Albania: Ronela Hajati wins Festivali i Këngës and ticket to Turin

It’s not real a Christmas without Festivali i Këngës – hence, merry FiKmas! – Anyhow, once again Albania held the yearly traditional festival, which is used to decide who will represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest, and tonight was the decisive night.

60th Festivali i Këngës

This year, saw the 60th edition of the annual competition, which has been used as the Albanian national final since their debut back in 2004. Tonight saw 17 acts competing for the Albanian ticket to Turin, after 3 newcomers were eliminated in one of the earlier nights of the festival, leaving the following acts to compete for the ticket: (In order of performance)

• Olimpia Smajlaj – “Dua“
• Denis Skura – “Pse nuk flet, mama?“
• Kelly – “Meteor“
• Sajmir Çili – “Nën maskë“
• Ester Zahiri – “Hiena“
• Kastro Zizo – “Kujë“
• Urban Band – “Padrejësi“
• Gjergj Kaçinari – “Në ëndërr mbete ti“
• Evi Reçi – “Më duaj“
• Mirud – “Për dreq“
• Endri and Stefi Prifti – “Triumfi i jetës“
• Ronela Hajati – “Sekret“
• Shega – “Një“
• Janex – “Deluzional“
• Alban Ramosaj – “Theje“
• Eldis Arrnjeti  – “Refuzoj“
• Rezarta Smaja – “E jemja nuse“

Results!

As is also tradition, the winner is solely selected by a jury, which this year consisted of the following 7 members: Agim Doçi, Anxhela Faber, Osman Mula, Rozana Radi, Olsa Toqi, Olti Curri and last years Albanian entrant Anxhela Peristeri.

The results were revealed by inviting top 3 acts back onto the stage, here it was announced that Rezarta Smaja & Eldis Arrnjeti shared 3rd place. Afterwards it stood between Alban Ramosaj and Ronela Hajati, with the latter being announced as the winner.

Ronela Hajati will now represent Albania in Turin in 2022, with the song “Sekret“.

Are #YOU happy about this decision, and where do #YOU rank Albania in your current top 3? Discuss it all with us and others on our forum HERE or our social media sites.