Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) has today announced the rules for the 65th edition of the Festivali i Këngës (FiK). Submissions for the contest in Albania will open on 22nd September 2026. The news comes following Alis’ win at FiK64 and Eurovision Grand Final performance of the song “Nân”.
RTSH outline rules & submission window for FiK65
Albania’s national broadcaster RTSH has outlined both the rules, and the submission window for the country’s 65th Festivali i Këngës. In a press release, RTSH revealed that submissions for FiK65 will open on the 22nd September 2026 and close on September 27th. Artists from Albania, Kosovo, and the wider Albanian diaspora are invited to apply to the broadcaster with an original piece, which “should reflect the latest developments in Albanian popular music”.
The requirements to compete in the 65th song festival are similar to in recent years. Rules include:
- The song must be sung in Albanian
- Both the artist and the song’s author must be Albanian
- The song must not exceed 4 minutes in length
- The song must not have been previously released
- The song must be original, and AI is explicitly banned
- The artist(s) must be over 17 years of age
- Performers and composers may only enter the Festival with one song submission
- Songwriters may enter a maximum of two song submissions, including co-writing credits
Applications to the selection process of FiK65 can be found here when the submission window opens. Further details and rules can also be found here. Submissions close on 27th September 2026. FiK65 is expected to be broadcast in December 2026, with exact dates yet to be announced by RTSH.
What is Festivali i Këngës?
Albania’s Festivali i Këngës long predates Albania’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Since 1962, Albanian musicians perform for the broadcast audience in December. At inception, Festivali i Këngës focused on “light music”, a populist kind of classical music. Following the end of a period of censorship in the 1970s and 80s, performers chose from a variety of genres, and love songs, political entries, and rock music became more common; starting in the 1990s, diaspora Albanian singers were also allowed to participate. The entries at FiK have since then often reflected political and social issues prevalent in Albania, such as the transition away from communism, the rash of pyramid schemes in the mid-1990s, and the fragmentation of family units.
As of 2004, the winner of Festivali i Këngës gains first refusal to represent Albania at Eurovision; however, beginning in 2022, the jury winner is separate from the televote winner, the latter of whom gets to go to Eurovision.
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”.
Alis debuted in Festivali i Këngës 63 in December 2024, placing third with his song “Mjegull”. The singer returned to FiK in December of 2025, and won with his song “Nân”. Alis represented Albania in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with “Nân”. He made it to the Grand Final, where he ultimately finished in 13th place with 145 points. A total of 60 of these came from the jury, while the remaining 85 points came from the televote.
Who would you like to see participate in FiK65? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, Bluesky, and ZOOP for more information about Eurovision 2027!
News source: RTSH
Image credits: RTSH
Tim J