Albania’s act for Eurovision 2020 will be selected using the longrunning Festivali i Këngës 58 contest. Often shortened to either FiK or FEST’, the competition will consist of two semi-finals and a final, all three of which will take place in Tirana, the country’s capital.
All three programmes will be broadcast on Albania’s RTSH 1 and Kosovo’s RTK. TV players for both networks can be accessed here and here. These should be available to view worldwide.
The chosen act will succeed Jonida Maliqi who finished 17th with “Ktheju tokës” at Eurovision 2019.
Click to skip to:
- When is Festivali i Këngës 2019?
- Competing entries
- Finalists
- Semi-final one songs
- Semi-final two songs
- How will the winner be selected
- FiK 58 favourites
- Interval acts
Festivali i Këngës 58
When is Festivali i Këngës 2019?
- Semi-final one — 20.30 CET on Thursday 19 December
- Semi-final two — 20.30 CET on Friday 20 December
- Grand final — 21.00 CET on Sunday 22 December
The Albanian selection traditionally coincides with the festive season with many affectionately calling it FiKmas. This year is no different. Semi-final one took place on Thursday 19 December. Semi-final two followed immediately after on Friday 20 December. After one day’s rest, the winner will be chosen on Sunday 22 December
This is returning to the tradition of two semi-finals, after the format shift for FiK57. In 2019, all acts performed in each semi-final. In the first, the artists performed their songs with the RTSH Symphonic Orchestra, while on the second night, they performed the songs with the Eurovision arrangement.
Festivali i Këngës 58 entries
Broadcaster RTSH announced the 20 song lineup for FEST’ 58 on 24 October. The entries were subsequently released on 9 December. The competing artists and songs are:
- Wendi Mancaku – “Ende” (Still)
Lyrics: Endrit Mumajesi
Music: Wendy Mancaku - Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës” (Pandora’s box)
Lyrics: Elvis Preni
Music: Eugent Bushpepa - Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh” (With an Empty Glass)
Lyrics: Pandi Laço
Music: Everest Ndreca - Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër” (Air)
Lyrics: Adrian Hila
Music: Adrian Hila - Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë” (She is not me)
Lyrics: Filloreta Raçi
Music: Filloreta Raçi - Renis Gjoka – “Loja” (The Game)
Lyrics: Ilir Krasniqi
Music: Renis Gjoka - Olta Boka – “Shkrime në mur” (Writings on the wall)
Lyrics: Genc Salihu
Music: Florent Boshnjaku - Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – “Ju flet Tirana” (Tirana Calling)
Lyrics: Agim Xheka
Music: Genc Tukiçi - Kastro Zizo (né Kleviz Bega) – “Asaj” (Her)
Lyrics: Gramoz Kozeli, Kleviz Bega
Music: Gramoz Kozeli, Klevis Bega - Kanita – “Ankth” (Anxiety)
Lyrics: Lindon Berisha
Music: Boban Apostolov - Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros” (Colour Me)
Lyrics: Megi Hasani
Music: Kamela Islamaj - Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë” (Free Eagle)
Lyrics: Endrit Mumajesi
Music: Gena - Era Rusi – “Eja Merre” (Come and Get It)
Lyrics: Naxhije Berisha
Music: Darko Dimitrov - Elvana Gjata – “Me tana” (With all)
Lyrics: Elvana Gjata
Music: Elvana Gjata - Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohem” (Boheme)
Lyrics: Rozana Radi
Music: Eli Far - Devis Xherahu – “Bisedoj me serenatën” (Talking with serenade)
Lyrics: Jorgo Papingji
Music: Devis Xherahu - Bojken Lako – “Malaseen” (She left me unseen)
Lyrics: Bojken Lako
Music: Bojken Lako - Arilena Ara “Shaj” (Swear, as in the curse)
Lyrics: Lindon Berisha
Music: Darko Dimitrov - Aldo Bardhi – “Melodi”
Lyrics: Naxhije Berisha
Music: Aldo Bardhi - Albërie Hadërgjonaj “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua” (Where to find someone to love)
Lyrics: Timo Flloko
Music: Adrian Hila
Festivali i Këngës 58 – finalists
- Albërie Hadërgjonaj – “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua”
- Arilena Ara – “Shaj”
- Bojken Lako – “Malaseen”
- Elvana Gjata – “Me tana”
- Era Rusi – “Eja merre”
- Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë”
- Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros”
- Olta Boka – “Botë për dy”
- Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër”
- Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë”
- Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh”
- Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës”
The 12 finalists in Albania’s selection for Eurovision 2020, qualified from one of two semi-finals — five from semi one and seven from semi two.
FiK 58 semi-final one songs
The running order for the first semi-final was:
- Nadia and Genc Tukiçi – “Ju flet Tirana”
- Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër”
- Devis Xherahu – “Bisedoj me serenatën”
- Kanita Suma – “Ankth”
- Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros”
- Bojken Lako – “Malaseen”
- Elvana Gjata – “Me tana”
- Aldo Bardhi – “Melodi”
- Renis Gjoka – “Loja”
- Albërie Hadërgjonaj – “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua”
FiK 58 semi-final two songs
The running order for the second semi-final was:
- Kastro Zizo – “Asaj”
- Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh”
- Olta Boka – “Botë për dy”
- Era Rusi – “Eja merre”
- Wendi Mancaku – “Ende”
- Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë”
- Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë”
- Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohemë”
- Arilena Ara – “Shaj”
- Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës”
How will the FiK 2019 winner be selected?
The winner of the contest will be decided by jury vote alone, which is standard for Festivali i Këngës.
The FiK 58 jury consists of famed Greek Eurovision songwriter Dimitris Kontopoulos, Sweden’s Melodifestivalen producer Christer Björkman and Iceland’s Eurovision Head of Delegation Felix Bergsson, along with two Albanian jurors, ethnomusicologist Mikaela Minga and writer Pita Petro.
Who is favourite to win Festivali i Këngës 58?
Going off YouTube views alone, Elvana Gjata is the runaway favourite. In mere days, “Me Tana” became the most-watched video ever on the official RTSH YouTube channel. At the time of writing, it has amassed over 2.5 million hits. The clip trended in neighbouring North Macedonia (No.10) and Greece (No.45). It was also spotted on the Swiss trending chart.
She also topped our poll to win semi-final one. Kanita Suma came a distant second.
Additionally, Elvana won our poll to determine which act readers were most excited for.
The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — shared their favourites here.
FiK 58 interval acts
Away from the competing, acts RTSH has arranged for some stellar interval entertainment.
The Albanian-born Greek diva Eleni Foureira will make an appearance, serving some fuego. She finished second at Eurovision 2018, representing Cyprus.
Italy’s Eurovision 2019 star Mahmood performed “Soldi” during the first semi while Sanremo star Giusy Ferreri did her thing on the second night. These two acts reflect the close cultural bonds between Albania and Italy, as well as the influence of the Sanremo Music Festival on Festivali i Këngës.
This guide will continue to be updated with Albanian Eurovision news throughout the season.
Last updated 21 December 2019 at 20:00 CET.
im not able to follow this festival… semifinal running order that not coincide with the one that you have up there and when the 5 semifinalist will be chosen … i ve seen the whole show and they did not say nothing about the finalist so.. wtf can someone explain please??
Hello Wiwifans! Does anybody know if RTSH are going to stream FiK, at least this Sunday’s Final?
have a app for this, RTSH
Kanita had won, jury result got leaked, other jurors were Eros Ramazzotti, Ruth Lorenzo
the heavy favourite Kanita was declared the winner, so she’ll represent Albania at ESC2020 with her ethnic ballad bop Ankth
it was fake moron
you’ll see on sunday, how heavy favourite Kanita is titled champion at FiK
juries with their excellent taste going for pure dramatic music
Elvana better luck next year with a stronger message in the song maybe rather than 2 lyrics ”me tana”
but music has won here, i am happy and my votes could go to the gorgeous Kanita, and Albania again if they stage ankth right, jamala style with same graphics she had for 1944
you are delusional lmaoooooo
press x to doubt
What time does the show start tomorrow please?
they usually start around 20:45 CET
also apparently a stream on YouTube (which i’ll be watching it from my smart tv)
I’m legit vibing with ‘Malaseen’.
Will all shows in FiK 58 have the orchestra?
of course, and no worries for Elvana’s song with orchestra, i heard it alongside her vocals and it bops more than studio version
Where can we watch?
Albania has a win in their future, won’t be in 2020 but it’ll be in the next handful of years. I know they can do it.