Following the Albanian national broadcaster’s confirmation in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, submissions will officially open for Albania’s selection method for the competition next month.

Kicking off on the 10 October, artists will have just over a day in order to submit their entries for the 55th edition of the nation competition, Festivali i Këngës (FiK). Submissions will close on the 11 October at 14:00 CEST, with rules and regulations set to be released in the coming weeks.

As is tradition, FiK is set to take place in the month of December where it is expected that a total of 3 shows will take place; 2 semi-finals and the Grand Final. Dates for the Albanian competition will be revealed in due course by the Albanian national broadcaster.

Albania’s Eurovision history

Since their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, the Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has opted to select the country’s entrant for the competition via the nation’s famous song contest FiK, where the winner of the competition goes on to represent Albania at the European contest.

Albania’s best result to date was in 2012 when Rona Nishliu was selected to represent the nation with her song Suus. Qualifying from the first semi-final in 2nd position, Nishliu finished in 5th place at the Grand Final receiving a total of 146 points.

Eneda Tarifa was chosen as Albania’s representative for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, winning FiK 54 with her song Përrallë. Translating the song into English for the contest, Fairytale received 45 points in the second semi-final and therefore did not qualify to the Grand Final.