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Albania officially chose its Eurovision Song Contest 2026 entry at Festivali i Këngës 64, the country’s long-standing national selection. The festival took place from 17 to 20 December 2025, with 28 artists competing in the semi-finals and 23 songs reaching the grand final at the Palace of Congresses.
The final result combined jury voting and public televoting, and Alis emerged as the clear winner with his song “Nân”, securing Albania’s ticket to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna.

A decisive win at Festivali i Këngës

Alis topped the scoreboard with 152 points, showing rare consensus between voting groups. He led the televote with 84 points and added 68 points from the jury, opening a 50-point gap over second place. The result underlined broad appeal, both with professionals and the public.

First held in 1962, Festivali i Këngës is one of Europe’s longest-running televised music competitions and has served as Albania’s Eurovision selection method since 2004. The festival remains a cornerstone of the national music calendar and a launchpad for both established artists and new voices.

About the song “Nân”

“Nân” means “Mother” in Albanian. The song is an orchestral pop ballad, written by Alis with lyrics by Desara Gjini and produced by Erjet Barbullushi. It runs for approximately 3 minutes and 9 seconds and is performed entirely in Albanian.

The lyrics focus on a mother waiting for her child who has left home. They evoke empty rooms, familiar routines, and memories of shared moments, blending quiet pain with enduring love and hope. The themes of family, separation, and migration give the song strong emotional reach and make it easy to relate to across borders.

Why “Nân” stands out for Eurovision

The song’s structure and delivery give it clear jury appeal. Strong vocal control, emotional restraint, and a coherent narrative align well with criteria often rewarded by professional juries. The orchestral arrangement supports the vocal line without overpowering it.

At the same time, the story remains accessible to the wider public. Even without understanding Albanian, viewers can grasp the message through melody, performance, and staging. This dual appeal places “Nân” in a competitive position ahead of the contest.

The podium at Festivali i Këngës 64

Second place went to Inis Neziri, who finished with 102 points. Her result was driven mainly by public support. “Ta kam fal” received 70 points from the televote and 32 from the jury, confirming strong audience connection and solid technical delivery.

Third place was claimed by Sheila Haxhiraj, with 93 points. Sheila topped the jury vote with 65 points, but earned 28 points from the public, which pushed her to third overall. A jury-only ranking would have placed her first, highlighting a clear split between jury preferences and televote trends.

Voting dynamics and final picture

The combined result showed agreement at the top, but deeper in the table the divide between jury and public became clear. Several mid-table entries relied almost entirely on televoting, while others advanced thanks to jury support.

The televote proved particularly restrictive. From tenth place downward, many songs received zero public points, leaving jury scores as the main factor shaping the lower half of the ranking. Four entries finished the final on zero points overall, underlining how sharply attention focused on a small group of songs.

Looking ahead

Albania enters Eurovision 2026 with a focused and emotionally grounded entry. The decisive win at Festivali i Këngës suggests strong foundations, especially with juries. Staging choices and live delivery in Vienna will play a key role in shaping the final result.

“Nân” combines personal storytelling with musical restraint. That balance makes Alis one of the entries to watch as the Eurovision season unfolds.