Albania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 19 times since its debut in 2004. Festivali i Këngës,a long-standing song contest that takes place every year in Albania since 1962,is used to select the country's entrant for that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2004 with Anjeza Shahini placing seventh. It remained the country's highest result in the contest until 2012,when Rona Nishliu finished fifth.
Festivali i Këngës nëRTSH,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.
"One Night's Anger" is a song by Albanian singer Hersi Matmuja. The track was first released as part of a CD compilation on 11 April 2014 by CMC Records and Universal Music. The English-language rock song was written by Jorgo Papingji and composed by Gentian Lako. An accompanying music video was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 16 March 2014. The song received mixed reviews from music critics,some of whom praised the singer's vocals,while others described it as a "work-in-progress".
"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.
Eneda Tarifa is an Albanian singer,actress and television host. She represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016,after winning the 54th edition of Festivali i Këngës.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv,Ukraine,with the song "World" performed by Lindita Halimi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2016. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 13 times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in Israel,the Netherlands and Spain. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest,which took place on 9 May 2017. Performing as number fourth,the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final,marking Albania's seventh non-qualification in the contest.
"World" is a song by Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter Lindita. It was issued as a single on 29 March 2017 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. The song was written by the singer herself together with Gerald Xhari,and composed by Klodian Qafoku. An English-language pop-rock ballad,it is lyrically a manifesto that discuss the challenges within a modern society simultaneously calling for rising up against wars and pleading for peace and love.
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.
"Mall" is a song composed and written by Albanian singer and songwriter Eugent Bushpepa. It was released as a single on 6 April 2018 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. The song has been described as an Albanian language 1980s-inspired classical folk rock ballad. In its love-themed lyrics,it captures the feeling of longing and also reflects both the deep loneliness and the burning desire of a reunion.
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.
"Ktheju tokës" is a song by Albanian singer Jonida Maliqi. It was released as a single on 8 March 2019 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal. The song was composed and written by Eriona Rushiti,and produced by Enis Mullaj. It is musically an authentic and rhythmic Albanian-language folk-electronic ballad backed by traditional Albanian instruments. Lyrically,the song addresses the theme of migration,particularly to that of the Albanian people during the Kosovo War in the late 20th century.
Albania was scheduled to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam,the Netherlands,with the song "Fall from the Sky" performed by Arilena Ara. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2019. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. In March 2020,the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the contest's cancellation due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its rapid spread across Europe.
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.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin,Italy,with the song "Sekret" performed by Ronela Hajati. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2021. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 17 times since its first entry in 2004. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest,which took place on 10 May 2022. The nation failed to qualify for the final,placing 12th and scoring 58 points,marking their eighth non-qualification.
Festivali i Këngës 2021 was the 60th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana,Albania,and consisted of two semi-finals on 27 and 28 December,respectively,and the final on 29 December 2021. The three live shows were hosted by Ardit Gjebrea,Isli Islami,Jonida Maliqi,Kelvi Kadilli and Xhemi Shehu. Ronela Hajati with the song "Sekret" emerged as the winner of the contest and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin,Italy.
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.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool,the United Kingdom,with the song "Duje" performed by Albina and Familja Kelmendi. Its entry was selected through a dedicated televoting process during the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2022. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 18 times since its debut in 2004. Assigned to the second semi-final on 10 May 2023,Albania achieved the 9th position with a total of 83 points and concluded the grand final on 13 May in the 22nd position with a total of 76 points. This marked the 11th occasion that Albania qualified for the final,having participated a total of 19 times.
"Duje" is a song by Kosovo-Albanian singer Albina Kelmendi and five members of her family. Composed by Enis Mullaj with lyrics written by Eriona Rushiti,it is an Albanian-language pop song that tells the tale of a family's struggle to stay united through a difficult time. The song was released as a single on Spotify on 29 December 2022 and on Apple Music on 20 March 2023.
