Albania confirms that beloved singer and 2015 Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani, will continue as artistic director of “Festivali i Këngës 64”, following the festival’s recent success.
Albania is already preparing for Eurovision 2026 in full force. After achieving one of its best results ever with Shkodra Elektronike and officially confirming its participation in Eurovision 2026, the Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has now announced that Elhaida Dani will return as the artistic director of its national selection show, “Festivali i Këngës”. Likely following the success of last year’s festival, which transformed from a marginal pre-selection into one of the most appreciated by Eurovision fans.
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.
Elhaida Dani – Who Are You?
Elhaida Dani is an Albanian singer who represented Albania in Eurovision 2015 in Vienna, Austria with the song “I’m Alive”, ultimately placing 17th in the Grand Final. Today, Elhaida is considered one of the biggest names in the Albanian music industry. She previously won the 53rd edition of “Festivali i Këngës,” which took place on December 28th, 2014, with the song “Diell”. However, on March 15th, 2015, her entry was replaced with “I’m Alive” due to a dispute with one of the original songwriters.
This was not her first time participating in the festival – she also competed in its 50th edition ahead of Eurovision 2012 with the song “Mijera Vjet,” finishing 14th. Despite the modest result, she won the “Best Melody” award at the festival.
Elhaida also served as the artistic director of last year’s Albanian national final, which was widely regarded as a standout edition. That contest eventually resulted in Albania’s remarkable Eurovision success with “Zjerm” by Shkodra Elektronike.
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.
