 2nd with her own song Angel missing the top spot by just a few points.

This website offers all the basic information and news updates about Malta's entry for this festival. The contest, which has been broadcast every year since 1956 in the majority of European countries, holds the record as the longest-running annual programme on TV.

Over these pages we document several aspects of this popular song contest on the Internet, including lyrics, images and video, as well as the latest news reports from MaltaMedia.com, and much more.

NEWS UPDATES from MaltaMedia.com Malta Eurosong semi-finalists announced - 5 December 2009 Malta to pick Eurovision entry on 20th February 2010 - 20 November 2009 Request for change in Eurosong rules dismissed - 18 November 2009 Malta Eurosong selection process paralysed - 7 November 2009 Crisis in Eurovision Song Contest? - 24 October 2009 PBS reveals rules for Eurosong 2010 - 5 October 2009 Double Trouble for Junior Eurovision Song Contest - 13 September 2009 Icelandic Eurovision hopeful Haffi Haff in Malta - 4 July 2009 Eurovision final disappointment for superb Chiara - 17 May 2009 Chiara approaches wide open contest at Eurovision 2009 - 16 May 2009 Stiff competition for Malta at 2009 Eurovision - 14 May 2009 Chiara returns Malta to Eurovision final - 12 May 2009 Final preparations for Eurovision 2009 semifinal - 12 May 2009 Moment of hesitation for Chiara at Eurovision rehearsal - 11 May 2009 Red carpet treatment for Chiara in Moscow - 11 May 2009 Chiara feels at home in Moscow - 10 May 2009 "If I would win it would be my happiest day of my life" - Chiara - 8 May 2009 Philip Kirkorov says Chiara has haunting voice - 8 May 2009 Chiara to wake up Russian radio listeners - 7 May 2009 Malta ready to host the 2010 Eurovision final, says Chiara - 6 May 2009 Chiara hopeful after Eurovision Song Contest rehearsal - 4 May 2009 Chiara all set for Moscow stage rehearsals - 3 May 2009 EurovisionMalta.com to cover events in Moscow - 2 May 2009 My child will stay in Malta, Chiara says - 28 April 2009 Chiara meets Maltese community in Belgium - 21 April 2009 Malta draws wildcard in Eurovision running order - 16 March 2009 Chiara to represent Malta at the Eurovision again - 7 February 2009 Malta to pick its 2009 Eurovision song on Saturday - 7 February 2009 182 entries submitted for Malta Eurosong 2009 - 15 October 2008 New voting system for Eurovision Song Contest - 18 September 2008 No Maltese participants in Eurovision Dance Contest - 6 September 2008 PBS selects EuroSong advisory team for Eurovision - 26 June 2008 Maltasong succumbs to new PBS directors - 5 June 2008 Morena's Eurovision adventure comes to an end - 25 May 2008 Eurovision final no show draws mixed reactions - 24 May 2008 Eurovision disaster sparks cultural debate in Malta - 23 May 2008 Malta fails to make it to Eurovision 2008 final - 22 May 2008

Intersting Facts: Georgia has withdrawn from the 2009 edition, expressing dissatisfaction with the disqualification of its entry We Dont' Wanna Put It on grounds that it could pose an offence to the host country. As of 2009, the country which has entered the longest with no wins to their name is Portugal. They started entering in 1964, and are still awaiting their first win. Finland never won the Eurovision Song Contest before 2006. In 2006 Finland took part for the 40th time. In 2009 Malta is presenting its 22nd entry.