Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2021

The Albanian national broadcaster, RTSH, has confirmed that it will take part in the forthcoming  Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next May.

RTSH has confirmed to ESCToday that Albania will be participating in Eurovision Song Contest 2021 joining the list of countries that will be present in Rotterdam next May. The Head of the Albanian Delegation has officially confirmed that the Balkan country will be returning for onnce again in the competition.

The broadcaster will be running the traditional competition Festivali i Kenges. the winner of which will be the one to represent Albania in Rotterdam. RTSH has already kicked off the preparations and the submission period for the next edition of the festival by making an open invitation to interested acts. The show will unwind over three shows the exact dates of which will be announced in the days to come.

The Eurovision Story So far

In 2004 Albania debuted in the contest  with Anjeza Shahini with the entry “The Image of You”, which came 7th . The country hasn’t scored a victory yet in its 15 participations up to date. Its best result was achieved in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her 5th placing in Baku with her song “Suus”. 

In 2019 Jonida Maliqi won the Festivali i Kenges 2018   and became the 16th Albanian representative in Eurovision. Her song Ktheju Tokes ended in the 17th place of the Grand final.

This year Arilena Ara was set to perform her song Fall From Sky on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam, but saw her journey ending due to the coronavirus outbreak as the contest was cancelled .