Tonight, the grand final of the 60th edition of Albania‘s Festivali i Këngës was held at the Palace of Congresses of Tirana in front of a live audience. At the end of the show, a jury of industry professionals and RTSH personnel named Ronela Hajati as the winner with her song “Sekret“.
Furthermore, Alban Ramosaj was named as runner-up, while newcomer Eldis Arrnjeti and Rezarta Smaja, were awarded a joint third-place award. The jury in charge was composed of composers Agim Doçi, Osman Mula, Olsa Toqi and Olti Curri, businesswoman Anxhela Faber, singer Rozana Radi and Eurovision 2021 Albanian entrant Anxhela Peristeri, who was also in charge of giving the three trophees awarded.
Tonight’s 17 finalists and their respective songs were:
- Olimpia Smajlaj – “Dua”
- Denis Skura – “Pse nuk flet, mama?”
- Kelly – “Meteor”
- Sajmir Çili – “Nën maskë”
- Ester Zahiri – “Hiena”
- Kastro Zizo – “Kujë”
- Urban Band – “Padrejtësi”
- Gjergj Kaçinari – “Në ëndërr mbete ti”
- Evi Reci – “Me duaj”
- Mirud – “Për dreq”
- Endri & Stefi – “Triumfi i jetës”
- Ronela Hajati – “Sekret”
- Shega – “Një”
- Janex – “Deluzional”
- Alban Ramosaj – “Theje”
- Eldis Arrnjeti – “Refuzoj”
- Rezarta Smaja – “E jemja nuse”
This year’s edition of Festivali i Këngës marked the 60th anniversary of the competition and featured two additional shows hosted on 27th and 28th December, all three conducted by Xhemi Shesu, Isli Islami, Kelvi Kadilli and Albanian Eurovision 2019 entrant Jonida Maliqi. The first show on Monday featured all 20 initial participants performing their competing entries and eliminated 3 acts from the 6 “new artists” category, while the second one on Tuesday featured the 14 “big artists” performing acoustic versions of their entries with past Festivali i Këngës legends, while the 3 remaining “new artist” did so but by themselves.
All three shows were brought back to its traditional venue and audience in the Palace of Congresses after last year’s edition had to be held outdoors in the Italy Square without in-person spectators due to the ongoing pandemic.