This Aussie is attempting to represent Albania at Eurovision 2026

An Australian singer is competing in Albania's national selection for Eurovision: Festivali i Këngës (FiK) 64.

Sihana Haxhnikaj is a 19-year-old from Sydney whose parents made a new life in Australia from Kosovo.

She came to the attention of many Australians after competing on The Voice Australia in 2023 where she was on Team Rita.

Sihana is one of 28 artists competing in FiK and as a newcomer, must qualify from the semi-finals.

Early this morning (Australian time) she performed her song Horizont and will find out tomorrow if she makes this weekend's final.

It won't be the first time an Aussie has made the final. Last year, Australian-Albanian Valentin Markvuka, finished 6th as part of Djemtë e Deti with their song Larg.

While in 2021, Australian rock group Mixed Up Everything were stuck in Albania during COVID and performed as an interval act.

More about Sihana

Sihana joined team Rita after performing Nothing Breaks Like a Heart on The Voice Australia.

Rita (who also has Kosovan roots) turned her chair and asked her why she started singing.

"You made me start singing," Sihana told Rita.

Rita would then speak to Sihana and her family in Albanian.

"I didn't believe that Rita would speak Albanian to me because we live in Australia," Sihana told Telegrafin.

She also told the publication back in 2023 that she studies "music with a music professor, tenor Agim Hushin from Albania who lives in Sydney."

Before the show, her teacher Agim shared a good luck message:

"My student, born in Sydney, Australia but with a great love for Albanian culture, takes part in the RTSH Festival.

Good luck Sihana!" he posted to Facebook.

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