Who is Alis? Meet Albania’s Eurovision 2026 entry

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Okay, so Albania’s going with Alis for Eurovision 2026, and let me tell you, she’s a really interesting artist. She’s a pop singer, but with a definite indie vibe – think less mainstream gloss and more genuine, alternative sound. She performs just as ‘Alis,’ which is cool and keeps things simple. I’m definitely intrigued to see what she brings to the stage!

He earned the chance to represent Albania in Eurovision after receiving the highest scores in the national selection. Now, the question is whether he can achieve the same success on the Eurovision stage.

Albania has never won Eurovision, the closest it has ever come was fifth place in 2012.

Get ready to learn all about Alis, the Albanian singer, as he prepares to perform!

Who is Albania Eurovision 2026 entry Alis?

Instagram: @aliskallaci

TikTok: @aliskallaci

Alis Kallaçi is a singer-songwriter who became well-known after winning the fifth season of X Factor Albania. He then competed to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest the following year at Festivali i Këngës, placing third with his song “Mjegull.”

He returned to the Festivali i Këngës last year – its 64th edition – and won with the song he’ll be taking to Eurovision. He received the highest scores from both the judges and the public.

Alis is a musician who plays both piano and guitar. His most popular song to date, ‘Sta Kam Than,’ was released last summer.

How old is Alis?

Alis Kallaçi is 23 years old.

What nationality is Alis?

Alis is Albanian and was born in the county’s fourth biggest city, Shkodër.

What has Alis said about representing Albania at Eurovision 2026?

Alis described representing his country as a dream come true, jokingly calling himself a lifelong Eurovision enthusiast.

Alis shared his lifelong passion for Eurovision, admitting he’s been a huge fan every year. He explained that performing in the competition is a major dream for any aspiring artist, and definitely one of his own.

He added: “I don’t have any expectations to win, I just want my song to breathe.”

What is Albania’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

Alis will be representing Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 with his song, “Nân,” which means “mother” in Albanian. His girlfriend, Zara, wrote the lyrics. Describing the song’s warm and comforting feel, Alis compared it to the taste of homemade byrek.

He explained that his song is about a mother’s enduring love and the patient hope she holds for her children, always being there for them no matter what.

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Where did Albania come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Last year, Shkodra Elektronike performed for Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. They achieved a strong eighth-place finish with their song, Zjerm, earning a total of 218 points.

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The Eurovision Song Contest has received a lot of criticism for letting Israel participate this year, given the current war happening in Gaza.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in the contest this year because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against banning Israel from competing.

In December 2025, the EBU held a meeting where members voted to establish rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly pushing certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate.

The EBU announced that most of its members decided another vote on participation wasn’t necessary and that the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will go ahead as scheduled, with extra safety measures in place.

After that announcement, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all stated they would not be competing in Eurovision this year.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, citing the ongoing and devastating loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They believe it would be inappropriate to participate while civilians continue to be at risk.

As a big fan, I was surprised to hear about the decision, but the BBC, who show the contest here in the UK, have come out in support of the EBU. They’ve said it’s all about making sure everyone follows the rules and keeping things fair and inclusive, which I guess is a good thing.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can find a complete list of Eurovision winners, as well as see how many times the UK has been victorious in the competition.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-14 09:27