Music
Junior Eurovision: first rehearsal footage released, Eslin Kurti 14th on stage; dress rehearsal for the juries on Friday
Organizers released the first clips from the rehearsals of the 16 contestants in Malta. With the second rehearsals over, Albania’s representative enters the two decisive days before Saturday’s final.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 22, 2026, 08:55 · Updated 12:24 · 2 min read
In brief
- Junior Eurovision 2026 organizers released 30-second clips from the rehearsals of all 16 contestants, including Eslin Kurti.
- The second stage rehearsals wrapped up on Oct. 21; the first dress rehearsal takes place Friday and also serves as the jury show.
- The final is on Saturday, Oct. 24; RTSH will broadcast it live from 9 p.m. on RTSH 1 HD, RTSH Music and Radio Tirana.
Albania’s representative at Junior Eurovision 2026, Eslin Kurti, has entered the final phase of preparations in Malta. On Thursday morning, contest organizers released 30-second clips from the stage rehearsals of the 16 contestants, among them the 12-year-old singer from Durrës with the song “Kërce me mua” (“Dance with me”).
According to the contest schedule, the artists held their first rehearsals on the stage of the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali on Oct. 18 and 19, with 30 minutes for each delegation. The second round of rehearsals began on Oct. 20 and ended on Oct. 21, the last chance for staging changes before the dress rehearsals.
Four artists on stage
Eslin will perform accompanied by three dancers and a backing singer. Among them are Jaesmin Caku and Ameis Demiraj. According to specialist media, the Albanian number uses elements of this edition’s shared stage, inspired by Maltese alleyways, a park and a science-fiction-style setting. The song, with lyrics and music by Eriona Rushiti and her co-writers, was rearranged this summer in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Albania performs 14th in the running order of 16 countries, after Ireland and before Georgia. The first dress rehearsal takes place on Friday, Oct. 23, and also serves as the show on which the professional juries vote. The result is determined by the jury vote and the public online vote, which is also open to viewers in non-participating countries.
Broadcast on RTSH
RTSH has announced that Saturday’s final will be broadcast live from 9 p.m. on RTSH 1 HD and RTSH Music, and on radio on Radio Tirana. Culture Minister Blendi Gonxhja called on Albanians this week to support Eslin with their votes. Albania’s best result remains Mishela Rapo’s fifth place in 2015 with the song “Dambaje.”
