The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH announced upgrades to the traditional Festivali i Këngës, Albania’s Eurovision pre-selection. New contestant names include former representatives Arilena Ara and Anxhela Peristeri.
Albania’s national broadcaster RTSH is in the midst of preparations for the 64th edition of Festivali i Këngës. The traditional festival, which began in 1961, became Albania’s official national final for Eurovision since 2004, the year the country joined the competition. Now, notable names are emerging as likely contestants in the competition to represent Albania at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
According to Elaheida Dani, the festival’s artistic director, the winner will once again be selected by a combination of jury votes and audience votes. However, for the first time, the public will also be able to vote through a dedicated mobile application, introducing greater efficiency and accessibility. In addition, the production of the festival is being elevated to unprecedented levels, featuring a larger, more impressive stage to mark the 64th edition. The broadcaster will also expand the festival’s exposure by launching new podcasts and television programs designed to make the event more accessible to the public.
Prominent Artists Set to Compete in “Festivali i Këngës 64”
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Manjola Nallbani – has participated nine times (1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2017, and 2022), making the finals each time and winning in 1989, 1992, and 1993.
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Arilena Ara – won the festival with the song “Shaj” (in English: “Scream”) on December 19th, 2019, and was selected to represent Albania at Eurovision 2020 with the English version of the song, “Fall From The Sky“. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest was canceled, and Ara missed her chance to perform at Eurovision.
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Anxhela Peristeri – won the festival on December 23rd, 2020, with the song “Karma“. She represented Albania at Eurovision 2021 and finished in 21st place with 57 points.
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Pirro Cako – a prolific songwriter whose works have frequently been featured in the competition, won on December 25th, 1988, with the song “E Duam Lumturinë” (in English: “We Love Happiness”), performed by Parashqevi Simaku.
What Should We Know About “Festivali i Këngës”?
“Festivali i Këngës,” held continuously since 1961, has served since its 43rd edition, ahead of Eurovision 2004, as Albania’s national selection platform for the contest. In recent years, the format has undergone changes: alongside the traditional jury vote, a public voting element was introduced — a move intended to increase public engagement, but one that sparked debates over whether artistic judgment or popularity should prevail. Within the competition itself, it appears that Albania continues to maintain a distinctive identity, consistently sending entries that reflect its style, tradition, and language.
Albania’s Eurovision 2026 Participation at Risk?
Just a few days ago, Vasili, director of the national broadcaster, warned that Albania’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision could be at risk due to financial difficulties. In an interview with the news outlet BIRN, Vasili elaborated on the critical financial situation:
“I thank all parties connected to projects planned for March-June 2025 for their understanding regarding the delay in payments from the broadcaster. Of course, it is not their fault that commitments were promised without the ability to pay. However, this does not make the new management responsible, as it inherited a catastrophic situation of debts and obligations”.
The big question now is whether Albania will be able to participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria as planned, or if it will be forced to withdraw for the first time since its debut in 2004.
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.
