Listen now: Albania’s national broadcaster RTSH has released the 28 songs competing in the 64th edition of “Festivali i Këngës.” The Albanian entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen on December 20.

The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH revealed today the 28 songs competing in the Albanian Eurovision selection “Festivali i Këngës,” which will take place from December 17 to 20. The Albanian representative for Eurovision will be selected this year through a combination of jury votes and audience votes. The voting will be divided into 50% professional jury, 25% audience votes from Albania and neighboring countries, and for the first time, 25% will be determined through an online vote from around the world via a new app that will also include English translation. The winner of the local competition will represent the country in Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria.

The song reveal followed a surprising delay in the presentation of the songs, following the announcement by singer Egzon Pireci that he was withdrawing from the competition and his replacement with the band LYNX.

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Artist(s)	Song Title	Lyrics	Composition	Genre
Fifi & Tiri Gjoci	Rri	Fifi	Fifi, Tiri Gjoci	Ethno rock ballad
Erand Sojli	Të kam në fron	Erand Sojli	Erand Sojli	Pop rock
Sihana Haxhnikaj	Horizont	Eriona Rushiti	Florent Boshnjaku	Ballad
Malvina Likajn	Përtej shpirti	Malvina Likaj	Klodian Qafoku	Ethno pop
Gresa Gjocera & Bledi Kaso	Busulla e zemrë	Pandi Laço	Jeris Kaso	Pop ballad
Kimi	Prap diell de	Kimi	Kimi	Pop ballad
Gerta Mahmutaj	Në krahët e tu	Petro Xhori	Kledi Bahiti, Gerta Mahmutaj	Ethno pop
Sara Kapo	Të dua shumë	Sara Kapo	Sara Kapo	Alternative
Inis Neziri	Ta kam fal	Inis Neziri, Ledio Dara	EngliVersal, Inis Neziri	Ethno pop/dance
Erik Lloshi	Dy pika dashuri	Erik Lloshi	Flamur Shehu	Albanian vintage rock ballad
Kamela Islamaj	Pa pretendime	Megi Hasani	Gjergj Kaçinari	Pop disco
Savjana Vjerdha	ID	Ilirian Zhupa	Ilir Dangellia	Ballad
Kleansa Susaj	Hije	Kleansa Susaj	Aldo Marku	Pop reggaeton
ThreeX	Vite	Threex, Endrit Mumajesi, Marsel Gunga	Marsel Gunga, Threex	Ethno pop/fusion/world music
Rigersa Loka	Albanian Heart	Aidan Baraku	Darko Dimitrov	Modern dance-pop
Enxhi Nasufi	Dritë	Enxhi Nasufi	Kledi Bahiti, Enxhi Nasufi	Experimental pop
Frensi	Tresh	PANDA	Inis Neziri	Pop/soul/R&B
Luna Çausholli	Pa kufij	Ermira Çausholli	Kledi Bahiti, Luna Çausholli	Traditional pop
Vedat Ademi	Kur fjala mbaron	Afërdita Saracini Klemendi	Xhevdet Gashi, Afërdita Saracini Klemendi	Pop-rock ballad
Lorenc Hasrama	Lamtumirë	Lorenc Hasrama	Lorenc Hasrama	Pop ballad
Rezarta Smaja	Balukeprera	Sokol Marsi	Sokol Marsi	Ethno pop ballad
Sheila	Zemra e tokës	Sheila	Sheila	Deep house
2Farm	Valle mbi hi	2Farm	2Farm	Alternative
Alis	Nân	Desara Gjini	Alis	Ballad
Endri Kaçaçi	Si Unë	Endri Kaçaçi	Irkenc Hyka	Ballad
Evi Reçi	Kodi i jetës	Eriona Rushiti	Enis Mullaj	Modern ethno-EDM
Ghiti	Okej!	Beatriçe Gjergji	Beatriçe Gjergji, Marcello Maria Batelli	Alternative pop
LYNX	Nuk kthehem pas	LYNX	LYNX	Rock

Click on the song title to listen!

Listen to the Full Playlist Here:

Returning Creators

Among this year’s notable contributors is Beatriçe Gjergji, writer and composer of “Okej”. She previously performed and wrote “Zjerm”, which represented Albania last year, finishing eighth in the Eurovision final — the country’s third-best result in history.

Florent Boshnjaku, composer of “Horizont”, also wrote the iconic Albanian entry “Suus” By Rona Nishliu, who represented Albania in Eurovision 2012 and secured fifth place — Albania’s best-ever Eurovision ranking.

Darko Dimitrov, who composed the song “Albanian Heart”, is among the most experienced songwriters in the festival when it comes to creating Eurovision entries. Originally from North Macedonia, Dimitrov has written around a dozen songs over the years that represented Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Georgia, and most recently Montenegro in 2025 (“Dobrodošli”, performed by Nina Žižić). He also composed “Proud”, North Macedonia’s entry for Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, performed by Tamara Todevska. Todevska brought North Macedonia its best-ever Eurovision result, finishing seventh overall and first in the jury vote.

Pandi Laço, who wrote the lyrics for “Busulla e zemrës”, is behind three of Albania’s past Eurovision entries. These include “Tomorrow I Go”, which earned Albania 16th place in Eurovision 2005, “Hear My Plea”, which failed to qualify and finished 17th in 2007’s semi-final, and “Zemrën E Lamë Peng”, which brought Albania to 17th place in Eurovision 2008.

Eriona Rushiti, credited as one of the creators of the songs “Horizont” and “Kodi i jetës,” wrote the lyrics for “Duje“, which represented Albania at Eurovision 2023 and finished 22nd. Another song penned by Rushiti was “Ktheju tokës“, Albania’s entry in Eurovision 2019, held in Tel Aviv, which placed 17th.

Kledi Bahiti composed three of the 19 competing songs this year (“Në krahët e tu”, “Dritë”, and “Pa kufij”). He is also known for composing two previous Albanian Eurovision entries: “Karma” by Anxhela Peristeri, which placed 21st in 2021, and “Titan” by Besa Kokedhima, which finished 15th in the semi-final in 2024.

Klodian Qafoku, composer of the song “Përtej shpirtit”, was among the writers of “World“, which represented Albania at Eurovision 2017. The song finished 14th in the semi-final.

Gjergj Kaçinari, listed as the composer of “Pa pretendime”, is also known for performing as an artist in “Festivali i Këngës” four times: in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Sokol Marsi served as a member of the Albanian jury in 2023 and helped write the song “Balukeprera” for the current festival. Marsi is also no stranger to Eurovision songwriting, having contributed to two Albanian entries in the contest: “I’m Alive” by Elhaida Dani, which placed 17th in Eurovision 2015, and “Feel The Passion” by Aurela Gaçe, which did not qualify for the final and finished 14th in 2011’s semi-final.

Flamur Shehu, who composed the song “Dy pika dashuri” for the current festival, was also part of the Albanian jury at Eurovision 2016.

Inis Neziri, who will perform the song “Ta kam fal” (which she wrote herself), is also credited as one of the creators of another song in the current list (“Tresh” by Frensi).

Among the Contestants As Well – Many Familiar Names:

Many of the contestants this year have competed in past editions, with only five exceptions.

Alis – Participated last year with the song “Mjegull”, finishing in third place.
2 Farm – Competed in the 2023 selection with “Atomike”, which was a fan favorite but failed to reach the final.
Enxhi Nasufi – a well-known Albanian singer who took part in the 59th edition, serving as the 2021 national selection, with the song “Njesoj”.
Fifi & Tiri Gjoci – A duo, each of whom has previously participated individually. Fifi competed in 2023 with “Stop”, and Tiri Gjoci in 2020 with “Me goten bosh”.
Rezarta Smaja – Took part with “E jemja nuse“, composed by this year’s representatives Shkodra Elektronike, in the 2022 selection, placing third.
Kamela Islamaj – A frequent participant, remembered most for “Me ngyros” in 2020.
Lorenc Hasrama – Performed with the song “Fryme” last year, reached the final, and placed fifth.
Inis Neziri – Competed several times, with “Pendese” in 2021 and “Piedestal” in 2018, the latter securing third place.
Evi Reçi – A well-known festival participant who has entered numerous times.

Other past participants who placed lower include Sara Kapo, Erik Lloshi, Frensi, Greta Mahmutaji, Greta Gjocera & Bledi Kaso, Kleansa Susaj, and Luna Causholli.

“Festivali i Këngës 64” Dates:

First Semi-Final – Wednesday, December 17th, 2025.
Second Semi-Final – Thursday, December 18th, 2025.
Nostalgia Night – Friday, December 19th, 2025.
Grand Final – Saturday, December 20th, 2025.

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 2026: This will be Albania’s 22nd 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”.