Alis wins Festivali i Këngës 64 and will represent Albania at Eurovision 2026
Albania has made its choice. After several nights of competition, nostalgia and the kind of tension only a national final can generate, Festivali i Këngës 64 has crowned its winner. Alis triumphed with “Nân” at the grand final held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, securing the right to represent Albania at Eurovision 2026.
The show was hosted by Arilena Ara alongside comedian Salsano Rrapi and featured a few familiar Eurovision faces in the room, including Shkodra Elektronike, who represented Albania last May in Basel, and Tommy Cash, whose entry “Espresso Macchiato” became one of the season’s most talked-about songs.
A competitive final decided by jury and public
A total of 23 artists reached the final following two semi-finals earlier in the week, all chasing the same prize: a ticket to the Eurovision stage. As ever, Festivali i Këngës offered a wide musical spectrum, from intimate ballads to more contemporary and experimental entries.
The result was determined through a mixed voting system. A professional jury held 50% of the total voting power, while the remaining 50% was split between televoting in Albania and Kosovo and an international online vote. This balance ultimately worked in favour of Alis, whose “Nân” impressed the jury enough to secure first place overall.
The final ranking
Behind the winner, the scoreboard revealed a tight and, at times, debated ranking:
- Alis – “Nân” (152)
- Inis Neziri – “Ta kam fal” (102)
- Sheila – “Zemra e Tokës” (93)
- Fifi & Tiri Gjoci – “Rri” (85)
- Vedat Ademi – “Kur fjala mbaron” (63)
- Sara Kapo – “Të dua shumë” (55)
- Endri Kaçaçi – “Si unë” (54)
- 2Farm – “Valle mbi hi” (52)
- Luna Çausholli – “Pa kufij” (36)
- Enxhi Nasufi – “Dritë” (25)
- Frensi – “Tresh” (22)
- Ghiti – “Okej!” (17)
- Rezarta Smaja – “Balukeprera” (15)
- Savjana Vjerdha – “Dimër për dimër e vjeshtë për vjeshtë” (11)
- Lorenc Hasrama – “Lamtumirë” (10)
- Greta Mahmutaj – “Në krahët e tu” (7)
- Rigersa Loka – “Albanian Heart” (5)
- Erik Lloshi – “Dy pika dashuri” (4)
- Kamela Islamaj – “Pa pretendime” (4)
- Lynx – “Nuk kthehem pas”
- Evi Reçi – “Kodi i jetës”
- Kleansa Susaj – “Hije”
- Gresa Gjocera & Bledi Kaso – “Busulla e zemrës”
As always with FiK, not everyone agreed with the outcome, but the final ranking reflected the diversity of this year’s line-up and the decisive role of the jury in shaping the result.
Looking ahead to Vienna
With this win, Alis will now represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, set to take place in Vienna. Expectations will naturally be influenced by last year’s strong result, when Shkodra Elektronike finished eighth in Basel with “Zjerm”.
Whether “Nân” follows a similar trajectory or charts a completely different course remains to be seen. What is certain is that Albania once again approaches Eurovision with a clear artistic identity and a national final that refuses to play it safe.
Eurovision season has officially begun in Tirana.
And Albania is very much in the conversation.
