Public attention in Albania and across the Albanian diaspora is now focused on May 14, when the second semifinal of the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, Austria. Albania will be represented this year by Alis with the song “Nan”, aiming to secure a place in the grand final on May 16.
Alis enters one of the world’s biggest music competitions after winning Albania’s national selection at the Festival i Këngës on RTSH. Following that victory, the young artist earned the right to represent the country on the Eurovision stage and will perform 13th during the second semifinal, a performance slot that fans hope will help attract strong audience support.
With Eurovision voting rules not allowing viewers to vote for their own country from from Albania, the Albanian diaspora is expected to play a crucial role in the country’s qualification hopes. Supporters living abroad are being encouraged to participate actively and help Albania collect enough votes to reach the final stage of the competition.
For Albanians living in countries participating in the second semifinal, voting can be completed during the live broadcast on May 14 by following the official voting instructions displayed on screen and selecting the artist’s corresponding performance number. Meanwhile, Albanians living in countries that are not participating in this year’s contest can still support Albania online through the official Eurovision voting platform.
The competition remains intense, as only 10 countries from each semifinal will qualify for the grand final. The final result is determined through a combination of public televoting and professional jury scores, making every vote important.
Alongside the competing semifinalists, the “Big 5” countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—automatically qualify for the final, as does Austria as the host nation. These countries also retain voting rights throughout the competition.
As anticipation grows ahead of May 14, Albanian fans worldwide are preparing to unite behind Alis and “Nan” in hopes of seeing Albania once again reach the Eurovision final.