Watch: Tonight at 21:00 CET, Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës 64”continues, leading to the selection of Albania’s Eurovision 2026 entry. The second semi-final features 14 songs live on stage.
Tonight at 21:00 CET, the second semi-final of Albania’s “Festivali i Këngës 64”, will get underway. 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. Yesterday, the first semi-final was held, featuring 14 participants, and today the second semi-final will take place, with the remaining 14 contestants. Tomorrow, 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 23:30 CET — click on the screen below!
List of Contestants in the Second Semi-Final:
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Savjana Vjerdha – ID
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2Farm – Valle mbi hi
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Gerta Mahmutaj – Në krahët e tu
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Sihana Haxhnikaj – Horizont
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Luna Çausholli – Pa kufij
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Erik Lloshi – Dy pika dashuri
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Frensi – Tresh
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Malvina Likajn – Përtej shpirti
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Vedat Ademi – Kur fjala mbaron
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Kamela Islamaj – Pa pretendime
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ThreeX – Vite
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Endri Kaçaçi – Si Unë
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3Fifi & Tiri Gjoci – Rri
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Evi Reçi – Kodi i jetës
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Click any song title to listen!
Among the Contestants – Many Familiar Names:
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2 Farm – Competed in the 2023 selection with “Atomike”, which was a fan favorite but failed to reach the final.
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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”.
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Kamela Islamaj – A frequent participant, remembered most for “Me ngyros” in 2020.
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Evi Reçi – A well-known festival participant who has entered numerous times.
Other past participants who placed lower include Erik Lloshi, Frensi, Greta Mahmutaj, and Luna Causholli.
What Should We Expect After the Second Semi-Final?
After both semi-finals, the third night, taking place tomorrow, 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. -
Second Semi-Final – Thursday, December 18th, 2025 – Tonight!
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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.
