The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has announced the upcoming submission period for Festival i Këngës, including the conditions for song entries.
The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has started preparations for the 64th edition of Festivali i Këngës. This traditional festival began in 1962, and ahead of Eurovision 2004—the year Albania joined Eurovision—it became the country’s official national final for Eurovision selection. Now, the national broadcaster shares that the submission window for the festival will span the entire month of September, from the 1st to the 30th.
Additionally, RTSH revealed the eligibility criteria for submission: according to Eurovision rules, the song must be new, meaning it cannot have been previously published. The song must not exceed 4 minutes, and songs produced with artificial intelligence are prohibited. All participants must be over 16 years old. Submissions should be sent to [email protected].
In June, RTSH announced that singer Elhaida Dani, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song “I’m Alive” and finished 17th in the final, will continue as the festival’s artistic director.
About “Festivali i Këngës”
Festivali i Këngës, held continuously since 1961, has served since its 43rd edition—leading up to Eurovision 2004—as the official platform to select Albania’s Eurovision entry. In recent years, the format has evolved: alongside the traditional jury voting, a public vote was introduced to boost audience participation. This change has sparked debates over prioritizing artistic judgment versus popularity. Albania continues to maintain a unique identity by regularly sending songs that reflect its style, tradition, and language.
Albania at Eurovision 2025
“Zjerm” (“Fire”) was performed by the duo Shkodra Elektronike, representing Albania at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Albania qualified for the final by finishing second in the first semi-final with 122 points and ended 8th in the final with 218 points — 45 from the juries and 173 from the public vote.
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”.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Avi Zaikaner is an editor-in-chief, content creator, commentator, and international expert on all things related to the Eurovision Song Contest. Avi has followed the contest for nearly 30 years, and for the past seven years has served as the founder and editor-in-chief of EuroMix, one of the top Eurovision websites in the world, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Since 2021, Avi has provided on-the-ground coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest from the press center in the host city, bringing readers exclusive firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and direct reactions from audiences, artists, and experts. His extensive experience and deep familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date information.
Avi is recognized as a leading Eurovision opinion maker in Israel, frequently interviewed by major media outlets, collaborating with international experts, and publishing professional content on additional platforms. Every article is written with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and understanding the audience, with a strong emphasis on fact-checking and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
