Albania: The dates of Festivali i Këngës 63 revealed!

With less than two weeks remaining until the official announcement of the competing songs, the dates for the highly anticipated Festivali i Këngës 63 were revealed.

The dates of Festivali I Këngës 2024

Taking a close look at an Instagram story shared by Elhaida Dani, we can see that the annual music festival, which will determine Albania’s representative for Eurovision 2025, will take place across four shows from December 19 to 22.

We remind you that the renowned singer and Albania’s former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani, will serve as the festival’s artistic director this year.

The festival will kick off with the first shows on December 19, and will continue over the following days, culminating in the Grand Final on December 22. During the final night, the winner of Festivali i Këngës 63 will be revealed, and Albania’s entry for Eurovision 2025 will be officially chosen.

Festivali i Këngës 63 participants’ list

These are the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

• Algert Sala – “Bosh”
• Alis Kallacej – “Mjegull”
• Ardit Çuni – “Amane”
• Devis Xherahu – “Ka momente”
• Djemtë e Detit – “Larg”
• Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval”
• Endrik Beba – “Ishe ti”
• Epos – “Kurajo dhe Zjarr”
• Erma Mici – “Mbaje”
• Frensi Revania – “Rreziko”
• Gjergj Kaçinari – “Larg jetës pa ty”
• Gresa Gjocera – “E vërteta”
• Jet – “Gjallë”
• Kejsi Jazxhi – “Kur bota hesht”
• Klea Dina – “Dashuri ndiej“
• Kleansa Susaj – “Ta dija”
• Laurjan Ejlli & Adelina Corraj – “A thu”
• Lorenc Hasrama – “Frymë”
• Luna Çausholli – “Qiell apo ferr”
• Mal Retkoceri – “Antihero”
• Martina Serreqi – “Nese qaj”
• Mihallaq Andrea – “Porositë e babait”
• Nita Latifi – “Zemrës”
• Orgesa Zaimi – “I parë”
• Rea Nuhu – “Sot”
• Ronaldo Mesuli – “N’zemër”
• Santino De Bartolo – “Kur nata vjen si bora”
• Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
• Stine – “E kishim nis”
• Vesa Smolica – “Lutem”

A combination of jury and public vote will decide

This year, according to Euromix.il, Albania’s representative for Eurovision 2024 will be chosen through a combination of public and jury voting. The selection process will follow a 60/40 model, combining jury and audience input to determine the country’s next entry.

This change reflects Festivali i Këngës’ gradual shift toward incorporating more public input, especially in the context of Eurovision. For many years, the festival faced criticism regarding transparency and its failure to align with modern Eurovision standards.

The Albanian public’s pick for Eurovision 2024 was Besa with her song “Zemrën n’dorë“. Besa released a revamped version in English titled “Titan” for Eurovision, where she did not make it to the Grand Final, finishing fourteenth in the second semi-final.