As every year, Albania chooses an artist and a song for Eurovision via the traditional musical festival “Festivali i Këngës”. This year will mark the 62nd edition of the festival.
Last year, the Eurovision entrant was solely selected by the public for the first time.
Earlier today, the festival’s production team held press conference, where additional details were revealed.
One of the presenters of the festival will be the well-known actress Adriana Matoshi (however, she won’t be the only host):
On the 17th of October, the List of 31 acts for the 62nd edition of the festival. However, 2 artists chose to withdraw. Therefore, 2 back-up acts will actually compete in the festival.
Following this, the updated list of participants is:
- Besa Krasniqi – Esenciale (Eng: Essential)
- Eldis Arrnjeti – Një Kujtim (Eng: A memory)
- Elsa Lila – Mars (Eng: March)
- Erina and the Elementals – Jetën n’Skaj (Eng: Lifr on the Edge)
- Jasmin Ahako – Ti (Eng: You)
- Jehona Ponari – Evol
- Olimpia Smajlaj – Asaj (Eng: her)
- Sergio Hajdini – Uragan (Eng: Hurricane)
- Shpat Deda – S’mund t’jetoj pa ty (Eng: I can’t live without you)
- Tiri Gjoci – Në Ëndërr (Eng: In a dream)
- Martin Aserreqi – Vetëm Ty (Eng: Only You)
- Big Basta Zone & Vesa Luma – Mbinatyrale (Eng: Supernatural)
- Festina Mejzini – Melos
- Mal Retkoceri – Çmendur (Eng: Crazy)
- Michela Paluca – Për Veten (Eng: For Yourself)
- Santino De Bartolo – Dua të rri me ty (Eng: I want to be with you)
- Stivi Ushe – Askush si ty (Eng: No one Like You)
- Kleansa Susaj – Pikturë (Eng: painting)
- Kasto Zizo – 2073
- Anduel Kovaci – Nan’
- Arsi bako – Zgjohu (Eng: Wake Up)
- Besa Kokëdhima – Zemrën n’Dorë (Eng: Heart in Hand)
- Bledi Kaso – Çdo gjë mbaroi (Eng: everything is Over)
- Melodajn Mancaku – Nuk jemi ne (Eng: It Isn’t Us)
- Troy Band – Horizonti i Ëndrrave (Eng: Dream Horizon)
- Olsi Ballta – Unë (Eng: I)
- Luan Durmishi- Përsëritja (Eng: Repetition)
- Sardi Strugaj – Boshatisur (Eng: Empty)
- Andi Tanko – Herë pas here (Eng: Occasionally)
- PeterPan Quartet (song title to be revealed)
- Irma Lepori (song title to be revealed)
Kejsi Tola – Vallëzoj me Dritën (Eng: I dance with the light)– WithdrawalSamanta Karavella – N’Majë (Eng: At the Top)– Withdrawal
Among the names we can find:
This year, the festival will last 4 days: Starting on Tuesday the 19th of December 2023, and ending on Friday, the 22nd of December 2023
Festivali i Këngës 62 Known Details
Night 1 (December 19th 2023)
The first half of artists will perform, in the following running order (which was determined by draw)
- Stivi Ushe – Askush si ty (Eng: No one Like You)
- Besa Krasniqi – Esenciale (Eng: Essential)
- Mal Retkoceri – Çmendur (Eng: Crazy)
- Eldis Arrnjeti – Një Kujtim (Eng: A memory)
- Shpat Deda – S’mund t’jetoj pa ty (Eng: I can’t live without you)
- Jehona Ponari – Evol
- PeterPan Quartet (song title to be revealed)
- Festina Mejzini – Melos
- Kasto Zizo – 2073
- Luan Durmishi- Përsëritja (Eng: Repetition)
- Melodajn Mancaku – Nuk jemi ne (Eng: It Isn’t Us)
- Olsi Ballta – Unë (Eng: I)
- Andi Tanko – Herë pas here (Eng: Occasionally)
- Sergio Hajdini – Uragan (Eng: Hurricane)
- Santino De Bartolo – Dua të rri me ty (Eng: I want to be with you)
- Olimpia Smajlaj – Asaj (Eng: her)
Night 2 (December 20th 2023)
The second half of artists will perform, in the following running order (which was determined by draw)
- Big Basta Zone & Vesa Luma – Mbinatyrale (Eng: Supernatural)
- Elsa Lila – Mars (Eng: March)
- Jasmina Hako – Ti (Eng: You)
- Michela Paluca – Për Veten (Eng: For Yourself)
- Anduel Kovaci – Nan’
- Irma Lepori (song title to be revealed)
- Sardi Strugaj – Boshatisur (Eng: Empty)
- Erina and the Elementals – Jetën n’Skaj (Eng: Lifr on the Edge)
- Kleansa Susaj – Pikturë (Eng: painting)
- Arsi bako – Zgjohu (Eng: Wake Up)
- Tiri Gjoci – Në Ëndërr (Eng: In a dream)
- Besa Kokëdhima – Zemrën n’Dorë (Eng: Heart in Hand)
- Bledi Kaso – Çdo gjë mbaroi (Eng: everything is Over)
- Troy Band – Horizonti i Ëndrrave (Eng: Dream Horizon)
- Martina Serreqi – Vetëm Ty (Eng: Only You)
Night 3 (December 21st 2023)
On the 3rd night, all the artists will participate. The established artists will perform a duets with known Albanian singers (who won’t compete in the festival).
Emerging artists will perform Eurovision songs as duets.
At the end of this show, part of the new artists will qualify for the final, while the others will be eliminated. All established artists will directly qualify for the final.
Night 4 (December 22nd 2023) – The Final
The qualifiers will perform their Eurovision entries.
A jury panel consisting of 11 members will determine the winner of the festival.
The public vote will determine which act will represent Albania at Eurovision 2024.
Therefore, it is possible that the winner of the festival won’t represent the country at Eurovision 2024 (just like in the former edition of the festival).
Albina & Familja Kelmendi represented Albania at Eurovision 2023.
They performed the song “Duje” and ended up 22nd in the final with a total of 76 points:
Who would you like to see representing Albania at Eurovision 2024?
Eurovision 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden.
The semi-finals will be held on the 7th and 9th of May 2024, and the grand final will be held on the 11h of May 2024
So far, the list of countries that have confirmed participation in Eurovision 2024:
- Sweden
- Norway
- Finland
- Israel
- Germany
- The Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Moldova
- Estonia
- Austria
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Spain
- France
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Italy
- Malta
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- The UK
- Azerbaijan
- Croatia
- Lithuania
- Ukraine
- Portugal
- Poland
- San Marino
- Belgium
- Latvia
- Greece
- Georgia
- Slovenia
- Albania
- Czechia
- North Macedonia – not official
