Albania: RTSH Appoints New Artistic Directors for “Festivali i Këngës 65”

Last August, Albanian broadcaster RTSH revealed the first details regarding its traditional music festival.
In 2027, “Festivali i Këngës” will mark its 65th edition.

Since its Eurovision debut in 2004, Albania has consistently selected its Eurovision entry via “Festivali i Këngës“, and the pattern is expected to continue in 2027.

RTSH shared more details regarding the upcoming edition of the festival.
Based on this information, we learn that Elhaida Dani, who served as the festival’s artistic director for the 63rd and 64th editions, won’t be part of the 65th edition.
For the last 2 years, the festival has adopted a modern production, as well as suggesting a more diverse range of artists and genres.

Instead, Alfred Kaçinari and Shpëtim Saraçi will take her place.
Both have already been involved in the festival for a long time:

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Alfred Kaçinari was the main organizer of the festival in 2001 and 2003.
Shpëtim Saraçi was the main organizer of the festival in 2011 and 2014.
Both of them collaborated on the 1999 and 2016 editions.
Alfred Kaçinari is a composer, orchestrator, conductor and author of many songs, film and theatre music, as well as hundreds of orchestrations and musical arrangements presented at the most important festivals and events of Albanian pop music. From 1993 to 2017, he was part of the Albanian Radio Television, where he held a number of managerial and artistic positions: Music Editor, Director of the Programming Department of Radio Tirana, Director of the Musical Creativity Department, Artistic Director of the RTSH Symphony Orchestra, Music Producer, etc.
He has also served as Artistic Consultant and Artistic Director of several editions of the Song Festival at RTSH.

“Festivali i Këngës” – Known Details

The submission window will open on September 22nd and will close on September 27th, 2026
The song mustn’t be released before the submission (and neither before approval).
The submissions will be made online via the RTSH website.
The song must be sung in Albanian
The maximal song duration is 4 minutes.
Songs created with AI will be banned.
The performer of the song, as well as the composers, lyricists, and orchestrators, must be Albanian.
Performers must be at least 17 years old.
Each performer can submit one song only.
Composers can submit up to one song (including as co-composers).
Lyricists can submit up to 2 songs (including as co-writers).
Orchestrators can submit up to 2 songs (including as co-writers).

RTSH press release features the following statement:

All artists from Albania, Kosovo and the Albanian diaspora are invited to participate, with their creations and interpretations that will reflect the latest developments in Albanian pop music

Alis represented Albania in Eurovision 2026.
He performed the song “Nân” and ended in 13th place in the final