Brace yourselves as the 2021 Eurovision national final season is set to kick off tonight in Albania with the first show of Festival i Këngës 59.

We will be travelling to the majestic capital of the Land of the Eagle aka Albania where a total of 25 acts are set to battle for the golden ticket to Eurovision 2021 during the first show of Fest 59.

Fest 59

Fest 59 will consist of 3 shows broadcast on RTSH 1 from 21-23 December. Albania will determine the 2021 Albanian Eurovision hopeful and entry on Wednesday 23 December.

All three shows will be held in an open air venue, namely next to the iconic Italia Square in the Albanian capital due to the COVID-19 restrictions in the country. Usually the competition is held at the Congress Palace in Tirana, but due to the pandemic RTSH has opted to hold the festival at an open air location.

The Albanian iconic song festival will be hosted by Blendi Salaj and Jonida Vokshi and will be directed by  Martin Leka.

How to watch?

You can watch the First Gala of Fest 59  at 21:00 CET via the following channels:

• RTSH 1
• RTSH HD
• RTHS 1 webcast

The candidates

• Devis Xherahu
• Orgesa Zaimi
• Festina Mejzini
• Franc Koruni
• Inis Neziri
• Sardi Strugaj
• Gjergj Kaçinari
• Durim Morina (Mirudi)
• Evi Reçi
• Rosela Gjylbegu
• Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso)
• Klinti Çollaku
• Anxhela Peristeri
• Wendi Mancaku
• Fatos Shabani
• Florent Abrashi
• Enxhi Nasufi
• Kamela Islamaj
•  Era Rusi
• Erikson Lloshi
• Xhesika Polo
  
•  Giliola Haveriku
• Viktor Tahiraj
• Agim Poshka
•  Stefan Marena

About the show

During tonight’s show all 25 acts will perform their competing entries in studio version and will showcase their respective Eurovision staging ideas. There will be no eliminations during tonight show.

Albania in Eurovision

Albania debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 with Anjeza Shahini and is yet to win the competition. The country’s best result in the contest in the contest was achieved in 2012 when Rona Nishliu placed 5th in the Grand Final in Baku.

The Balkan country has participated in Europe’s favourite television show 16 times and has not missed a single contest since its debut in 2004.

Arilena Ara was set to represent Albania at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with her entry ‘Fall from the sky‘ but unfortunately was not able to grace the Eurovision stage due to the untimely cancellation of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.