TIRANA, January 13 – Alis, winner of RTSH’s 64th Song Festival, will perform in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026, authorities confirmed.

They said that the song “Nan” will take the stage on Thursday, 14 May 2026. In addition, officials explained that producers from ORF have not finalized the running order or the voting code number. EBU will approve the schedule to ensure a smooth and dynamic broadcast.

Earlier, authorities placed Albania in Pot 1 with regional neighbors Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Switzerland. They noted that this arrangement prevents geopolitical or neighborly voting on the same night.

Observers said that Alis will face strong competition to secure a spot in the grand final.

Eurovision 2026 schedule

Officials confirmed the festival calendar in Vienna. They reported that the first semi-final will start on Tuesday, 12 May at 21:00. The second semi-final, Albania’s night, will follow on Thursday, 14 May at 21:00. Authorities added that the grand final will take place on Saturday, 16 May.

Authorities stated that 35 public broadcasters will participate in the 70th edition. They added that the “Big 4” countries, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and the host country Austria qualify automatically for the final. Officials also clarified which countries’ audiences can vote during the semi-finals.

They recalled that “Nan” won RTSH’s 64th Song Festival in 2025. Authorities said that Alis described the victory as the fulfillment of a major dream.

/a.p./