RTK relaunches Akordet e Kosovës contest

Radio Television of Kosovo, or RTK, has brought back Akordet e Kosovës after signing a new cooperation agreement with Kosovo’s culture authorities, reopening a music contest that local outlets describe as one of the country’s oldest Albanian-language festivals. RTK said the revived project is intended to develop artists, promote Kosovar music and, if eligibility conditions are met, function as a selection platform for Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision Song Contest entries. Eurovoix and other Eurovision-focused outlets reported the relaunch on May 23, after local coverage earlier in the week said RTK and the ministry had formalized the new deal. Kosovo is not currently eligible to compete in either contest because RTK is not a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, according to Eurovision-focused reports. ### What exactly did RTK relaunch? Akordet e Kosovës is the contest RTK said it is restoring to its programming after what Eurovision-focused outlets described as a gap of decades. Local reports cited by those outlets said the broadcaster and the ministry agreed to work together on organizing the festival, artist training programs and the promotion of Kosovar music. (eurovisionfun.com) Telegrafi said the agreement covers the “return and development” of the traditional project within RTK’s programming, while ObserverKult described Akordet e Kosovës as the first and one of the most important Albanian music festivals in Kosovo. RTK’s English-language site also listed a culture item saying “Kosova Accords” had returned to RTK after an agreement with the ministry. (eurovisionfun.com) ### How is Eurovision tied to a domestic Kosovo music contest? RTK said the contest would be used as a national selection event for the Eurovision Song Contest and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest if Kosovo’s broadcaster becomes a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, according to Eurovisionfun’s report on the broadcaster’s announcement. Eurovoix’s May 23 report likewise said the relaunch was tied to aims for both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision. (telegrafi.com) The broadcaster also said the project is meant to strengthen the national music industry and create a platform for new talent, Eurovisionfun reported. Local reports said the parties agreed to develop training programs for artists as part of the cooperation. ### Why can’t Kosovo enter Eurovision right now? (eurovisionfun.com) Kosovo remains ineligible for both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision because RTK does not have full European Broadcasting Union membership, according to Eurovisionfun’s report. The same report said that broader international recognition issues make near-term participation difficult because they affect Kosovo’s path in European institutions. That means the relaunch does not by itself secure a Eurovision debut. It creates a contest structure RTK says it could use for selection if membership conditions change. Eurovoix’s category pages for Eurovision 2027 and Junior Eurovision 2026 both list the Kosovo item in that context. ### Is this replacing another RTK festival? Festivali i Këngës në RTK, which had been held since 2023, is set to be replaced by Akordet e Kosovës, according to Eurovisionfun’s report. (eurovisionfun.com) That would make the revived contest RTK’s main music competition linked to any future Eurovision or Junior Eurovision plans. (eurovoix.com) Kosova Times, in a separate local report, said a children’s festival would also be a new element backed by the ministry and organized by RTK for the first time. That aligns with the broadcaster’s stated interest in Junior Eurovision participation if eligibility changes. ### What happens next? (eurovisionfun.com) RTK and the ministry said details on dates, format and the application process will be published in the coming days, according to Telegrafi and ObserverKult. Those announcements are the next concrete step for artists and viewers tracking how the revived contest will be staged. (kosovatimes.info) Eurovision-focused coverage is also likely to keep tracking whether RTK makes any progress toward full EBU membership, because that is the condition attached to using Akordet e Kosovës as a Eurovision and Junior Eurovision selection platform. (eurovisionfun.com) (telegrafi.com)