Albania in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Albania participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Besoj" written by Adrian Hila and Pandi Laço. The song was performed by Klesta Quehaja. The Albanian entry for the 2016 contest in Valletta, Malta was selected through a national final organised by the Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. The national final consisted of fourteen competing acts participating in a televised production where the winner was determined by 100% votes of jury members made up of music professionals. Klesta Qehaja won the Festivali 52 i Këngës për Fëmijë with the song "Besoj", on 1 June 2016.
Background
Prior to the 2016 Contest, Albania had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest two times since its first entry in 2012, only opting not to participate at the 2013 and 2014 contests. Albania has never won the contest, with their best result being in, with the song "Dambaje" performed by Mishela Rapo, achieving fifth place with a score of 93 points.Before Junior Eurovision
National final
The national final, Festivali 52 i Këngës për Fëmijë, took place on 1 June 2016. The national final consisted of fourteen competing acts participating in a televised production where the winner was be determined by 100% votes of jury members made up of music professionals.| Draw | Artist | Song | Language | English translation | Place |
| 1 | Zhaklina Veizaj | "Bote miresie kerkoj" | Albanian | The World Kindly Asks | |
| 2 | Dario Zela | "We Need Love" | Albanian, English | — | |
| 3 | Rajan Kukaleshi | "Vetem nuk je" | Albanian | You're Not Alone | |
| 4 | Jasmina Hako | "Si fluturim" | Albanian | Like Flying | 2 |
| 5 | Michelle Prodani | "Prinder" | Albanian | Parents | |
| 6 | Xhesika Pengili | "Largoje trishtimin" | Albanian | Remove the Sorrow | |
| 7 | Marko Strazimiri | "Music Makes My Day" | Albanian, English | — | 3 |
| 8 | Vivian Biaxhorni & Xhamerino Bollati | "Ne mes yjesh" | Albanian | Between the Stars | |
| 9 | Endi Muça | "Dua te jem" | Albanian | I Want To Be | |
| 10 | Klesta Qehaja | "Besoj" | Albanian | I Believe | 1 |
| 11 | Klea Mema | "Dua te jem e lire" | Albanian | I Want To Be Free | |
| 12 | Eda Muça | "Lulja qe me dhurove" | Albanian | The Flower You Gave | |
| 13 | Dea Çobo | "Mirese erdhe flutur" | Albanian | Welcome Butterfly | 3 |
| 14 | Vivian Kokeri | "Portat e gëzimit" | Albanian | Gates of joy |
Jury members
The jury members were as follows :- Adelina Mamaqi
- Aleksandër Lalo
- Era Rusi
- Gordon Bonello
- Irma Libohova
- Martin Leka
- Olga Salamakha
Preparation
Artist and song information
Klesta Qehaja
Klesta Qehaja is an Albanian singer. She represented Albania with the song "Besoj", at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Valletta, Malta on 20 November 2016.Prior to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Qehaja had participated in multiple contests such as Gjeniu i Vogël in Albania, Shining Star in Turkey, Bled Golden Microphone in Serbia, and most notably winning first prize in the Pristina Kids Fest.
Besoj
"Besoj" is a song performed by Albanian child singer Klesta Qehaja. It represented Albania during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016. It is composed and written by Adrian Hila and Pandi Laço who also composed and wrote the previous Albanian entry "Dambaje".At Junior Eurovision
During the opening ceremony and the running order draw which took place on 14 November 2016, Albania was drawn to perform third on 20 November 2016, following Armenia and preceding Russia.The final will be broadcast in Albania on TVSH, RTSH Muzikë and Radio Tirana with commentary by Andri Xhahu.