Albania selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 through the Festivali i Këngës competition, organised by Albanian national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). The 2009 Festivali i Këngës was held over four nights, from 24 to 27 December 2009, and selected the Albanian entry for the 2010 Contest, to be held in May 2010 in Oslo, Norway.

RTSH will change the format of the Festivali i Këngës contest. The contest will be held over four nights, beginning on 24 December and ending with the final on 27 December 2009 at the Palace of Congresses, in Tirana, and will be broadcast live on TVSH, TVSH Sat and over Radio Tirana.

From the 78 songs submitted to RTSH for the contest 38 have been selected to participate in the Contest. These songs will be split into two groups, based upon the experience of the singers: the "big" group will feature songs by experiences singers, while the "young" group will have less experienced artists competing.

The 2009 Contest features the return of many former artists to Festivali i Këngës: Anjeza Shahini, the winner of the 2003 contest, Rovena Dilo, winner of the 2000 contest, Besa Kokëdhima, Juliana Pasha, Flaka Krelani, Mariza Ikonomi and Kejsi Tola, winner of last year's contest all return in the "Big" group. On 12 December it was announced that a number of changes had been made to the line-up: Jorida Zaimaj was originally to take part in the Youth group with "Për ty". After her withdrawal 18 songs remain in the line-up. Besa Kokëdhima and Eliza Hoxha were to compete in the Big Group, however will also withdraw. Kokëdhima's song, "Kalorësi i dashurisë", was originally to be sung by Rona Nishliu and Pirro Çako, however was not performed, with Çako performing another song, "Një tjetër jetë", in its place. Hoxha's position remained vacant, leaving 18 songs in the "Big Group".

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Wikipedia