It’s an historic day for Kosovo and its national broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo. Tonight marks the premiere of Festivali i Këngës në RTK, which would serve as Kosovo’s national selection contest if it’s ever allowed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The first edition of Festivali i Këngës në RTK — can we call you FiKRTK? — will be more of a celebration than a competition. The winner will not, of course, be able to compete at next year’s Eurovision.
But the first edition of Festivali i Këngës në RTK is important in other ways. Insiders say it’s a way for the broadcaster to demonstrate its enthusiasm for Eurovision and a way to show the EBU it has the ability and passion to stage a national final.
Tonight eighteen songs will compete.
Albin Nikprelaj “Ajo”
Angus Dei “Një zemër për dy”
Ariela Krasniqi “Emri grua”
Auron Deva “Çmimi i dashnisë”
Bana Zahiti “Dukat”
Ermal Demiri “Merri”
Franc Koruni “Shqip”
Hilmi Obertinca “Pa ty s’më rrihet”
InorgA “Shumë herë më nervozojnë”
Klea Dina “Trenat”
La Fazani “Oj Kosovë”
Mentor Mripa “Po ju rrëfehem”
Neki Emra “Heroi im”
Nita Latifi “Marrëzi”
Saranda Alija “Mendoj ku je”
Teuta Statovci “Sekreti i tij”
Urban Band “Ëndrrat s’kanë faj”
Vjosa Shehu “Vetës”
The show will premiere tonight at 21:00 CET and will be broadcast live on RTK1, RTK2, and Radio Kosova. Those outside of Kosovo can watch at rtklive.com, RTSH of Albania and MRT2 of North Macedonia.
Do you want to see Kosovo at Eurovision? And will you be watching tonight? Let us know down below…
So, RTK created FiK without trying to make it slightly different than FiK in Albania?! Okay, they are both Albanians , but Kosovo is still a different thing.
On participating, I don’t think Kosovo will compete at ESC anytime soon. Firstly, EBU doesn’t need another political drama and secondly, for various reasons I think they would rather prefer Serbia there then getting Kosovo and seeing Serbia withdraw.
On one hand I think it’s awesome that Kosovo is clearly showing their passion and interest to compete in Eurovision, but I think the issue still remains with the fact that they’re not an officially recognized country within the United Nations. Still, if there is a possibility for them to appear besides Serbia competing together (which is one hell of a fever dream, I’m not saying it’s a possible outcome) then I’m all for it. As it stands though, I highly doubt Kosovo is actually gonna succeed in debuting at Eurovision, and to be honest… I don’t know if I… Read more »
Its Not A Country . Sorry NATO War Mongrals , But Your Puppet State Cant Compete
Albania Will Be Getting Garanteed 24 Points Ewery Time From This Falsly Created State . Its Not Fair Plus This Is Always Been Region Of Serbia Until NATO Was Inwolwed To Balkans
Good for them, but I’d rather have Serbia in Eurovision.
Serbia Sends Great Songs Ewery Year And Albania Just Always Will Send Screaching Women So This Sepratist Region Probly Will Do This To . We Dont Need This In The Esc
Whatever your personal opinion on the matter, Kosovo is still recognised as a region of Serbia by the UN, Russia and China not about to change their stance anytime soon and thus they can’t join Eurovision, so not sure how their new tv show has relates to Eurovision. Other than having a similar name to the Albanian NF
What does the UN have to do with eurovision? The UN is a weird organisation which is hyperfixated on certain issues and ignores other ones.
The UN is a useless organization made up by bureaucrats who only love living in nice cities such as NYC, Geneva and Vienna, and Russia and China themselves have colonies, so their opinion doesn’t count
Unfortunately their opinion DOES count. It’s a major problem with the UN
What has UN got to do with ESC? It is a toothless organisation. It could not even protect Srebrenica which was their only job during war. Leading to massacre..
And Kosovo has always been Kosovo despite what war worshipping Russians and Serbians think. The fact that Serbia occupied the territory does not make it Serbian
Kosovo cannot compete until they become a UN member.
I believe the only way Kosovo can be represented at Eurovision is when they merge with Albania, which won’t happen anytime soon.
I don’t think the rule is UN member. The broadcaster must join the EBU, but I don’t think it technically requires a UN membership – just that they be designated a “national broadcaster”. For example, Wales has competed in the Eurovision choirs spin off independent from the UK despite being a constituant part. So it’s not like Kosovo is categorically forbidden from competing by being (according to many countries) a subordinate state to Serbia. The EBU would likely not approve their addition to the contest just yet for fear of causing a controversy, but I could certainly see it happening… Read more »
To be in the EBU, you need to be in the International Television Union. To be in the ITU you need to be a member of the UN.
Wales competed using the UK’s ticket, with the blessing of the british broadcasters. Don’t think Serbia would extend the same offer to Kosovo, even if it was to step out a year.
If This Sepratist Region Unites To Albania How Is This Different To Russia ? Albania Should Be Permently Banned From The ESC If They Unite Or It Is Hipocritik
I’ll be watching!
We have to be realistic. Kosovo isn’t recognized by enough countries to be accepted into EBU, and in case of joing Eurovision, Serbia would leave the contest, which wouldn’t be good, as we already have Albania in the contest, so Kosovo would only send one more albanian song and then exchange points with Albania. Serbia is a unique country, original, and brought so much into the contest so far, and we can’t loose it for political reason (because Kosovo is not interested in Eurovision, they only care for joining due to political reasons and that is a fact).
Wait so we can have Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia all sing in basically the same language, but when Albanians do it, it’s a problem? Okay what about Austria and Germany? Also lets not forget Kosovo Albanians have contributed disproportionately towards pop culture for the last 10 years, the biggest pop star in the world is a Kosovo Albanian woman mhm mhm
You haven’t read properly. I haven’t mentioned Albanian language anywhere. Ex yu countries are all different in culture, traditions and even language. Albania and Kosovo are the same thing. Think before you act impulsively.
EX Yu countries all have same culture and language. That’s what happens when you shared the same country…
Serbia is no more unique than Croatia or Montenegro, and gets the most points from those countries.
So if we can have 6 competing countries with same language and culture taking part why can’t we have that for Albanian?
But Serbia everytime takes points from montenegro macedonia they are like brothers. its the same. The same case is Cyprus Greece, Belarus Russia. They couldnt win just with 24 points hehe
I’m so excited to see how it will turn out. The broadcaster said that it’s gonna be 100% jury vote like in Albania, but this time the entries are diverse. If that’s true, RTSH should look at what they do and change their format to not have only 2 amazing songs in their selection and the rest just being there for fun. Festivali i Këngës is a fun national final in December, but if this festival took place in – let’s say – February, most people wouldn’t even watch it ‘cuz they’re too busy watching one of the best national… Read more »
A really big congratulations to KOSOVO hope you join the eurovision song contest family soo
and then Serbia are forever gone
we don’t need Kosovo, we already have Albania so, that is enough albanian language
Ok I like what you are saying but I don’t agree with you
Anonymouse Is Right And You Cant Explain Why She Isnt So You Know You Are Wrong And Just Supoort This Propaganda
Except Kosovo is a country. It is in normalization talks with Serbia. So they have every right to voice their desire to participate.
No It Isnt And Never Will Be . But Serbia They Have No Choise Left , NATO Will Never Let Them Stay Complete And Can Inwade As Before If Serbia Refuses