Watch: Tonight at 21:00 CET, Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës 64” begins, leading to the selection of Albania’s Eurovision 2026 entry. The first semi-final features 14 songs live on stage.
Tonight at 21:00 CET, Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës 64”, kicks off. By the end of the festival, Albania’s representative and entry for Eurovision 2026 will be selected. Since 2003, the festival has served as Albania’s official Eurovision’s national final. This year’s event will take place over four consecutive evenings. Tonight’s first semi-final will feature 14 competing acts, followed by the second semi-final tomorrow, where the remaining 14 artists will perform. The festival’s third evening, on December 19th, will be a “Nostalgia Night”, celebrating the classics of past editions. At the end of that night, the finalists for the grand final on Saturday, December 20th will be announced. The winner will go on to represent Albania at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
As in previous years, the festival will take place at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The event will be hosted by Salsano Rrapi and Arilena Ara, the latter originally selected to represent Albania at Eurovision 2020. The Albanian entry for Eurovision 2026 will be determined through a combination of votes: 50% from the jury, 25% from SMS voting within Albania and neighboring countries, and another 25% from international online votes via a dedicated application.
To watch the first semi-final live between 21:00 and 00:00 CET — click on the screen below!
List of Contestants in the First Semi-Final:
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Rigersa Loka – Albanian Heart
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Lorenc Hasrama – Lamtumirë
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Sara Kapo – Të dua shumë
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Sheila – Zemra e tokës
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Kleansa Susaj – Hije
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Gresa Gjocera & Bledi Kaso – Busulla e zemrë
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!Ghiti – Okej!
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LYNX – Nuk kthehem pas
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Erand Sojli – Të kam në fron
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Inis Neziri – Ta kam fal
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Kimi – Prap diell de
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Alis – Nân
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Enxhi Nasufi – Dritë
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Rezarta Smaja – Balukeprera
Click any song title to listen!
Among the Contestants – Many Familiar Names:
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Alis – Participated last year with the song “Mjegull”, finishing in third place.
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Enxhi Nasufi – a well-known Albanian singer who took part in the 59th edition, serving as the 2021 national selection, with the song “Njesoj”.
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Rezarta Smaja – Took part with “E jemja nuse“, composed by this year’s representatives Shkodra Elektronike, in the 2022 selection, placing third.
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Lorenc Hasrama – Performed with the song “Fryme” last year, reached the final, and placed fifth.
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Inis Neziri – Competed several times, with “Pendese” in 2021 and “Piedestal” in 2018, the latter securing third place.
Other past participants who placed lower include Sara Kapo, Greta Gjocera & Bledi Kaso, Kleansa Susaj, and LYNX.
What Should We Expect After the First Semi-Final?
Tomorrow, December 18th, the second semi-final of the festival will take place, featuring 14 additional contestants performing to secure their spot in the grand final. The results of both semi-finals will only be revealed at the end of the third evening.
The third night, taking place on Friday, December 19th, will be entirely devoted to “Nostalgia Night” (Nata e Nostalgjisë). Unlike in past years, when duets with former artists were the highlight, this edition will celebrate the great writers and poets who have shaped Festivali i Këngës throughout its history. The night will feature heartfelt performances of classic songs that have left a lasting mark on the festival’s legacy.
The excitement will peak on the fourth and final evening – the Grand Final on December 20th. At the end of the night, the winner who will carry Albania’s flag to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria will be announced.
“Festivali i Këngës 64” Dates:
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First Semi-Final – Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 – Tonight!
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Second Semi-Final – Thursday, December 18th, 2025.
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Nostalgia Night – Friday, December 19th, 2025.
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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”.
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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.
