Today, the rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 continue in Vienna. Countries rehearsing on Day 4 include Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway. The penultimate country to rehearse is Malta’s AIDAN.
What did we learn about AIDAN’s staging?
AIDAN’s performance of “Bella” is built around a massive central structure that dominates the stage. It’s architectural, imposing, and constantly in use, functioning both as a visual statement and as a key part of the choreography.
The design blends classical shapes with a modern aesthetic, creating something that feels both timeless and futuristic. But what makes it stand out is how it moves. At certain moments, the structure transforms visually through camera work and rotation, creating the illusion of motion and repetition, almost like a moving picture brought to life.
Overhead shots reveal a different layer of the performance, with imagery that adds depth to the narrative of the song. One of the most recognisable elements returns as well, the swirling petals, now reworked and amplified to create a stronger visual impact on the Eurovision stage.
Styling keeps AIDAN firmly in his established identity. The look draws from high-fashion influences, combining statement pieces with a more rugged edge, staying consistent with the aesthetic seen in earlier performances of “Bella”.
Photos from the first rehearsal should be up about 24 hours after it finishes. We’ll update this article when they’re out.
Who is AIDAN?
Aidan Cassar is no stranger to the Eurovision world, with the 26-year-old developing his career around the Contest in its various forms. He began his career in 2015, when he competed at the Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest, losing out to eventual winner Destiny. He then competed at Malta’s Eurovision selection another three times, finishing in second place in 2022 with “Ritmu”. He has also extensively sung in Maltese, much to domestic success, with most of his songs reaching #1 on the Maltese charts.
AIDAN will participate at Eurovision 2026 with his entry “Bella” which was co-written by Aidan himself, alongside Joep van den Boom and 2024 Maltese entrant Sarah Bonnici.
Malta’s Eurovision journey
Malta made its Eurovision debut in 1971, with Joe Grech performing “Marija I-Maltija” (Maria the Maltese Lass), finishing 18th with 52 points. Malta did not participate in Eurovision from 1975 until 1991, when they returned with the song “Could It Be” by Paul Giordimaina and Georgina, finishing 12th with 32 points. Since then, Malta has been at every Eurovision and finished in the top 10 an impressive 12 times. Their best result is second place, which they’ve achieved twice. The first time was in 2002, when Ira Losco sang “7th Wonder,” and the second time in 2005 with Chiara’s “Angel.”
Miriana Conte represented Malta in 2025 with her song “Serving”, previously known as “Kant”. Competing in the second semi-final, Malta qualified – ending their three-year long non-qualification streak. Miriana would eventually finish in 17th place, earning a total of 91 points. Of these, 83 came from the juries, while just 8 came from televoters.
What do you think of “Bella”? Are you excited to see what AIDAN will do in Vienna? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Tumblr, Threads and Bluesky as we gear up for Eurovision 2026!
News Source: EBU
Photo Credit: AIDAN