Albania 2020: Finalists for Festivali i Këngës decided

Festivali i Këngës #58 continued tonight live from Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana, Albania. In tonight's Semi-final the last 10 songs competed. The finalists were selected by a jury panel made up by Mikaela Minga (Albania), Christer Björkman (Sweden), Dimitris Kontopoulos (Greece), Felix Bergsson (Iceland) and Rita Petro (Albania).

The results of the two Semi-finals were announced shortly after the second Semi-final:

Semi-final 1 — Results

• Albërie Hadërgjonaj – "Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua" (finalist)
• Bojken Lako – "Malaseen" (finalist)
• Elvana Gjata – "Me tana" (finalist)
• Kamela Islamaj – "Më ngjyros" (finalist)
• Sara Bajraktari – "Ajër" (finalist)
• Aldo Bardhi – "Melodi"
• Devis Xherahu – "Bisedoj me serenatën"
• Kanita Suma – "Ankth"
• Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – "Ju flet Tirana"
• Renis Gjoka – "Loja"

Semi-final 2 — Results

• Arilena Ara – "Shaj" (finalist)
• Era Rusi – "Eja merre" (finalist)
• Gena – "Shqiponja e lirë" (finalist)
• Olta Boka – "Botë për dy" (finalist)
• Robert Berisha – "Ajo nuk është unë" (finalist)
• Tiri Gjoci – "Me gotën bosh" (finalist)
• Valon Shehu – "Kutia e Pandorës" (finalist)
• Eli Fara & Stresi – "Bohemë"
• Kastro Zizo – "Asaj"
• Wendi Mancaku – "Ende"

Festivali i Këngës 58

This year's Festivali i Këngës is again held in December live from the congress hall "Pallati i Kongreseve" in central Tirana, with three nights:

• 19 December 2019: Semi-final 1
• 20 December 2019: Semi-final 2
• 22 December 2019: Final

10 songs were performed in each of the two Semi-finals. After the second Semi-final it was announced which songs the Jury chose to qualify for the Albanian final.

All three shows are hosted by Alketa Vejsiu.

Festivali i Këngës is organized by the Albanian national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Since its start in 1966, all artists have been asked to perform live, with a jury selecting the winner. Since 2003 the winner of the festival is Albania's representative to Eurovision Song Contest.

When Albania in 2004 finally applied EBU to participate in Eurovision Song Contest, they agree to let the winner of the country's most popular festival represent Albania.

Albania in Eurovision Song Contest

Since debuting in 2004, Albania has been participating in Eurovision Song Contest every year. Best result is a 5th place in 2012, where Rona Nishliu sang "Suus".

Out of the 16 times Albania has participated, they have qualified for the Grand final 9 times.