After winning “Festivali i Kenges” and now representing Albania at Eurovision 2026, singer Alis shares the personal story behind “Nân”, revealing its creative process, emotional weight, and deep connection with audiences.
Alis revealed that the idea for the song was born in late August, inspired by lines written by songwriter Desara Gjini and a melody “that kept playing endlessly in my head.” According to him, together with producer Erjet Barbullushi, he spent countless nights in the studio until the song reached its final form the version that moved audiences on the competition stage and secured first place in both the jury vote and the public vote.
“There were moments when I didn’t know how to describe the support I received, […] Every listen, every applause, every video, every vote I felt your love in every second”.
Alis shares in a recent Instagram post.
According to the artist, “Nân” (in English: “Mother”) touches on a universal emotion of longing of departure, of a door that remains open when there are no more footsteps in the hallway, of mothers waiting on the doorstep, and of homes that grow quieter as summer passes. The audience reaction, he explained, helped him realize that the song speaks far beyond his own experience:
“I understood that this longing belongs to many people to mothers, to children, to families living apart”.
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Alis also spoke about the dozens of messages he received from listeners who shared their personal experiences connected to the song:
“It moved me deeply and left me speechless. Suddenly, I understood the responsibility that comes with creating something that speaks to the human heart”.
As he prepares for his upcoming Eurovision performance, Alis made sure to acknowledge the team behind him from musicians and backing vocalists to the production crew:
“Even though I stand alone on stage, there are many people behind the scenes creating magic quietly. This victory belongs to all of us”.
Alis Kallaçi – Who Are You?
Alis Kallaçi is a 22-year-old Albanian singer and songwriter who rose to public prominence in 2024 when he was crowned the winner of the Albanian version of the reality show “X Factor Albania”. During the competition, Alis was part of the team coached by singer Arilena Ara, who was set to represent Albania in Eurovision 2020. The professional bond between the two led to the successful duet “Se të dua“, released after his victory.
For Alis, this is not his first experience in the national selection. He made his debut at “Festivali i Këngës” last year, where he achieved a respectable third place with the song “Mjegull” (in English: “Mist”).
This year, he returned to the competition and secured the win with the song “Nân” (in English: “Mother”), on an evening where his mentor served as the host – closing an emotional circle.
Albania at Eurovision 2026
“Nân” (in English: “Mother”) is the song that will be performed by the singer Alis, who will represent Albania at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th. The song was written by Desara Gjini and composed by the singer himself. This is the creators’ first entry in the competition, and it is performed in the Albanian language.
The song “Nân” is a moving ballad portraying an Albanian mother parting from her children as they leave in search of better lives a painful and widely recognized theme across Balkan societies. The lyrics hauntingly describe the illusions of longing and loneliness: the mother imagines shadows running and hears laughter in the yard, but when she opens the window, no one is there
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”.
