Preparations are underway for the third edition of Festivali i Këngës në RTK, Kosovo’s national song festival, as broadcaster RTK maintains its long-term hope that the event could one day lead to Eurovision participation.
Third edition of Festivali i Këngës to take place in October
According to Koha, the 2024 edition of the RTK Song Festival is set for late October and will follow the same format as previous years: two semi-final nights followed by a grand final. Artistic Director Florent Boshnjaku confirmed that the Youth Palace in Pristina will once again serve as the venue, temporarily transformed for the festival each year.
A call for entries is currently open and will run through the end of August. The same musical team from previous years is expected to return.
Funding and long-term ambitions
This year’s production is supported by a €350,000 budget, with €300,000 from the Ministry of Culture and €50,000 from RTK.
RTK originally launched the festival with the goal of eventually using it as a Eurovision selection process. However, Kosovo remains ineligible due to RTK not being a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. Boshnjaku noted:
We know that (participation) depends entirely on the political position of Kosovo and much greater lobbying is needed from all institutions, not just the Radio and Television of Kosovo.
RTK submitted an application to take part in Eurovision 2025, but local media reported that it was rejected by the EBU, which stated that only full members are eligible.
Building momentum through continuity
Even without direct Eurovision links, RTK is continuing to build tradition with this annual event. Boshnjaku said the broadcaster is focused on being ready – technically and creatively – if and when Eurovision participation becomes possible.
Songs from previous editions, including “Flas me etjen” by Endrit Krasniqi and “Oj Kosovë” by La Fazani, remain largely unknown outside Kosovo. Still, RTK sees value in keeping the momentum going.
The country has taken part in Eurovision-affiliated events before. Most notably, Tringa Hysa represented Kosovo at the 2011 edition of Eurovision Young Dancers, performing under the EBU flag. It remains one of Kosovo’s few instances of formal participation within the broader Eurovision framework.
Kosovo joins other aspiring participants, such as Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan, in continuing discussions around potential EBU membership and future involvement in the Contest.
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News source: Koha
Photo credit: Pallati i Rinise
Rory Gannon