Since 2004, this event has doubled as a national competition to select Albania’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, aligning with Albania’s debut in the ESC. Anjeza Shahini’s performance of “The Image of You” earned an admirable 7th place in the Grand Final in Istanbul, signaling a bright start for a nation entering the competition for the first time.
In last year’s competition in Liverpool, Albina & Familja Kelmendi delivered a standout stage performance, qualifying for the Grand Final and ultimately finishing in 22nd place. Albania’s upcoming entry will signify its 20th appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest. Among the 19 previous participations, 11 successfully reached the Grand Final, with only two managing to secure a top 10 position. This suggests that the probability of Albania achieving a top 10 finish is approximately 10%, while the chances of qualifying for the Grand Final stand at around 55%.
Albanian music, while not widely known outside its borders, finds a significant platform for exposure through the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching approximately 200 million viewers worldwide. Albania’s entries in the ESC typically blend traditional and folk elements, even in modern compositions. Often, songs undergo adaptation and refinement for the competition, with adjustments made to choruses and other elements to maximize impact. Adapting popular Albanian music to cater to European tastes poses a challenge, with songs often exceeding three minutes in the Albanian pre-selection stage, requiring editing and translation into English to resonate with European audiences.
Biggest successes
1x 5th place Rona Nishliu with “Suus” (Baku 2012)
1x 7th place Anjeza Shahini with The Image Of You (Istanbul 2004)
History
- Debut: 2004
- Participations: 20
- Victories: 0
- Finals: 11
- Chances to reach the final: 55%
- Top 10: 2
- Chances to reach Top 10: 10%
- Last place: 0
Video Nostalgia
Luiz Ejlli with “Zjarr E Ftohtë”, Rank 14 (Semi-Final) (Athens 2006)
Kejsi Tola with “Carry Me In Your Dreams”, Rank 17 (Moscow 2009)
Jonida Maliq with “Ktheu tokës”, Rank 17 (Tel Aviv 2019)