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Albania: Tonight’s Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës 63

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After three captivating evenings of music and celebration, Albania’s prestigious Festivali i Këngës comes to a close tonight in Tirana. In just a few hours, the Grand Final of the 63rd Festivali i Këngës will determine Albania’s representative for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place this May in Basel, Switzerland.

Format

The four-night festival brought together 30 participants competing for six awards, one of which includes the honor of representing Albania at Eurovision 2024.

  • Thursday & Friday: Semi-finals where all participants showcased their entries.
  • Saturday: Nostalgia Night, celebrating Albania’s musical legacy and Eurovision journey.
  • Sunday: The Grand Final, crowning the overall winner.

This year’s edition sees a unified selection process. Unlike previous years, no separate voting category will determine Albania’s Eurovision act. Instead, the winner of Festivali i Këngës 63—decided through a combination of jury and public votes—will represent Albania at Europe’s most-watched music event.

The Grand Final

Fifteen artists have advanced to tonight’s final after impressing during the semi-finals and Nostalgia Night. Each artist will perform their song one more time in their quest to win the hearts of the public and jury:

Hosts and Jury

The dynamic duo of Enkel Demi and Ornela Bregu return to host tonight’s show. An esteemed panel of experts will evaluate the finalists and contribute to the voting process:

  • Merita Rexha Tershana – Pianist
  • Alma Bektashi – Singer
  • Zana Cela – Producer
  • Florent Boshnjaku – Composer
  • Yllnjet Aliçka – Lyricist

Where to Watch

The Festivali i Këngës 63 Grand Final kicks off at 21:00 CET. Fans can watch the broadcast live here.

Eurovision 2024

Last year, Albania’s Eurovision hopes were carried by Besa with “Zemrën n’dorë”. Despite releasing an English version, “Titan,” the entry placed 14th in the second semi-final and did not advance to the Grand Final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQG22XJIdWw

Will tonight’s winner bring Albania back to Eurovision glory? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates!

Albania: Tonight Marks the Nostalgia Night of Festivali i Këngës 63

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December is synonymous with Festivali i Këngës, and tonight the 63rd edition of this iconic celebration of Albanian music continues in Tirana. With just hours to go, the festival’s much-anticipated Nostalgia Night is set to showcase unforgettable classics, both from the festival’s rich history and Albania’s Eurovision journey.

Format

This year’s Festivali i Këngës spans four nights with 30 competing artists, all vying for six prestigious awards. The festival will culminate in crowning the winner, who will represent Albania at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland this May.

  • Thursday & Friday: Semi-finals featuring all competing entries.
  • Saturday: A special “Nostalgia Night”, paying homage to past hits.
  • Sunday: The Grand Final, where the ultimate winner will be determined through a combined jury and public vote.

For the first time in three years, no separate category will decide Albania’s Eurovision representative. The winner of Festivali i Këngës 63 will secure their Eurovision spot directly, promising a unified and exciting selection process.

Nostalgia Night

Tonight’s Nostalgia Night is a tribute to Albania’s musical legacy. All 30 participants who performed in the semi-finals will take the stage at Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana to deliver renditions of timeless classics and iconic entries.

Here’s the full lineup of tonight’s performers:

  1. Orgesa Zaimi – “I parë”
  2. Erma Mici – “Mbaje”
  3. Luna Çausholli – “Qiell apo ferr”
  4. Ronaldo Mesuli – “N’zemër”
  5. Mihallaq Andrea – “Porositë e babait”
  6. Kejsi Jazxhi – “Kur bota hesht”
  7. Lorenc Hasrama – “Frymë”
  8. Jet – “Gjallë”
  9. Djemtë e Detit – “Larg”
  10. Nita Latifi – “Zemrës”
  11. Martina Serreqi – “Nese qaj”
  12. Alis Kallacej – “Mjegull”
  13. Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
  14. Kleansa Susaj – “Ta dija”
  15. Ardit Çuni – “Amane”
  16. Mal Retkoceri – “Antihero”
  17. Klea Dina – “Dashuri Ngiej“
  18. Devis Xherahu – “Ka momente”
  19. Vesa Smolica – “Lutem”
  20. Algert Sala – “Bosh”
  21. Gresa Gjocera – “E vërteta”
  22. Frensi Revania – “Rreziko”
  23. Endrik Beba – “Ishe ti”
  24. Epos – “Kurajo dhe Zjarr”
  25. Laurjan Ejlli & Adelina Corraj – “A thu”
  26. Santino De Bartolo – “Kur nata vjen si bora”
  27. Rea Nuhu – “Sot”
  28. Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval”
  29. Stine – “E kishim nis”
  30. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Larg jetës pa ty”

Hosts and Jury

Guiding the audience through the festival’s proceedings are Enkel Demi and Ornela Bregu. The jury includes notable music professionals tasked with the difficult job of selecting the winner:

  • Merita Rexha Tershana – Pianist
  • Alma Bektashi – Singer
  • Zana Cela – Producer
  • Florent Boshnjaku – Composer
  • Yllnjet Aliçka – Lyricist

Where to Watch

Catch tonight’s Nostalgia Night live at 21:00 CET. Follow the action here.

Eurovision 2024

Albania’s Eurovision journey last year saw Besa performing “Zemrën n’dorë”. Her revamped English version, “Titan”, captivated audiences but fell short of reaching the Grand Final, finishing 14th in Semi-Final 2.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for more updates on Festivali i Këngës 63 and Albania’s road to Eurovision 2024!

Albania: The Second Night of Festivali i Këngës 63 Takes Place Tonight!

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December feels incomplete without Festivali i Këngës, and tonight the 63rd edition of Albania’s premier music celebration continues in Tirana. As tradition holds, the festival serves as the platform for selecting Albania’s representative at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place this May in Basel, Switzerland.

Format

This year’s Festivali i Këngës runs across four nights, featuring 30 competing artists battling for six prestigious awards, including the honor of representing Albania at Eurovision.

  • Thursday & Friday: Semi-finals to showcase all participants.
  • Saturday: A special “Nostalgia Night”.
  • Sunday: The much-awaited Grand Final.

Unlike the last two editions, the winner—determined by a combined jury and public vote—will automatically secure Albania’s Eurovision spot. There’s no separate category for Eurovision qualification, as the festival champion will represent the country on Europe’s biggest stage.

Second Semi-Final

The spotlight shifts tonight to the second semi-final, featuring an array of performers at Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana, starting at 21:00 CET. Here’s the lineup for tonight’s performances:

  1. Mal Retkoceri – “Antihero”
  2. Klea Dina – “Dashuri Ngiej“
  3. Devis Xherahu – “Ka momente”
  4. Vesa Smolica – “Lutem”
  5. Algert Sala – “Bosh”
  6. Gresa Gjocera – “E vërteta”
  7. Frensi Revania – “Rreziko”
  8. Endrik Beba – “Ishe ti”
  9. Epos – “Kurajo dhe Zjarr”
  10. Laurjan Ejlli & Adelina Corraj – “A thu”
  11. Santino De Bartolo – “Kur nata vjen si bora”
  12. Rea Nuhu – “Sot”
  13. Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval”
  14. Stine – “E kishim nis”
  15. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Larg jetës pa ty”

Hosts and Jury

The festival is hosted by Enkel Demi and Ornela Bregu, with the jury panel comprised of prominent Albanian music professionals:

  • Merita Rexha Tershana – Pianist
  • Alma Bektashi – Singer
  • Zana Cela – Producer
  • Florent Boshnjaku – Composer
  • Yllnjet Aliçka – Lyricist

Where to Watch

You can catch tonight’s second semi-final live at 21:00 CET. Viewers can watch the show live here.

Eurovision Legacy

Last year, Besa represented Albania with her heartfelt entry “Zemrën n’dorë”. Despite an impressive revamped version in English, “Titan”, she narrowly missed out on the Eurovision Grand Final, finishing 14th in Semi-Final 2.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates on Festivali i Këngës and Albania’s Eurovision journey!

Albania: The First Night of Festivali i Këngës 63 Takes the Stage Tonight!

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December wouldn’t feel complete without Festivali i Këngës, and tonight marks the start of the 63rd edition of Albania’s most celebrated music festival in Tirana. Known for selecting Albania’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, this year’s FiK promises intense competition and captivating performances. The winner will earn the honor of representing Albania in Basel, Switzerland, for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Format

The festival spans four nights, with 30 artists competing for six awards, one of which is directly tied to Eurovision representation.

  • Thursday & Friday: Semi-finals showcase all entries.
  • Saturday: A special “Nostalgia Night”.
  • Sunday: The highly anticipated Grand Final, where the winner will be crowned.

Unlike the previous two editions, this year’s winner, decided by a combined audience and jury vote, will automatically represent Albania in Eurovision 2025. There’s no separate category for Eurovision selection—the grand champion will take the Eurovision stage.

The First Semi-Final

The first semi-final begins tonight at 21:00 CET live from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. Competing artists for the evening include:

  1. Orgesa Zaimi – “I parë”
  2. Erma Mici – “Mbaje”
  3. Luna Çausholli – “Qiell apo ferr”
  4. Ronaldo Mesuli – “N’zemër”
  5. Mihallaq Andrea – “Porositë e babait”
  6. Kejsi Jazxhi – “Kur bota hesht”
  7. Lorenc Hasrama – “Frymë”
  8. Jet – “Gjallë”
  9. Djemtë e Detit – “Larg”
  10. Nita Latifi – “Zemrës”
  11. Martina Serreqi – “Nese qaj”
  12. Alis Kallacej – “Mjegull”
  13. Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
  14. Kleansa Susaj – “Ta dija”
  15. Ardit Çuni – “Amane”

The event will be hosted by Enkel Demi and Ornela Bregu.

Special Guests

The opening night will feature two special guests:

  • Slimane, France’s representative for Eurovision 2024.
  • Noizy, one of Albania’s biggest music stars and a trailblazer in the country’s rap scene.

Where to Watch

The first night of Festivali i Këngës 63 kicks off at 21:00 CET. Viewers can watch the show live here.

Eurovision Legacy

Last year, Besa represented Albania with her song “Zemrën n’dorë” (later reworked as “Titan” in English). Despite delivering a powerful performance, she narrowly missed the Grand Final, finishing 14th in Semi-Final 2.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the updates on Albania’s Eurovision journey and more!

Albania: Slimane and Noizy to perform as guests on the First Night of Festivali i Këngës 63!

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In just a few days, Festivali i Këngës 63, Albania’s prestigious music festival and preselection for Eurovision 2025, will kick off live from Tirana. Thirty artists will compete for the prize and the honor of representing Albania at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest.

As FiK is a major celebration of music, two international stars have been revealed as special guests for the festival’s opening night.

Slimane and Noizy to Perform on the First Night

On December 19, the Palace of Congress in Tirana will host two exciting performances.

Slimane, France’s representative in Eurovision 2024 with his hit single “Mon Amour“, will take the stage for the first time in Albania. Before participating in Eurovision, Slimane had already gained significant popularity across Europe, but his Eurovision performance turned him into a pan-European phenomenon, with sold-out concerts throughout the continent.

Additionally, the renowned Albanian rapper Noizy will perform as a special guest on the first night of the festival. Having made a name for himself in several European music charts, Noizy will bring his sound to the FiK stage for the very first time.

Festivali i Këngës 63

Thirty artists will compete in FiK 63, divided in two semi-finals, as follows:

First Night – December 19

  1. Orgesa Zaimi – “I parë”
  2. Erma Mici – “Mbaje”
  3. Luna Çausholli – “Qiell apo ferr”
  4. Ronaldo Mesuli – “N’zemër”
  5. Mihallaq Andrea – “Porositë e babait”
  6. Kejsi Jazxhi – “Kur bota hesht”
  7. Lorenc Hasrama – “Frymë”
  8. Jet – “Gjallë”
  9. Djemtë e Detit – “Larg”
  10. Nita Latifi – “Zemrës”
  11. Martina Serreqi – “Nese qaj”
  12. Alis Kallacej – “Mjegull”
  13. Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
  14. Kleansa Susaj – “Ta dija”
  15. Ardit Çuni – “Amane”

Second Night – December 20

  1. Mal Retkoceri – “Antihero”
  2. Klea Dina – “Dashuri Ngiej“
  3. Devis Xherahu – “Ka momente”
  4. Vesa Smolica – “Lutem”
  5. Algert Sala – “Bosh”
  6. Gresa Gjocera – “E vërteta”
  7. Frensi Revania – “Rreziko”
  8. Endrik Beba – “Ishe ti”
  9. Epos – “Kurajo dhe Zjarr”
  10. Laurjan Ejlli & Adelina Corraj – “A thu”
  11. Santino De Bartolo – “Kur nata vjen si bora”
  12. Rea Nuhu – “Sot”
  13. Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval”
  14. Stine – “E kishim nis”
  15. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Larg jetës pa ty”

During the first two nights, the thirty competing artists will perform their original songs. The third night, named Nostalgia Night, will feature performances in a non-competitive manner. During the end of the third night, the eighteen finalists will be revealed.

The Albanian festival will take place during 19-23 December. The winner of Festivali i Këngës 63 and therefore the Albanian representative in Basel will be decided by a combination of jury and public votes, while the vote of diaspora will also have a say in the final result.

Last year’s televote winner of Festivali i Këngës was Besa with “Zemrën n’dorë”. Besa released an English version titled “Titan” for Eurovision. However, she did not qualify to the Grand Final, finishing 14th in the second semi-final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: RTSH

Albania: Elvana Gjata will sing “Karnaval” in Festivali I Këngës 63!

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RTSH progressively reveals the song titles of the contestants following the announcement of the list of participants for Festivali I Këngës 63, the Albanian selection format for Eurovision 2025.

Elvana Gjata is the sixth contestant whose song title and credits are made public. She is unquestionably one of the most well received artists from this year’s competition and a strong contender to win.

“Karnaval” for Elvana Gjata

As unveiled in RTSH’s instagram post, Elvana’s bid for Eurovision 2025 is titled “Karnaval“. Her entry is penned by Elvana herself along with Lira Blakaj. The fact that “Karnaval” will be a dance song is also disclosed.

The other song titles we know so far

As previously mentioned, RTSH progressively reveals the song titles of the competitors in this edition. The following song titles have been revealed thus far:

  • Algert Sala will sing “Bosh” – Ballad
  • Alis will sing “Mjegull” – Ballad
  • Ardit Çuni will sing “Amane” – Pop/Dance
  • Devis Xherahu will sing “Ka Momente” – Ballad
  • Djemtë e Detit will sing “Larg” – Folk Rock
  • Elvana Gjata will sing “Karnaval” – Dance

Festivali i Këngës 63

Following the closing of the submission window for artists interested in participating on September 29, these are the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

  1. Algert Sala
  2. Alis Kallacej
  3. Ardit Çuni
  4. Devis Xherahu
  5. Djemtë e Detit
  6. Elvana Gjata
  7. Endrik Beba
  8. Epos Grup
  9. Erma Mici
  10. Frensi Revania
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari
  12. Gresa Gjocera
  13. Jet
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi
  15. Kleansa Susaj
  16. Laurjan Ejlli ft. Adelina Corraj
  17. Lorenc Hasrama
  18. Luna Çausholli
  19. Mal Retkoceri
  20. Martina Serreqi
  21. Mihallaq Andrea
  22. Nita Latifi
  23. Olsi Bylyku
  24. Orgesa Zaimi
  25. Rea Nuhu
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli
  27. Santino De Bartolo
  28. Shkodra Elektronike
  29. Stine
  30. Vesa Smolica

A combination of jury and public vote will decide

For the past two editions, Festivali i Këngës had two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting was crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote was the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Indicatively,

  • Elsa Lila and Mal Retkoceri won the jury voting and were crowned as the winners of Festivali i Këngës 61 and 62 respectively, while
  • Albina & Familja Kelmendi and Besa won the public vote, won the tickets to Liverpool and Malmö

This year and according to Euromix.il, the winner and consecutively the Eurovision 2024 Albanian representative will be chosen accordingly through a combination of jury and public vote. Hence, a 60/40 format will be used in order to select the next Albanian act.

This is another change that Festivali i Këngës sees in its voting format. Festivali i Këngës has now started to implement the public opinion more, especially when it comes to Eurovision. For many years it was accused of corruption and the country’s inability to respond to the modern-day Eurovision standards.

The dates of the Festivali i Këngës this year have not yet been disclosed, while the renowned Albanian singer and former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani will take over the artistic direction of this year’s FiK edition.

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.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Source: RTSH

 

Albania: A combination of jury and public vote will decide the country’s representative in Eurovision 2025!

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Preparations for their representation in Eurovision 2025 have already started in Albania. Yesterday, RTSH revealed the thirty candidates of Festivali I Këngës 63, the Albanian selection format, which has been used since its inaugural participation.

In yesterday’s announcement, RTSH did not disclose how the winner of the festival nor the country’s representative in Eurovision 2025 will emerge. However and according to exclusive information given to Euromix.il, changes will be made to the format this year.

A combination of jury and public vote will decide

For the past two editions, Festivali i Këngës had two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting was crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote was the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Indicatively,

  • Elsa Lila and Mal Retkoceri won the jury voting and were crowned as the winners of Festivali i Këngës 61 and 62 respectively, while
  • Albina & Familja Kelmendi and Besa won the public vote, won the tickets to Liverpool and Malmö

This year and according to Euromix.il, the winner and consecutively the Eurovision 2024 Albanian representative will be chosen accordingly through a combination of jury and public vote. Hence, a 60/40 format will be used in order to select the next Albanian act.

This is another change that Festivali i Këngës sees in its voting format. Festivali i Këngës has now started to implement the public opinion more, especially when it comes to Eurovision. For many years it was accused of corruption and the country’s inability to respond to the modern-day Eurovision standards.

A similar change was in plans for last year’s edition, however was never implemented and two separate winners were announced.

Festivali i Këngës 63

Following the closing of the submission window for artists interested in participating on September 29, these are the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

  1. Algert Sala
  2. Alis Kallacej
  3. Ardit Çuni
  4. Devis Xherahu
  5. Djemtë e Detit
  6. Elvana Gjata
  7. Endrik Beba
  8. Epos Grup
  9. Erma Mici
  10. Frensi Revania
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari
  12. Gresa Gjocera
  13. Jet
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi
  15. Kleansa Susaj
  16. Laurjan Ejlli ft. Adelina Corraj
  17. Lorenc Hasrama
  18. Luna Çausholli
  19. Mal Retkoceri
  20. Martina Serreqi
  21. Mihallaq Andrea
  22. Nita Latifi
  23. Olsi Bylyku
  24. Orgesa Zaimi
  25. Rea Nuhu
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli
  27. Santino De Bartolo
  28. Shkodra Elektronike
  29. Stine
  30. Vesa Smolica

The list includes last year’s FiK Mal Retkoceri winner and Elvana Gjata, who is a favorite among many after her participation in FiK in 2019.

The dates of the Festivali i Këngës this year have not yet been disclosed, while the renowned Albanian singer and former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani will take over the artistic direction of this year’s FiK edition.

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.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Source: euromix.il

Albania: The participants’ list of Festivali i Këngës 63!

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Albania will choose its Eurovision 2025 act, as usual, via Festivali i Këngës. Festivali i Këngës has been used as the Albania’s selection format since its inaugural participation in 2004, being a music festival of great significance for the country’s music scene with a history of more than five decades.

Following the closing of the submission window for artists interested in participating on September 29, RTSH just announced the thirty participants of Festivali i Këngës 63:

  1. Algert Sala
  2. Alis Kallacej
  3. Ardit Çuni
  4. Devis Xherahu
  5. Djemtë e Detit
  6. Elvana Gjata
  7. Endrik Beba
  8. Epos Grup
  9. Erma Mici
  10. Frensi Revania
  11. Gjergj Kaçinari
  12. Gresa Gjocera
  13. Jet
  14. Kejsi Jazxhi
  15. Kleansa Susaj
  16. Laurjan Ejlli ft. Adelina Corraj
  17. Lorenc Hasrama
  18. Luna Çausholli
  19. Mal Retkoceri
  20. Martina Serreqi
  21. Mihallaq Andrea
  22. Nita Latifi
  23. Olsi Bylyku
  24. Orgesa Zaimi
  25. Rea Nuhu
  26. Ronaldo Mesuli
  27. Santino De Bartolo
  28. Shkodra Elektronike
  29. Stine
  30. Vesa Smolica

The list includes last year’s FiK Mal Retkoceri winner and Elvana Gjata, who is a favorite among many after her participation in FiK in 2019.

Festivali I Këngës 63

The dates of the Festivali i Këngës this year were not disclosed with today’s RTSH announcement. Additionally, no announcements were made today regarding on how will FiK 63 winner will emerge and how the country’s representative in Eurovision 2025 will be decided.

Meanwhile, the renowned Albanian singer and former Eurovision representative, Elhaida Dani will take over the artistic direction of this year’s FiK edition.

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.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Source: RTSH