Albania: RTSH unveils the competing acts of Festivali i Këngës 60

Tuesday, 09 November 2021

• The Albanian national broadcaster, RTSH, has unveiled the competing acts of the 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës, the show that will be selecting the country's Eurovision 2022 representative. 

  Albania will be present in Turin at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest and will be selecting their Eurovision 2022 hopeful through the traditional music event of Festivali i Këngës.

  Following the release of the dates of the next Festivali i Këngës, RTSH went on this morning revealing the 20 competing acts of the competition chosen from the public submissions. 

  Namely, the 20 artists that will battle for the ticket to Turin are:

  • Alban Ramosaj
  • Denis Skura
  • Eldis Arrnjeti
  • Evi Reci
  • Endri & Stefi
  • Ester Zahiri
  • Gjergj Kacinari
  • Janex
  • Kastro Zizo
  • Kelly
  • Kejsi Rustja
  • Mirud
  • Olimpia Smajlaj
  • Rezarta Smaja
  • Ronela Hajati
  • Sajmir Çili
  • Shega
  • Urban Band
  • Viola Zhemali
  • Xhuliana Pjetra

   

  Like previous editions, the show will unfold over three nights in late December. Namely the dates confirmed by the Albanian national broadcaster are: 

  • 1st Night's Show – December 27
  • 2nd Night's Show – December 28
  • Grand Final – December 29

   

  Festivali i Këngës has been used as the country's Eurovision national selection format since their debut in the contest back in 2004. In the past editions a total of 24 acts performed studio and acoustic versions of their entries with a jury selecting 18 acts to advance to the final. 

  Last year the show took place outdoors due to the covid-19 circumstances and it was the first edition that didn't see a live orchestra while the show didn't take place at its traditional spot at the  Palace of Congresses in Tirana.

   

  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 . 

  This 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. 

   

  News Source: RTSH