Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

{{lang|sq|Radio Televizioni Shqiptar|i=unset}} (RTSH) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Albania since the country's debut in 2004.

RTSH expressed their intention to participate in the 2002 and 2003 editions. However, they were denied participation due to the large number of countries participating.

Nevertheless, it debuted at the {{escyr|2004||2004 contest}} in Istanbul with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini.{{cite web |title=The end of a decade: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-istanbul-2004 |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=2 April 2020 |language=en |date=25 December 2009}}{{cite web |last1=Bakker |first1=Sietse |title=No new countries at next Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://esctoday.com/747 |website=esctoday.com |access-date=2 April 2020 |language=en |date=27 November 2002}} The country received 106 points in the Grand Final and finished in 7th place, remaining the country's highest placement until 2012.

{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest–Countries: Albania |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/albania |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=2 April 2020 |language=en}} In 2005, due to the country's top 11 placement the previous year, the succeeding entry "Tomorrow I Go" by Ledina Çelo automatically qualified for the Grand Final in Kyiv and reached 16th place.

The following year, Luiz Ejlli and his song "Zjarr e ftohtë" failed to qualify for the Grand Final in Athens, marking the first non-qualification in the country's participation history.

The 2007 entry, "Hear My Plea" by Frederik Ndoci, was performed at Festivali I Këngës 45 as "Balada e gurit" (The stone ballad). In the end, the song was finally revamped, mixing it with English and Albanian. In the Semi-Final of the 2007 contest, it received 49 points, placing 17th out of 28 in the Semi-Final, thus failing to qualify for the Final.

The winner of Festivali I Këngës 46 was "Zemrën e lamë peng" (Hearts trapped in time) by Olta Boka. However, the result of the juries that selected the winner was controversial and rumours arose that the final two judges intentionally awarded high marks to Boka in order to avoid sending the runners-up, Flaka Krelani and Doruntina Disha, to the contest. Press reactions in Albania were not happy with the decision, and RTSH announced that they would investigate into alleged cheating by the final two judges to award their points.{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/9917|title=Albania: press reaction on Festivali i Këngës|last=Klier|first=Marcus|date=2007-12-17|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=2008-11-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/9930|title=Albania: Festivali I Kenges result under investigation|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2007-12-19|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=2008-11-03}} Despite this, Olta Boka's victory remained, and she sang for Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia. She qualified for the Final, coming 9th in a field of 19 in the 2nd Semi-Final, and in the Final she received 55 points, coming 17th in a field of 25.

Albania was the first country to select both their artist and publicly present their song for Eurovision 2009. The winner was again selected by Festivali I Këngës. The winner of Festivali I Këngës 47 was Kejsi Tola with the song "Më merr në ëndërr" (Take me in your dreams), composed by the same people of Albania's first entry, Edmond Zhulali and Agim Doçi.{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/12771|title=Albania decided: Kejsi Tola to Eurovision!|last=Klier|first=Marcus|date=2008-12-21|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=2008-12-21}} The song was performed in English as "Carry Me in Your Dreams".{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/13466|title=Albania: Kejsi Tola to sing Carry me in your dreams|last=Hondal|first=Victor|date=2009-03-08|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=2009-03-08}} Albania finished 7th out of 19 in the 2nd Semi-Final with 73 points, thus qualifying for the Final. In the Final, Albania scored 48 points, finishing 17th in a field of 25. It placed 11th in the televoting while only 23rd in the jury vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=3503&_t=Exclusive%3A+Split+jury%2Ftelevoting+results+out%21|title=Exclusive: Split jury/televoting results out!|last=Bakker |first=Sietse|date=2009-07-31|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2009-08-06}}

The winner of Festivali I Këngës 48 was decided on 27 December, with Juliana Pasha winning over former winner Anjeza Shahini. She represented Albania at Eurovision 2010 in Oslo with the song "It's All about You".{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/14714|title=Albania sends Juliana Pasha to Eurovision|last=Klier|first=Marcus|date=2009-12-27|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=27 December 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=7833&_t=Juliana+Pasha+to+represent+Albania+in+Oslo!|title=Juliana Pasha to represent Albania in Oslo!|last=Brey|first=Marco|date=2009-12-27|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=27 December 2009}} The song was a typical up-tempo composition, and has been compared to Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmiRcVSON2E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/tmiRcVSON2E |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Juliana Pasha's song compared to "Keeps Gettin Better"|date=2009-12-29|publisher=YouTube|access-date=2009-12-29}}{{cbignore}} and Britney Spears' "Womanizer".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G47yPRmFdOc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/G47yPRmFdOc |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Juliana Pasha's song compared to "Womanizer"|date=2009-12-25|publisher=YouTube|access-date=2009-12-25}}{{cbignore}} Albania came 6th in the first semi-final with 76 points, thus qualifying for the final. In the final, Juliana finished 16th with 62 points which included 12 points from Macedonia.

The Albanian participant for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest was chosen in Festivali i Këngës 49 in December 2010. The winner of 2011's Festival of Song was Aurela Gaçe, winning for the third time after 10 years. Her song was named "Kënga ime" ("My Song") and it was translated into English with the name "Feel the Passion", published on 12 March 2011, during a show called "Historia nis këtu" ("The story begins here") in RTSH. Albania participated in Semi-Final 1 against 18 other countries, fighting for a place in the grand final in 14 May. However they missed out on qualification for the final for the first time in 4 years, coming 14th.

Albania competed in the 2012 competition with the song "Suus", which was performed by Rona Nishliu. The song got through to the final, coming in 5th place overall with 146 points. Rona Nishliu from Kosovo achieved a record result for Albania.{{cite web | url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=1593#Scoreboard | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122082700/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=1593 |archive-date=2013-01-22 | title=Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Grand Final | publisher=Eurovision Song Contest | access-date=2 April 2020 }}

Albania competed in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Identitet" which was performed by Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko. This song was chosen as the winner through the Festivali i Këngës. The results depended on the jury voting only. Among the experts in the jury was the Italian Head of Delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest, Nicola Caligiore, who greeted and gave the points in English for all the viewers from the Eurovision.tv webcast.

{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=adrian_lulgjuraj_and_bledar_sejko_win_festivali_i_kenges|title = Stories}}

Albania came 15th in the second semi-final of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö and did not make it into the grand final.

On 28 December 2013, Herciana Matmuja won Festivali i Këngës 52 (the 52nd national final of Albania) and was therefore chosen to represent Albania in Eurovision 2014 with her song 'Zemërimi i një nate'.{{cite news|title=Albania: Herciana Matmuja wins Wins Festivali i Këngës 52 with Zemërimi i një nate|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2013/12/28/albania-herciana-matmuja-festivali-i-kenges-52/35988/|access-date=23 March 2014|newspaper=wiwibloggs.com|date=28 December 2014}} In the time before Eurovision 2014 she recorded both English and Albanian versions of this song.{{cite news|title=Albania: Hersiana Matmuja records ESC song in two languages.|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/02/12/albania-hersiana-records-song-two-languages/39335/|access-date=23 March 2014|newspaper=wiwibloggs.com|date=12 February 2014}} On 16 March she released the final version of 'One Night's anger' for Eurovision 2014.{{cite news|title=ALBANIA: HERSIANA MATMUJA REVEALS ONE NIGHT's ANGER|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/03/16/albania-hersiana-matmuja-reveals-one-nights-anger/43096/|access-date=23 March 2014|newspaper=wiwibloggs.com|date=16 March 2014}} Albania failed to qualify for the second year in a row.

On 28 December 2014, Elhaida Dani won Festivali i Këngës 53 with the song "Diell", and this would've represented Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.{{cite web|url=http://eurovoix.com/2014/12/28/albania-elhaida-dani-is-off-to-vienna/|title=Albania: Elhaida Dani Is Off To Vienna|work=Eurovoix.com|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=28 December 2014|access-date=28 December 2014}} On 23 February 2015 it was announced that the songwriters had decided to withdraw the song due to "personal and irrevocable reasons", and Dani would perform something else at Eurovision.{{cite web|url=http://eurovoix.com/2015/02/23/albania-diell-withdrawn/|title=Albania: "Diell" Withdrawn|work=Eurovoix.com|last=Taylor|first=Richard|date=23 February 2015|access-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224052047/http://eurovoix.com/2015/02/23/albania-diell-withdrawn/|archive-date=24 February 2015|url-status=dead}} The following day it was revealed that Dani would perform "I'm Alive".{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=Albania: Elhaida To Sing "I'm Alive"|url=http://eurovoix.com/2015/02/24/albania-elhaida-to-sing-im-alive/|publisher=eurovoix|date=24 February 2015|access-date=24 February 2015}}

On 27 December 2015 Eneda Tarifa won Festivali i Këngës 54 with her song "Përrallë" which meant she would represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. It was later translated into English and called "Fairytale", and the music video premiered on the evening news on TVSH. Albania failed to qualify, coming only 16th out of 18 in the second semi-final.

After failing to qualify once again in 2017 with Lindita and the song "World", Albania returned to the grand final in 2018 with the song "Mall" by Eugent Bushpepa. It finished 11th of 26 in the final receiving 184 points, giving Albania its third best result in the contest since their debut.

In 2019, Albania selected Jonida Maliqi to represent them with the song "Ktheju tokës". Albania succeeded in qualifying from the second semi-final, making it the first time Albania had qualified twice in a row since 2009 and 2010. In the final, she placed 17th with 90 points.

For the {{Escyr|2020}} contest, Albania selected Arilena Ara to represent their country after she won Festivali i Këngës 58 with the song "Shaj" on 22 December 2019. On 9 March 2020, a revamped version of the song named "Fall from the Sky" was released in English. However, the 2020 contest was cancelled on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

For the {{Escyr|2021}} contest, RTSH announced that Arilena Ara would not be internally re-selected to represent Albania, and that Festivali i Këngës 59 would go ahead as planned. The national final took place on 23 December 2020 and was won by Anxhela Peristeri with the song "Karma". Anxhela managed to qualify for the final, making it the first time since 2008-2010 that Albania qualified three times in a row. In the final, she placed 21st with 57 points.

For the {{Escyr|2022}} contest, Ronela Hajati won Festivali i Këngës 60 and was selected to represent the country with the song "Sekret". It underwent a revamp ahead of Eurovision which saw lines in English and Spanish being added. However, it failed to qualify for the final, coming 12th out of 17 in the first semi-final.

For the {{Escyr|2023}} contest, Albina Kelmendi and her family finished second in Festivali i Këngës 61, but were selected to represent the country with the song "Duje" by the public. They managed to qualify for the final, finishing 9th with 83 points. In the final, they placed 22nd with 76 points.

For the {{Escyr|2024}} contest, the selection method used in 2023 was retained, with Besa and the song "Zemrën n'dorë" coming first in the televoting of Festivali i Këngës 62. For Eurovision, the song was revamped and renamed "Titan".

For the {{Escyr|2025}} contest, Festivali i Këngës 63 was organised with a revamped format, in which the winner would represent Albania at the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland. Diaspora voting was also introduced alongside a new presentation of results. Ultimately, {{lang|sq|Shkodra Elektronike|i=unset}} won the festival with "{{lang|sq|Zjerm|i=unset}}". The duo went on to become the highest scoring Albanian entrants to date, securing 218 points in the 2025 final.

For the contest's broadcast on Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), various commentators and spokespersons have been hired throughout the years, with Leon Menkshi and Andri Xhahu notably having done the job on eight and thirteen occasions respectively. At Eurovision, after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting country to invite their respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote on-screen.

File:Anjeza Shahini - Albania 2004 Final.jpg|Anjeza Shahini in Istanbul ({{Escyr|2004}})

File:Ndoci 2007 Eurovision.jpg|Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci in Helsinki ({{Escyr|2007}})

File:Flickr - proteusbcn - Semifinal 2 Eurovision 2008 (29).jpg|Olta Boka in Belgrade ({{Escyr|2008}})

File:Juliana Pasha, Albania.jpg|Juliana Pasha in Oslo ({{Escyr|2010}})

File:Rona Nishliu Eurovision 2012 Baku Semi-Final.jpg|Rona Nishliu in Baku ({{Escyr|2012}})

File:ESC2013 - Albania 01.jpg|Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko in Malmö ({{Escyr|2013}})

File:ESC2014 - Albania 01.jpg|Hersi Matmuja in Copenhagen ({{Escyr|2014}})

File:20150515 ESC 2015 Elhaida Dani 7496.jpg|Elhaida Dani in Vienna ({{Escyr|2015}})

File:ESC2016 - Albania 05.jpg|Eneda Tarifa in Stockholm ({{Escyr|2016}})

File:ESC2017 - Albania 01.jpg|Lindita in Kyiv ({{Escyr|2017}})

File:Eugent Bushpepa (Albania).jpg|Eugent Bushpepa in Lisbon ({{Escyr|2018}})

File:Eurovision 2019 Albania.jpg|Jonida Maliqi in Tel Aviv ({{Escyr|2019}})

File:Eurovision 2022 - Semi-final 1 - Albania - Ronela Hajati.jpg|Ronela Hajati in Turin ({{Escyr|2022}})

File:Eurovision 2023 - Jury Semi-final 2 - Albania - Albina & Familja Kelmendi (03).jpg|Albina and Familja Kelmendi in Liverpool ({{Escyr|2023}})

File:Besa Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Final Malmö dress rehearsal semi 2 08.jpg|Besa in Malmö ({{Escyr|2024}})

File:ESC2025 Albania 16.jpg|Shkodra Elektronike in Basel ({{Escyr|2025}})

• Albania in the Eurovision Young Dancers
• Albania in the Eurovision Young Musicians
• Albania in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

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Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest