Albania will take part in Eurovision 2026 after broadcaster RTSH reached an agreement with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to settle its debts, according to BalkanWeb.
Successful renegotiation
RTSH was at risk of losing access to the Contest due to large unpaid debts, including overdue membership fees and broadcast costs dating back more than a year. However, new director general Eni Vasili has successfully renegotiated the broadcaster’s obligations.
A repayment plan has now been agreed, allowing RTSH to clear its debts gradually in line with scheduled deadlines. This agreement ensures Albania’s place at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, continuing an unbroken tradition that began with the country’s debut in 2004.
Critical situation avoided
The financial crisis at RTSH had threatened not only Eurovision participation but also the broadcaster’s ability to function as a member of the EBU. Failure to settle debts could have resulted in sanctions, such as loss of access to news, sports, and rights negotiations.
The debt reportedly included around €31,000 in production costs and approximately €140,000 in unpaid membership fees and invoices. Many of these had remained unsettled for more than 18 months.
Albania’s Eurovision journey
In 2004, Albania made their debut into the Eurovision Song Contest with Anjeza Shahini with “Image of You”, which placed 7th in the final. Since their debut, Albania has participated 20 times, and made the final 10 times. They achieved their best result in 2012, where Rona Nishliu placed 5th with “Suus”.
Shkodra Elektronike represented Albania in the 2025 Contest in Basel with “Zjerm”. The duo made it to the Grand Final, where they ultimately finished in 8th place with 218 points. 173 of these came from the televote, while the remaining 45 points came from the jury.
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News source: BalkanWeb
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
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