Could we see a new country at Eurovision next year? Kosovar broadcaster RTK announced they will apply to the EBU next month to be able to compete at Eurovision in 2025.
RTK’s Application
At an event earlier this week, the chairman of the RTK board, Besnik Boletini, stated that they will apply to the EBU to participate in June and hope that their application will be accepted. It is unclear whether that means they will apply for EBU membership or solely to compete in the contest. In 2023, RTK held Festivali i Këngës në RTK for the first time, which they intend to be their Eurovision selection should they be able to compete in the contest.
Kosovan Presence at Eurovision
While Kosovo has yet to participate at Eurovision, there has been Kosovan presence at Eurovision-related events before. Most notably, Kosovo was invited to join Eurovision Young Dancers in 2011 in Norway. In the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, four acts from Kosovo have taken part. The first of these is Rona Nishliu, who represented Albania but was originally from Mitrovica in the north of Kosovo. Nishliu finished 5th in 2012, which is Albania’s best result to date. Similarly, Lindita Halimi is from Viti in Eastern Kosovo but represented Albania five years later in Kyiv, though she failed to qualify from the semi-final. Kosovar-born Nevena Božović has represented Serbia at Eurovision three times, first at Junior Eurovision in 2007, then at Eurovision 2013 as part of Moje 3, and then as a soloist at Eurovision 2019.
The most recent Kosovar participation came in the form of Albania’s 2023 representatives, Albina and Familja Kelmendi. Albina was born in Pejë, in the western part of Kosovo. The family represented Albania at Eurovision 2023 with the song “Duje” which finished in 22nd place with 76 points.
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News Source: RTK
Photo Credit: Eurovision Spain
Giwrgos Oiko