Universong Canary Islands International Song Festival
UNIVERSONG – The Canary Islands International Song Festival is an international music competition held every year in Tenerife, the biggest of the Canary Islands (Spain). The first edition was in 2001 in which participated artists from Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Portugal and Spain. In the total of celebrated editions, artists from more than 50 countries from Europe, America, Asia and Pacific have participated in the festival. ORFEUM – Organización de Festivales Europeos de Música www.orfeum.com is the institution that organizes this international music contest. Its president, Mr. Guillermo Albelo is also vice-president of WAFA World Association of Festivals and Artists. ORFEUM also organizes the festival EUROSINGERS for artists from the Canary Islands and the Promotion Program Abroad “EUROSINGERS – Spain Sings in Europe”.
In the first fourth editions Malta did not take part. The first Maltese singer to participate was Lara Azzopardi in 2005. Up to the 2012 edition, only original songs were able to take part. In 2013 the festival did not take place, but returned in 2014 with a change in the rules to enable singers to sing cover versions in the competition. Another change in the same edition was the introduction of a competition for juniors split into two categories.
Here is a full list of the Maltese participation:
| Edition | Year | Malta | Singers | Songs | Lyricst | Composer | Placing / Award |
| 5th Edition | 2005 | Malta | Lara Azzopardi | Enjoy Life | Lara Azzopardi | Lara Azzopardi | Bronze Trophy |
| 6th Edition | 2006 | Malta | Rosman Pace | We Had It All | J.Milnes | N.Thomas | |
| 7th Edition | 2007 | Malta | Eleanor Cassar | The Reason | Fleur Balzan | Paul Giordimaina | Grand Prix |
| 7th Edition | 2007 | Malta | 'Kaya' Priscilla Psaila | Moments | Joe Chircop | John David Zammit | 'Best Original Song' - Bronze Trophy |
| 8th Edition | 2008 | Malta | Margaret Camilleri Morena | Tattoo | Mark Amaira | Renato Briffa | Grand Prix |
| 8th Edition | 2008 | Malta | Geordie Debono | A Dream For Two | Joe Julian Farrugia | Sammy Galea | Silver Trophy |
| 9th Edition | 2009 | Malta | Neville Refalo | One Day | Rita Pace | Mark Spiteri Lucas | |
| 10th Edition | 2010 | Malta | Gloriana Arpa Belli | Love Was Made Of Clay | Doris Chetcuti | Renato Briffa | Golden Trophy |
| 10th Edition | 2010 | Malta | Romina Mamo | The Final Kiss | Clinton Paul | Clinton Paul | Silver Trophy |
| 11th Edition | 2011 | Malta | Corazon Mizzi | Come Fly With Me | Alfred E. Baldacchino | Renato Briffa | Bronze Trophy |
| 12th Edition | 2012 | Malta | Audrey Marie Bartolo | Shives | Deo Grech | Miriam Christine | Bronze Trophy |
| 13th Edition | 2014 | Malta | Olivia Lewis | Hawn mill-Ġdid | Joe Julian Farrugia | Paul Abela | Voice of Tenerife - Bronze Trophy |
| 14th Edition | 2015 | Malta | Geordie Debono | Not Alone | Silver Trophy | ||
| 15th Edition | 2016 | Malta | Shawn Ciantar | Save The Last Dance | Best Performer and Talent |
- In 2013 The Universong International Song Festival was not held.
- As from the 2014 edition, cover versions were accepted in the festival, contrary to past editions when only original songs took part. The change was effected in order to reduce the costs for local singers who were finding it difficult to record original songs due to the heavy recession in Spain. The Maltese 2014 participant was not aware of the change in rules and in fact was only one of two participants who sang an original. The other original song came from Azerbaijan.
Universong International Song Festival Junior
Another change in 2014 was the introduction of a competition for juniors split into two categories, Category 1 for singers between 10 to 13 years of age and Category 2 for singers aged between 14 and 17 years. Malta was represented by Ilenia Camilleri in Category 1 and Aidan Cassar in Category 2 during the first edition.
Here is a full list of the Maltese participation (Category 1):
| No | Edition | Year | Malta | Singers | Songs | Lyricst | Composer | Placing / Award |
| 01 | 1st Edition | 2014 | Malta | Ilenia Camilleri | I Believe | Silver Trophy |
Here is a full list of the Maltese participation (Category 2):
| No | Edition | Year | Malta | Singers | Songs | Lyricst | Composer | Placing / Award |
| 01 | 1st Edition | 2014 | Malta | Aidan Cassar | That's Life | Golden Trophy | ||
| 02 | 2nd Edition | 2015 | ||||||
| 03 | 3rd Edition | 2016 | Malta | Ramona Mifsud | Somethings Got A Hold On Me | Best International Artist |
- In 2015 Malta did not participate