With next year’s national final season still looking very uncertain due to the current situation across Europe, any confirmation from broadcasters is very much welcome! RTSH, Albania’s national broadcaster, has formally began the search for entries for the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës. Albania are yet to confirm their participation for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
Historically, Albania’s Festivali i Këngës has been the earliest national selection in the Eurovision calendar. As a result, ‘Fikmas’ has become a staple for fans to mark the official start of the Eurovision season.
Although fans may be concerned that the spectacle will be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RTSH have confirmed that the festival will proceed once again later this year.
Now, RTSH has issued an open call to artists, songwriters and composers to submit entries for FiK 59. In the open call, shared via Facebook, the broadcaster specifies that the submissions will be shortlisted by a selection committee. The accompanying guidelines also informs us that the iconic orchestra will be returning for this edition!
Submissions can be submitted either in person to the Festival office at Radio Tirana or via email at [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is October 2nd.
Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest
Albania debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2004 and has participated every year since. Anjeza Shahini was the first to fly the country’s flag at the contest with her song ‘The Image of You‘. She finished in 7th place with 106 points.
Over the years, Albania qualified for the final on 8 occasions. So far, their best result is Rona Nishliu’s 5th place achieved in Baku in 2012 with her iconic ballad ‘Suus‘.
In 2020, Albania was due to be represented by Arilena Ara, with her song ‘Fall From the Sky‘. She had controversially won Festivali i Kenges 58 with “Shaj” the previous December, which had been translated for the contest. It was set to participate in the second semi-final of the 2020 contest prior to the contest’s cancellation.
If the festival proceeds, who would you like to participate? Do you think Arilena should be internally selected for Rotterdam? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news in the upcoming months.
