Local rain and brief thunderstorms in northern and eastern mountains, temperatures up to 26 °C
TIRANA, August 18 – The Military Meteorological Service said Albania will experience relatively unstable atmospheric conditions on Tuesday. The weather will bring sunny periods and intervals of moderate to locally dense cloud cover from midday through the afternoon. Short spells of light rain may occur over the country’s hilly and …
Wildfires in Albania, Defence Ministry: 7 active fires, 3 under monitoring
TIRANA, August 18 – The Ministry of Defence said authorities recorded 13 wildfires across Albania by 20:00 on August 17. Seven remained active, while authorities monitored 3 others. A total of 424 operational personnel and 14 firefighting vehicles joined the response. The Armed Forces deployed 129 personnel, 2 firefighting vehicles, …
Albania to Compete at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, Gonxhja: We Increased Support for Elite Athletes
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja attended the flag handover ceremony for Albania’s delegation to the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. Gonxhja praised the athletes who will represent Albania at the major international sporting event. He said elite athletes remain one of the country’s greatest sporting assets. Therefore, the government …
World Bank Europe and Central Asia: From emigration to return, tourism revives Albanian cities
TIRANA, August 18 – Tourism is creating new opportunities in southern Albania and encouraging some people who left the country to return, according to the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia region, known as WorldBankECA. The shift follows years of population decline, particularly among young people, even as the region …
More than half of Albania’s trade with European Union countries, INSTAT data show
TIRANA, August 18 – European Union countries remained Albania’s main trading partner for goods in July 2026, accounting for 53.6% of total trade, according to INSTAT. European markets also received the largest share of Albanian exports during the month. Exports to European Union countries accounted for 68.4% of Albania’s total …
Albania Tourism in Numbers: AIDA Highlights 12.5 Million Foreign Tourists and 22% GDP Contribution
The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) has published “FactSheet Tourism”. The guide gives investors key data on Albania’s tourism sector and its investment potential. According to the factsheet, Albania has recorded 12.5 million foreign tourists. Tourism contributes around 22% to the country’s GDP. International hotel brands also operate in Albania. …
Albania’s First Football League championship to start on August 21 with new format
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s First Football League championship, the Abissnet Superiore, will start its 2026/27 season on August 21. The new season will introduce reforms aimed at increasing competition, creating more opportunities for young players and improving the organization of the championship. All matches will be broadcast on RTSH. …
Exports rise 10.6% in July to 33.7 billion ALL
TIRANA, August 17 – Albanian exports continued their positive trend in July 2026, reaching 33.7 billion ALL, up 10.6% from the same month a year earlier, according to INSTAT. Compared with June 2026, exports fell 5%. Meanwhile, goods imports reached 86.4 billion ALL, rising 3.6% year-on-year and 3.5% from June. …
New police unit to focus on environmental crimes
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s State Police will establish a new unit focused specifically on environmental crimes. Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari announced the move during a meeting with State Police local directors from Albania’s 12 counties. Lamallari called for a more proactive approach to wildfires. He said police should investigate …
Infrastructure Minister Karakaçi visits Tirana-Durrës motorway works, targets early completion
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi visited the Tirana-Durrës motorway, where workers are carrying out the third phase of its expansion. After opening the first 6 kilometres, crews now focus on the section from the Rinas overpass towards Limuth. Workers are widening the road, while …
Edi Rama accuses opposition of trying to ‘pull Albania down’ after a second night of violence saw government buildings and businesses attacked and set on fire amid clashes between student protesters and police. Original post Here
French media outlet Notre Temps has highlighted Albania as an attractive destination for summer 2027, offering visitors a mix of cultural heritage, mountain scenery and Mediterranean beaches. The coverage comes as Transavia opens bookings for its summer 2027 flights. The airline plans to launch a new route between Marseille and …
Albania is taking new steps to promote the cultural and natural heritage of Theth through specially designed tourist routes. In Shkodër, around 20 representatives from cultural heritage institutions, local government, civil society, academia and local guides from Theth took part in a knowledge-sharing session under the project “From Mountainscapes to …
The Agolli House Studio hosted a cultural evening to mark the 95th anniversary of the birth of renowned Albanian writer Dritëro Agolli. The event took place in the house where he wrote many of his works and coincided with the second anniversary of the museum’s opening to the public. For …
“Wonders of Arbëria” brought Albanian folklore, traditions and cultural heritage to the stage of the National Theatre of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble in a vibrant celebration of the country’s cultural identity. Artists from the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble joined the Gurra e Kurbin Ensemble for an evening …
Protests by pupils and students continued today, with tensions escalating in Tirana. Demonstrators threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Pupils and students have boycotted classes and taken to the streets in Tirana, Shkodra, Korça and Durrës. They are calling for change and marching through …
On the third day of protests, the State Police has urged pupils and parents to stay away from violence. It warned against involvement in situations that could endanger life and health. In a public message, police called on young people to leave areas where clashes are taking place. Parents were …
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has told Reuters he will not resign over student-led protests that entered their third consecutive day. Police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators who smashed windows and damaged property in the capital. The unrest also forced parliament to cancel its plenary session. Students are protesting …
Albania’s average monthly disposable income per capita reached 56,487 lek in 2025, up 10.5% from the previous year. Meanwhile, indicators measuring poverty risk and material and social deprivation showed improvement, according to the country’s statistics agency. The 2025 Income and Living Conditions Survey, published by the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), …
More than 110 new and modernization projects worth over €15 billion will feature at Balkan Summit 2026. The event will take place in Pristina on October 19–20. The projects cover Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. Organizers aim to unite the three markets and attract international investors, financiers and development institutions, …