Anjeza Shahini is an Albanian singer. She is best known for being the first representative of Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, after winning the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey, with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2003. This marked the first time that Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. The nation was drawn to compete in the semi-final of the contest, which took place on 12 May 2004. Performing as number 13, it was announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the final on 15 May, Albania performed as number nine and placed seventh out of the 24 participating countries, scoring 106 points.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, Finland, with the song "Hear My Plea" performed by Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2006. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest three times since its first entry in 2004. Due to the non-top 11 result in the previous contest, Albania was drawn to compete in the semi-final of the contest, which took place on 10 May 2007. Performing as number 11, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's second non-qualification in the contest.
Kënga Magjike is an annual music competition organised by the Albanian television broadcaster Televizioni Klan. The music competition has been broadcasting annually since its inauguration in 1999 with the exception of 2020.
Festivali i Këngës në RTSH, commonly known as Festivali i Këngës and also referred to as simply FiK or Fest, is an annual music competition in Albania organised by the national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962, the festival has determined the country's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004.
Elsa Lila is an Albanian singer.
Rosela Gjylbegu is an Albanian singer who won Kënga Magjike in 2009.
Pandi Laço is an Albanian journalist, songwriter, presenter and scenarist. He is mostly known for his work on Albanian Eurovision songs, of which he wrote several. Pandi has worked with notable Albanian artists, including Frederik Ndoci. He hosted Festivali i Këngës in 2015. Laço started his own show called "Histori me zhurmues", a show for Albanian history in film and music.
Elhaida Dani is an Albanian singer, songwriter, composer and actress. Born and raised in Shkodër, Dani performed in diverse singing competitions and started to play piano as a child. She rose to national recognition in the Albanian-speaking Balkans, after her victories at Star Academy Albania, Top Fest and Festivali i Këngës. In Italy, she is also prominent for being the winner of the first series of The Voice of Italy. Dani represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "I'm Alive", after she won the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës. She participated in Kënga Magjike for the first time in 2017 with the song "E Ngrirë" whereas she finished second. She rose again great popularity in Italy as well as in France upon her international acting debut in the world renowned musical of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song "I'm Alive" performed by Elhaida Dani. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2014. Dani emerged as the winner of contest with the song "Diell", which was withdrawn as the Albanian entry at the request of one of the song's songwriters. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 May 2015. Performing as number 14, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the grand final on 23 May, it performed as number 26 and placed 17th out of the 27 participating countries.
"I'm Alive" is a song by Albanian singer and songwriter Elhaida Dani. It was released as a single on 1 January 2015 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. The song was written by Sokol Marsi, arranged by Darko Dimitrov and produced by Zzap & Chriss. The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria, after Dani won the pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës with the song "Diell". The country reached seventeenth place in a field of twenty-six scoring a total of 34 points marking the third year to achieve the seventeenth place.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden, with the song "Fairytale" performed by Eneda Tarifa. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2015. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twelve times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and several live performances across Europe. Albania was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 12 May 2016. Performing as number 17th, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the second semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's sixth non-qualification in the contest.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, with the song "Mall" performed by Eugent Bushpepa. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2017. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and Spain.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the song "Ktheju tokës" performed by Jonida Maliqi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2018. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The Festivali i Këngës 2019 was the 58th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana, Albania, and consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December, respectively, and the final on 22 December 2019. The three live shows were hosted by Alketa Vejsiu. The winner of the contest was Arilena Ara with the song "Shaj", after receiving 67 points with two points ahead over Elvana Gjata with the song "Me tana". Ara was then scheduled to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, before its cancellation related to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the song "Karma" performed by Anxhela Peristeri. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2020. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and various television and radio appearances in Albania, Greece, Kosovo and San Marino.
The Festivali i Këngës 2020 was the 59th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in an open-air venue at the Sheshi Italia in Tirana, Albania, and consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, respectively, and the final on 23 December 2020. The three live shows were hosted by Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj. Due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the competition did not use the traditional symphonic orchestra and was not held as in the traditional location of the Pallati i Kongreseve but at the Sheshi Italia instead. Anxhela Peristeri with "Karma" emerged as the winner of the contest and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Festivali i Këngës 2022 was the 61st edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. The contest was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. It encompassed two semi-finals held on 19 and 20 December, succeeded by a nostalgia night on 21 December and culminated in the final on 22 December 2022. The four live shows were hosted by Arbana Osmani. Elsa Lila resulted as the winner of the contest with the song "Evita". The Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was selected by the public, with "Duje" performed by Albina and Familja Kelmendi emerging as the representative.
Festivali i Këngës 2023 was the 62nd edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës, organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). It was held between 19 and 22 December 2023 at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, and it was hosted by Adriana Matoshi and Kledi Kadiu with Xhuliano Dule and Krisa Çaushi. The winner was Mal Retkoceri with "Çmendur". For the second year in a row, a separate televoting determined which contestant would represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, whereby Besa Kokëdhima with "Zemrën n'dorë" emerged as the winner.
Festivali i Këngës në RTK, simply known as Festivali i Këngës and informally as Fest, is an annual music competition in Kosovo organised by the national broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) since 2023. It is broadcast on RTK 1, RTK 2 and Radio Kosova 1, as well as on RTSH in Albania and on MRT 2 in North Macedonia.
