RTK Song Festival opens fourth edition under Kosovo Chords theme
The fourth edition of the RTK Song Festival opened under the theme “Kosovo Chords,” bringing back the historic era of the festival after nearly three decades of pause, koha.net reported on October 30, 2026.
Teuta Kurti and Florent Abrashi opened the evening with a musical collage reviving songs from the original era. The main competition program then commenced with Besmir Shishko performing “Perjetëstësit,” followed by Shpend Lleshi with “Vala,” Verona Kastrati with “Flakë,” and Sajana Kodheli with “E lirë.”
Poetic Entries and Rock Variations on Stage
Troja Bicurri presented her self-written guitar piece titled “Mali dhe Hana,” while the group Hawolf introduced a rock sound to the stage with their song “Ti si uni.” Guest performer Jonida Maliqi sang “Thesar pa ëmer,” a dedication to her son, followed by “Ktheju tokës,” the song she previously performed representing Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest. Maliqi noted her return to the stage after a 15-year absence, stating that Kosovo had missed the festival.
🎶 The fourth edition of “Akordet e Kosovës” kicks off tonight at 9 PM, bringing together artists from Kosovo, Albania and the diaspora.✨ The evening begins with a red carpet before the festival takes the stage, live on RTK! 📺 pic.twitter.com/tZvasZN3kh
Sidorela Kelmendi-Gashi, who also represented Albania at Eurovision with Albina and the Kelmendi Family, performed the ballad “Vetëm kam Ħaltë.” Additional performances during the opening night included Rinea Vitija with “History,” Arbër Krasniqi with the rock ballad “Autumn,” Algert Sala and Jet with “Gati tu,” Dea Pasha with “Sërish,” and Miranda Lipovica with “Pranvera.” Niki Selmanaj, Rei Bezhani and Martina Serreqi, Urim Salihu, Khuba, Olimpia Smajlaj, Fatbardha Nikçi, and Art Lokaj rounded out the first night of competition performances across various genres.
Kosovo Post Issues Stamps to Mark Festival Return
To mark the return of the event, the Kosovo Post issued a special philatelic collection consisting of a stamp and a first-day cover. The Kosovo Post presented the stamp via live broadcast during the opening night of the festival, highlighting the institution’s engagement with the country’s cultural and artistic history. The competition spans three nights, showcasing new artists and self-composed tracks before an audience and a professional jury.