Festivali i Këngës (Kosovo)

Festivali i Këngës në RTK, simply known as Festivali i Këngës and informally as Fest, is an annual music competition in Kosovo organised by the national broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) since 2023. It is broadcast on RTK 1, RTK 2 and Radio Kosova 1, as well as on RTSH in Albania and on MRT 2 in North Macedonia.

History
The contest was modelled on the basis of the festival of the same name held in Albania since 1962 and used as the Albanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2003. Kosovo, formerly part of, has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest on its own, but the contest has been broadcast in the territory since 1961 and a number of Kosovan artists have represented Albania or in the event.

Despite its inability to become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in order to take part in the contest, in February 2023 Kosovan broadcaster RTK started to develop the format, with the long-term aim of using it as its national selection for Eurovision. The format was ultimately defined on 7 March 2023. In October 2023, shortly before the launch of its first edition, the festival's director Adi Krasta reported that he had been in contact with people at EBU who had expressed "extreme enthusiasm" regarding the event. Director-general of the EBU Noel Curran made a remote appearance during the first night of the festival to express his congratulations.

RTK stated it would apply for EBU membership in June 2024, having reaffirmed the intention to participate in Eurovision and use the next edition of the festival to select its entrant.

2023
The inaugural edition of Festivali i Këngës was held at the Great Hall of the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina, directed by Adi Krasta and co-hosted by Krasta and Besim Dina (all shows) alongside Edona Kasapolli (first night), Anjeza Shahini (second night) and Edona Reshitaj (third night); it consisted of two qualification shows on 26 and 27 October 2023 and a final on 28 October 2023. The artistic director for this edition was Florent Boshnjaku, while performances were conducted by Alfred Kaçinari, Edon Ramadani and Valton Beqiri; the four, as well as Shpëtim Saraçi and Visar Kuçi, also served as orchestrators.

A submission period was open between 2 June and 9 September 2023 to select eighteen competing entries. At the festival, a 5-member jury – consisting of Adi Hila, Alban Nimani, Zake Prelvukaj, Ulla Sjöström and chair Alma Bektashi – voted to determine ten qualifiers from the first phase and the first three places in the final. The winner was La Fazani	(Arbër Salihu) with "Oj Kosovë".

A number of guest performers also made an appearance in this edition, namely Bektashi herself, Alban Nimani, Dafina Zeqiri, Enver Petrovci, Fitnete Tuda, Genc Salihu, Ilire Vinca and her daughters, Irma Libohova, Kamela Islamaj and Teuta Kurti, Timo Flloko, Shpat Deda, and Xuxi.

2024
The second edition of Festivali i Këngës is set to be held in late October 2024, directed by Adi Krasta with Florent Boshnjaku as artistic director and Arta Avdiu as executive producer. A submission period is open between 31 May and 31 August 2024 to select the competing entries.