The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH announced that singer Olsi Bylyku has withdrawn from the Eurovision selection, and will be replaced by singer Klea Dina.
The national broadcaster of Albania, RTSH, announced today the surprising withdrawal of well-known Albanian singer and actor Olsi Bylyku from the Eurovision selection, and the entry of singer Klea Dina in his place.
Bylyku’s withdrawal is due to personal reasons, and Dina will enter the selection with her song “Dashuri Ndiej” (in English: “I Feel Love”). As a reminder, Baby Lasagna won the Croatian Eurovision selection and reached second place in Eurovision last year after advancing as a backup song, similar to Dina and also to Tamara Živković who is replacing a well-known singer from Montenegro who also decided to withdraw.
Updated List of Contestants for Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës”
- Algert Sala – Bosh
- Alis Kallacej – Mjegull
- Ardit Çuni – Amane
- Devis Xherahu – Ka Momente
- Djemtë e Detit – Larg
- Elvana Gjata – Karnaval
- Endrik Beba – Ishe Ti
- Epos Grup – Kurajo dhe Zjarr
- Erma Mici – Mbaje
- Frensi Revania – Rreziko
- Gjergj Kaçinari – Larg Jetës pa Ty
- Gresa Gjocera – E Vërteta
- Jet – Gjallë
- Kejsi Jazzhzi – Kur Bora Hesht
- Kleansa Susaj – Ta Dija
- Klea Dina – Dashuri Ndiej
- Laurjan Ejlli ft Adelina Corraj – A Thu
- Lorenc Hasrama – Frymë
- Luna Çausholli – Qiell Apo Ferr
- Mal Retkoceri – Aantihero
- Martina Serreqi – Nese Qai
- Mihallaq Andrea – Porositë e Babait
- Nita Latifi – Zemrës
- Orgesa Zaimi – I Parë
- Rea Nuhu – Sot
- Ronaldo Mesuli – N’zemër
- Santino De Bartolo – Kur Nata Vjen Si Bora
- Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
- Stine – E Kishim Nis
- Vesa Smolica – Lutem
Festivali i Këngës – Everything You Need to Know!
Albania chose its Eurovision representatives between 2004 and 2022 through the long-standing “Festivali i Këngës” festival, with the winner of the festival, who was selected to represent Albania at Eurovision, chosen solely by a panel of judges. In the last two years, 2023-2024, the festival production decided to continue selecting the festival winner by a panel of judges, while the Eurovision representative was chosen for the first time by the audience alone. This created a situation where in the last two years, the festival winners did not represent Albania at Eurovision.
The Albanian national broadcaster previously revealed to us that 84 songs were submitted to this year’s Albanian Eurovision selection. A similar number of about 80 songs were submitted in the previous two years as well. However, while last year saw submissions from songwriters in countries such as Kosovo, North Macedonia, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and the United States, this year only Albanian songwriters or those holding Albanian citizenship were allowed to submit songs to the competition.
This year, RTSH decided to change again the way the Eurovision representative will be chosen. There will be one winner of the festival who will also represent Albania in the Eurovision contest. The results will be determined by a combination of a panel of judges (60%) and audience voting (40%). According to the competition rules, contestants must have Albanian citizenship.
The date of the competition has not yet been set, but it is expected to take place as every year at the end of December.
To celebrate Albania’s 20th anniversary in Eurovision, the Albanian national broadcaster announced back in May a “nostalgia evening” as part of the festival. Details about this evening have not yet been published, we can only wait and see.
The Albanian festival has been held continuously since 1961, and in 2003 the Albanian national broadcaster decided to turn it into Albania’s Eurovision selection. In the festival, all contestants are required to sing in Albanian, and the winner has the option to sing in English at Eurovision, as happened this year with singer Besa Kokëdhima who performed at Eurovision with the song “Titan”.
Albania in Eurovision 2024
“Titan” is the title of the song performed by singer Besa Kokëdhima, representing Albania in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2024 held in Malmö, Sweden. Albania failed to qualify for the final, finishing 15th in the second semi-final with 14 points received from Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and San Marino.
The last time Albania sent an English-language song and successfully qualified for the grand final was in 2015, with Elhaida Dani’s performance of “I’m Alive.” Since then, every time Albania has submitted an English-language entry, they have failed to advance to the final.
Source: RTSH Instagram, Escplus.es.
Eurovision 2025: This will be Albania’s 21st participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Albania joined the competition in 2004 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2012 when singer Rona Nishliu reached fifth place with the song “Suus.”
