Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Opportunity 2 was the first phase of the national final format developed by PBS to select the Maltese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Artists that have never competed in Malta Song for Europe were able to submit their entries for the competition between 18 August 2005 and 14 September 2005. Thirty-six songs were selected and announced on 24 October 2006. The fifteen songs competed in the semi-final which consisted of nine shows between 8 October 2005 and 17 December 2005. Four songs were presented in each show and ten entries qualified to compete in the final on 7 January 2006, during which the two spots for Malta Song for Europe 2006 were determined solely by a public televote.[2][3] All shows were broadcast during the programme Showtime ma' Aceline on Television Malta (TVM), hosted by Moira Delia and Manuel Xuereb.[4][5]

Malta Song for Europe 2006 was the second phase of the national final format developed by PBS to select the Maltese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The competition was held on 4 February 2006 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in the nation's capital city of Valletta. The show was hosted by Eileen Montesin, Josef Bonello and Lou Bondi and broadcast on Television Malta (TVM) as well as on the website di-ve.com.[6]

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries between 30 October 2005 and 5 December 2005. Songwriters from any nationality were able to submit songs as long as entry applications from foreign songwriters were eligible in their country. Artists were required to be Maltese or possess Maltese citizenship and could submit as many songs as they wished, however, they could only compete with a maximum of one in the competition.[7][8] 213 entries were received by the broadcaster. On 9 December 2005, PBS announced a shortlist of 35 entries that had progressed through the selection process.[9] The sixteen songs selected to compete in the final were announced on 17 December 2006. Among the selected competing artists were former Maltese Eurovision entrants Paul Giordimaina who represented Malta in the 1991 contest, and Fabrizio Faniello who represented Malta in the 2001 contest.[10]

On 22 December 2005, "Turn Another Page", written by Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan and to have been performed by Pamela, was withdrawn from the competition and replaced with the song "Stronger" performed by Christian Arding.[11] Claudia Faniello and Anabelle Debono replaced Olivia Lewis and Nadine Axisa, both of them which had been selected with two songs each, as the performers of the songs "Amazing" and "High Alert", respectively.[12]

The final took place on 4 February 2006. Eighteen entries competed and the winner was determined solely by a public televote. The interval act of the show featured performances by former Maltese Eurovision entrants Georgina Abela (1991), William Mangion (1993), Mike Spiteri (1995), Claudette Pace (2000) and Chiara (1998, 2005), Lou Bondi and the local acts Alex Manché and Ray Calleja.[13] After the results of the public televote were announced, "I Do" performed by Fabrizio Faniello was the winner.[14]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Malta and awarded by Malta in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Sweden in the semi-final and to Switzerland in the final of the contest.