Aidan

Early Life and Musical Debut

Aidan Cassar – known simply as Aidan – is a Maltese singer-songwriter born in Żejtun, Malta on 17 December 1999. From a young age, he fell in love with the Eurovision Song Contest. At just seven years old he vowed to one day perform on that stage. In his late teens, Aidan began pursuing music in earnest. His first big break came in 2018, when he entered the Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) with an original song titled “Dai Laga”. He finished in fourth place on his debut attempt, introducing his talent to the Maltese public and kick-starting his professional music journey.

Rising Success in Malta

After his 2018 debut, Aidan continued to develop his craft and build his fanbase. He released several singles and honed his pop sound. In 2021, he wrote and performed his first Maltese-language song, “Naħseb Fik”, which he entered into the Mużika Mużika festival. The track’s music video won the Video of the Year award at the Lovin Malta Social Media Awards in 2021. This success cemented Aidan as a rising star in Malta’s music scene. Moreover, he cultivated a distinct musical style by blending contemporary pop with slick Mediterranean influences, making his songs instantly recognizable and popular on local airwaves.

National Fame with “Ritmu”

However, victory at MESC still eluded Aidan in 2022. That year he made a high-profile return to the national selection with an upbeat song called “Ritmu”. He finished as the runner-up of MESC 2022, but the song became a smash hit. “Ritmu” topped the Maltese charts in the following weeks, greatly boosting his popularity. The catchy tune’s success only grew Aidan’s fanbase and solidified his status as a national pop sensation. By this time, he had become one of the country’s most talked-about young artists, known for his energetic performances and hit-making prowess.

Setbacks and Musical Growth

Despite his rising fame, Aidan faced a setback in 2023. He entered MESC 2023 with the song “Reġina”. However, organizers disqualified Aidan from the competition due to unauthorized social media posts about his song, which breached the contest rules. This obstacle did not slow his momentum. In March 2023, he released his debut album This Is Aidan, a collection of ten tracks including fan-favorites “Ritmu” and “Reġina”. He continued to delight fans with new music; in early 2025, Aidan followed up with a bilingual pop EP titled Wild, Wild, Wild, showcasing singles like “Juliette” and “2×2”. By 2025, he had scored over ten number-one hit songs on the Maltese charts and had two successful records (an album and an EP) to his name. These accomplishments reinforced his reputation as one of Malta’s premier pop artists.

Eurovision 2026 Triumph

Ultimately, Aidan’s perseverance paid off in 2026. On 17 January 2026, he finally clinched victory in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with his soulful jazz-ballad “Bella”. It was his first national final win after three previous attempts, and it earned him the right to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Aidan co-wrote “Bella” himself (along with Joep van den Boom and Sarah Bonnici), reflecting his songwriting talent and personal artistry. Now, he will take the Eurovision stage in May 2026, fulfilling the promise he made to his younger self so many years ago. Fans across Malta are hopeful that Aidan’s Eurovision journey will bring the island nation its long-awaited success.