Albania’s national broadcaster, RTSH, has officially confirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision 2026 in Austria. The Albanian representative will be selected through the “Festivali i Këngës”, the nation’s traditional national selection event.
Albania’s national broadcaster, RTSH, has officially confirmed that Albania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, set to take place in Austria. As in previous years, the country’s representative and song will be chosen through the traditional “Festivali i Këngës”, scheduled for this December. With this announcement, Albania joins the list of countries that have already secured their spot in Europe’s largest musical event.
Albania is the 15th country to express interest in Eurovision 2026, following Denmark, Greece, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, Malta, Luxembourg, and the host country, Austria.
Albania in Eurovision: Tradition, Identity, and High Hopes for 2026
The announcement of Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2026 highlights the country’s longstanding commitment to the contest, which has become not only a musical event but also a platform for cultural expression and national identity. This is especially true following the impressive achievement of Shkodra Elektronike in Eurovision 2025, where they brought great pride to Albanians by securing eighth place in the final. At the same time, there are critics of the festival’s selection process, arguing that it does not always produce Eurovision hits – a debate that continues to engage both fans and creators this year.
What Should You Know About “Festivali i Këngës”?
“Festivali i Këngës”, held annually since 1961, has served as Albania’s Eurovision selection platform since its 43rd edition, ahead of Eurovision 2004. In recent years, the format has evolved: alongside the traditional jury selection, public voting was introduced to increase public involvement. However, this move has sparked debate over whether artistic merit or popularity should take precedence. In the contest itself, Albania consistently maintains a unique identity, sending songs that reflect the nation’s style, tradition, and language almost every year.
Albania at Eurovision 2025
“Zjerm” (in English: “Fire”), performed by the duo Shkodra Elektronike, represented Albania at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Albania qualified for the final from the first semi-final in second place with 122 points and finished eighth in the grand final with 218 points – 45 from the jury and 173 from the public.
Eurovision 2025: This was 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”.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
