🇦🇱 Albania: Festivali i Këngës 62 Details and Final Lineup

Now, with Festivali i Këngës 62 just around the corner, we have heard from the Creative Director of the contest, Bojken Lako, who gave us a bit of insight into how the anticipated contest will unfold. Lako disclosed, in an interview with the Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, the key elements surrounding the 62nd edition of Festivali i Këngës.

A panel of 11 jury members will again have a big say in the ultimate winner of the competition. As done in last year’s competition, the representative for Eurovision will be exclusively chosen through a televote, which is supposed to ensure that there will be no possible corruption in who makes it to the contest. Moreover, Lako detailed that six distinct prizes will be presented during the competition. Last year’s awards consisted of the Best New Artist Award as well as the Career Award.

In a move to enhance the stage presence and creativity of performances, a minor adjustment has been made to the rules, now adding the possibility of up to two additional performers per act.

Scheduled to take place from December 19th to the 22nd, Festivali i Këngës 62 will unfold at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. Organized by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (also known as simply RTSH), the 62nd edition of this annual Albanian music promises a four-day event, consisting of two semi-finals on December 19th and the 20th, a special ”nostalgia night” on December 21st, and the grand final on December 22nd. Just in time for Christmas, if you celebrate.

If you are excited to hear more, here are all of the acts from this year’s competition, unless any last-minute changes are made:

Semi-final 1:

1. Stivi Ushe – “Askush si ty”.
2. Besa Kokëdhima – “Zemrën n’dorë”.
3. Mal Retkoceri – “Çmendur”.
4. Eldis Arnjeti – “Një kujtim”.
5. Shpat Deda – “S’mund të fitoj pa ty”.
6. Jehona Ponari – “Evol”.
7. PeterPan Quartet – ”Edhe nje here”.
8. Festina Mejzini – “Melos”.
9. Kastro Zizo – “2073”.
10. Luan Durmishi – “Përsëritja”.
11. Melodajn Mancaku – “Nuk jemi ne”.
12. Olsi Ballta – “Unë”.
13. Andi Tanko – “Herë pas here”.
14. Sergio Hajdini – “Uragan”.
15. Santino De Bartolo – “Dua të rri me ty”.
16. Olimpia Smajlaj – “Asaj”.

Semi-final 2:

1. Big Basta & Vesa Luma – “Mbinatyrale”.
2. Elsa Lila – “Mars”.
3. Jasmina Hako – “Ti”.
4. Michela Paluca – “Për veten”.
5. Anduel Kovaci – “Nane’”.
6. Irma Lepori – “Me prit”.
7. Eden Baja – “Ajër”.
8. Erina & The Elementals – “Jetën n’Skaj”.
9. Kleansa Susaj – “Pikturë”.
10. Arsi Bako – “Zgjohu”.
11. Tiri Gjoci – “Në ëndërr”.
12. Besa Krasniqi – “Esenciale”.
13. Bledi Kaso – “Çdo gjë mbaroi”.
14. Troy Band – “Horizonti i ëndrrave”.
15. Martina Serreqi – “Vetëm ty”.

Are #YOU ready for the annual Festivali i Këngës? Let us know on social media @ESCUnited, on our discord, or our forum page!