RTSH, the Albanian national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday the dates for the 55th Festivali i Këngës. Albania will be selecting its Eurovision act and entry for Kyiv on 23 December.

The 55th Festivali i Këngës will consist of a total of 3 shows (2 semifinals and 1 grand final) scheduled to run from 21- 23 December 2016. Thus Albania will be kicking off the 2017 Eurovision national final season. The 2017 Eurovision Albanian national selection will be held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana.

RTSH, the Albanian national broadcaster is expected to reveal the names of the 55 FiK hosts in due course.

FiK 55 Calendar

• 21/12- Semifinal 1
• 22/12- Semifinal 2
• 23/12- Grand Final

A total of 24 acts will battle for the golden ticket to Kyiv in order to fly the Albanian flag at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. 12 acts will compete in each of the 2 semifinal battling for a place in the Grand Final.

In 2016 Albania selected its Eurovision act via its annual song festival Festivali i Kenges. Eneda Tarifa won the 2015 Festivali i Kenges and was awarded the golden ticket to represent Albania at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm with her enty Fairytale.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 9, 11, 13 May at the IEC in Kyiv, Ukraine.