Eslin Kurti

Biography

Eslin Kurti is a young Albanian performer, instrumentalist, and dancer born in the historic coastal city of Durrës. Born in 2014, Kurti has emerged as one of the most promising and multifaceted young figures in her country's cultural scene, gaining significant international recognition at the age of 12 after being officially named Albania's representative for the 24th Junior Eurovision Song Contest, held in Malta.

From an early age, she demonstrated a strong aptitude for the performing arts, prompting her family to nurture her talent through rigorous academic training. Kurti began her studies in classical piano, solfège, and music theory at local conservatories, complementing these disciplines with intensive classes in vocal technique and stage performance. Displaying a remarkable drive for self-directed learning, she also taught herself to play the acoustic guitar, an instrument she frequently uses in her creative work at home. Far from limiting her growth to music, she is characterized by notable versatility that extends to modern dance, theater acting, and the visual arts—activities she actively balances with her compulsory schooling and competitive sports as part of a youth volleyball team.

A definitive turning point in her budding artistic career occurred in late May 2026, when she was selected to compete in the 64th edition of the Festivali Mbarëkombëtar i Këngës për Fëmijë (National Children's Song Festival)—the longest-running and most important children's music competition in Albania, traditionally held in the city of Shkodër. Kurti competed in the Junior category (for children aged 9 to 14) and succeeded in deeply moving both the panel of experts and the audience. The contest's voting system—comprising a professional jury (50%) and a children's jury (50%)—awarded her the gala's highest score, crowning her the festival's overall winner and automatically granting her the right to represent the public broadcaster RTSH at the European contest.

The song selected for her debut on the international Junior Eurovision stage is titled "Kërce me mua" (Dance with Me); it is a contemporary rhythmic pop track distinguished by energetic arrangements and highly demanding choreography. The project brings together a team of top-tier creators from the Balkan music industry: the melody was composed by Rei Bezhani, the lyrics were penned by renowned Eurovision songwriter Eriona Rushiti, and the final production and orchestral arrangements were entrusted to the prestigious producer Enis Mullaj. To refine the entry for the televised event, the team traveled in the summer of 2026 to the renowned Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg, Sweden; there, under the technical guidance of vocal coach Olta Juba, they recorded the definitive version (revamp) of the song, featuring an international mix. With this ambitious effort, the Albanian delegation and Eslin Kurti take on the challenge of surpassing their country's best-ever results at the EBU's children's contest.