🇦🇱 Albania: Festivali i Këngës, first evening tonight

Tonight is the first night of Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Normally, this marks the start of the national final season. However, this year everything is different. We already know two songs for Eurovision.

The first semifinal will be held tonight, 20.00 CET. You can watch it here on YouTube and on Facebook. The show will be aired from the Palace of Congress in Tirana and will be hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Xhuliano Dule & Krisa Çaushi. Full results are not expected tonight. These are the songs:

  1. Stivi Ushe sings “Askush si ty”
  2. Besa KokĂ«dhima sings “ZemrĂ«n n’dorĂ«”
  3. Mal Retkorceri sings “Çmendur”
  4. Eldis Arrnjeti sings “Nje kujtim”
  5. Shpat Deda sings “S’mund t’fitoj pa ty”
  6. Jehona Ponari sings “Evol”
  7. PeterPan Quartet sings “Edhe nje here”
  8. Festina Mejzini sings “Melos”
  9. Kastro Zizo sings “2073”
  10. Luan Durmishi sings “PĂ«rsĂ«ritja”
  11. Melodajn Mancaku sings “Nuk jemi ne”
  12. Olsi Ballta sings “UnĂ«”
  13. Andi Tanko sings “HerĂ« pas here”
  14. Sergio Hajdini sings “Uragan”
  15. Santino de Bartolo sings “Dua tĂ« rry me ty”
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj sings “Asaj”

 

Besa Kokëdhima already took part in 2009 (4th) and 2011 (8th).
Festina Mejzini was present in 2017 (semifinal), 2018 (final) and 2021 (3rd).
Kastro Zizo participated in 2020 (semifinal), 2021 (final) and 2022 (semifinal).
Melodajna Mancaku and Sergio Hajdini both reached the final in 2023.
Andi Tanko took part in the 2016 semifinal.
Olimpia Smajlaj reached the final in 2022.

 

Related news

Eurovision 2026

🇦🇿 Song: JIVA’s Eurovision song “Just Go” released for Azerbaijan

📷 EBU JIVA’s Eurovision song “Just Go” has officially been released. It gives Azerbaijan its full package for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. The track premiered this evening through its music video. It immediately adds an emotional sound to this year’s line-up. For fans, The artist was already known, but now the song is finally here. According to broadcaster İctimai Television, “Just Go” is an emotional ballad about love, heartbreak and inner strength. The song focuses on finding yourself again after disappointment in a relationship. That theme gives JIVA room to do what she does best: deliver a sincere performance built around strong vocals and clear emotion. As a first impression, Azerbaijan is choosing intensity over gimmicks, and that could help the entry stand out in a busy field. In other words, Azerbaijan has opted for atmosphere and authenticity. There is also experience behind the release. “Just Go” was written and composed by Azerbaijani-American composer Fuad Javadov, while the official music video was directed by Farhad Ali. JIVA, whose real name is Jamila Hashimova, is no newcomer either. She won The Voice of Azerbaijan in 2025, sings in Azerbaijani, Russian and English, and already reached the top three of Azerbaijan’s national selection back in 2011. Now that “Just Go” is published, the attention will quickly shift to the Eurovision stage in Vienna. JIVA will perform for Azerbaijan in the first half of the second semi-final. It will be Azerbaijan’s 18th appearance at Eurovision since debuting in 2008. After an internal selection process that started with 186 submitted songs, the country now sends a track that aims straight for feeling and connection. Tonight, Azerbaijan has finally shown its hand. JIVA’s “Just Go” is in the race.

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

🇦🇿 Song: JIVA’s Eurovision song “Just Go” released for Azerbaijan

📷 EBU JIVA’s Eurovision song “Just Go” has officially been released. It gives Azerbaijan its full package for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. The track premiered this evening through its music video. It immediately adds an emotional sound to this year’s line-up. For fans, The artist was already known, but now the song is finally here. According to broadcaster İctimai Television, “Just Go” is an emotional ballad about love, heartbreak and inner strength. The song focuses on finding yourself again after disappointment in a relationship. That theme gives JIVA room to do what she does best: deliver a sincere performance built around strong vocals and clear emotion. As a first impression, Azerbaijan is choosing intensity over gimmicks, and that could help the entry stand out in a busy field. In other words, Azerbaijan has opted for atmosphere and authenticity. There is also experience behind the release. “Just Go” was written and composed by Azerbaijani-American composer Fuad Javadov, while the official music video was directed by Farhad Ali. JIVA, whose real name is Jamila Hashimova, is no newcomer either. She won The Voice of Azerbaijan in 2025, sings in Azerbaijani, Russian and English, and already reached the top three of Azerbaijan’s national selection back in 2011. Now that “Just Go” is published, the attention will quickly shift to the Eurovision stage in Vienna. JIVA will perform for Azerbaijan in the first half of the second semi-final. It will be Azerbaijan’s 18th appearance at Eurovision since debuting in 2008. After an internal selection process that started with 186 submitted songs, the country now sends a track that aims straight for feeling and connection. Tonight, Azerbaijan has finally shown its hand. JIVA’s “Just Go” is in the race.

Read More »
Follow Us: