Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2023; Festivali i Këngës 61 submission window open

• The Albanian national broadcaster, RTSH, has confirmed the country's Eurovision 2023 participation and has opened the submission window for  Festivali i Këngës 61.

  Albanian will be present in the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and has already kicked off the process for  Festivali i Këngës 61 the music competition that determins the nation's  Eurovision hopefuls.

  RTSH has released the terms and conditions of the next edition of Festival i Kenges, inviting acts and composers interested in represeting Albania at Eurovision to submit their music proposals for the contest. 

  According to the rules acts anc composers that want to take part in the national selection should send in the following content: 

  • The final version of the song to be performed (duration not longer than 4 minutes )
  • Final version of the instrumental, with and without backing pre-recored vocals
  • The lyrics of the song
  • Full names and elements regading the authors of the song, the lyricist the composer
  • Artistic photos, biography of the singer or group, with activities and accomplishments included

   

  Submission can me forwarded to the the Albanian broadcaster's Protocol office or to the following e-mail address: [email protected] The 61st edition of  Festivali i Këngës is expected to take place as it usually does, in late December. 

   

   

  Albania in Eurovision 

  In 2004 Albania participated for the first time in the contest  with Anjeza Shahini and the entry “The Image of You”, which came 7th . The country hasn’t scored a victory yet in its 16 participations up to date. Its best result was achieved in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her 5th placing in Baku with her song “Suus”. 

  In 2019 Jonida Maliqi won the Festivali i Kenges 2018   and became the 16th Albanian representative in Eurovision. Her song Ktheju Tokes ended in the 17th place of the Grand final. In 2020 Arilena Ara won the national final and was set to perform her song Fall From Sky on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam, but saw her journey end early, due to the coronavirus outbreak as the contest was cancelled . Last year, Anxhela Peristeri, won the 59th edition of Festivali i Kenges with her song "Karma" and went on representing the nation in Rotterdam, where after qualifying to the final she finished 21st with a total of 57 points. 

  This year the winner of thw 60th Festivl i Kenges, Ronela Hayati, represented the country in Turin singing 'Sekret' which depsite Ronela's dynamic staging didn't manage to qualify to the Grand final. 

   

  News Source: RTSH/ ESCToday

  Image:  EBU/SARAH LOUISE BENNETT

   

   

   

AUTHORS

Angelos D.
Loyal follower of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1987, I've made the competition one of the stories of my life. After attending as accredited press the event for 13 consecutive years along with the 2017-2024 JESC editions, I also enjoy the last three years sharing more Eurovision music through the Eurofans radio's project.