Albania Records Strong Tourist Growth at Cultural Heritage Sites in April
Albania reports a significant increase in visitors to cultural heritage sites during April 2026. Rozafa Castle attracts around 17,000 visitors in April alone. It reaches more than 33,000 visitors from January to April, making it one of the most visited sites in the country. Gjirokastër Castle welcomes 14,592 visitors in …
President Begaj on 5 May: Martyrs’ sacrifice guides Albania’s European future
TIRANA, May 5 – On the occasion of 5 May, the Day of the Martyrs, President Bajram Begaj held homage at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery. He laid a wreath at the symbolic monument “Mother Albania”. At the same time, he shared a message on social media in remembrance of the …
Climate change requires immediate action and regional cooperation
TIRANA, May 5 – Climate change no longer represents a distant threat. It already affects economies, infrastructure, and communities across borders. Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj made the statement during the Regional Climate Conference in Tirana. At the same time, he said Albania is pleased to host the conference. He …
European Parliament committee adopts report, praises Albania’s commitment to European Union accession
TIRANA, May 5 – The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament has welcomed Albania’s progress in accession talks with the European Union. It also stressed that full implementation of reforms remains essential. In a report adopted with 58 votes in favour, 7 against, and 7 abstentions, Members of …
Kosovo Opens New Consulate in Texas to Strengthen U.S. Presence
Kosovo has approved a new consular mission in the United States. Acting President Albulena Haxhiu signs a decree to establish a consulate in Texas. The consulate will be based in Houston and will operate as a Consulate General. The new mission aims to strengthen Kosovo’s diplomatic presence in the United …
“Cave of the Cyclops” in Spile of Himara offers new visitor experience
TIRANA, May 5 – The Spile Cave in Himara is one of the most distinctive coastal sites in Albania. The site has undergone an intervention to improve its year-round tourism appeal. At the same time, the cave links to the myth of the Cyclops described by Homer around 2,700 years …
TKOB Brings a Full Cultural Program in May, from “Carmen” to National Ensemble Shows
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania presents a rich cultural program throughout May in Tirana. The month opens with the ballet “Carmen,” staged from May 4 to May 10. The production features the return of Anbeta Toromani in the lead role, alongside Luca Curreli and Alessandro Macario. …
Cultural Events, Concerts and Tourism Season Opening Mark a Busy Week in Albania
Tirana hosts a full week of cultural and artistic events across theaters, galleries, and music venues. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania presents performances including “Carmen” and concerts by violinist Tedi Papavrami. Exhibitions continue at several venues. The “S.T.I.L.L” exhibition by Brook Velos runs at Catalyst Institute. …
Port of Durrës handles 10 cargo vessels at start of week
TIRANA, May 5 – The start of the week has brought high operational activity at the Port of Durrës. The port has scheduled 10 cargo vessels for handling, mainly carrying raw materials for the construction sector. According to the Port Authority of Durrës, six vessels are currently under processing. Two …
SIGMA report on public administration reform says Albania consolidates governance reforms
TIRANA, May 5 – The SIGMA initiative, a joint programme of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union on governance and public administration reform, has assessed Albania positively in its latest report. It said Albania stands out in several key areas with more consolidated practices. …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again defended the upcoming Kanye West concert in Tirana, scheduled for Saturday evening. In a post on social media, Rama shared footage of the completed concert venue, saying the stadium is ready and that the event will place Albania on the global map of music fans. The prime …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-58″ data-turn=”assistant”> Visitors to the southeastern Albanian region of Kolonja are not only exploring its natural attractions and cultural heritage sites, but also learning how to prepare traditional dishes before enjoying them. Cooking alongside local residents has become one of the area’s most popular experiences …
Albania’s Competition Authority has launched a market monitoring process focused on the retail sale of essential grocery products, following complaints from citizens and concerns raised by members of parliament over the prices of everyday consumer goods. According to an official statement, the monitoring will cover the country’s main supermarket chains …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again reacted to negative online reviews, this time sharing a video highlighting critical ratings of Rozafa Castle in Shkodra. The prime minister said such posts are harming Albania’s tourism sector and expressed hope that prosecutors will swiftly take action against those he described as individuals who …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met with young people in Jalë on Saturday, where he discussed the recent protests and the impact of social media algorithms. Rama said algorithms play a significant role in amplifying negativity, online noise and manipulated content, describing such videos as “fuel added to a fire” that, he argued, was started by …
One of the world’s best-known rappers, Kanye West, was welcomed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who shared footage of their meeting on social media. The video shows Rama introducing the American artist to aspects of Albania’s culture and history. West arrived in Albania ahead of his concert scheduled for …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, together with Prime Minister Edi Rama, took part in an open discussion with 150 young activists from Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro at #RinCamp2026. Albania’s EU accession process and the country’s progress towards membership were among the key topics discussed during the panel organised by the National …
by Monika Grill Tirana Times, July 11, 2026 – “K’cimi i Tropoja” – the dance that endured over centuries and kept the Albanian identity alive, has been officially declared part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. “K’cimi i Tropoja” refers to a traditional …
Tirana, July 11 – International artist Kanye West will perform today in Tirana. The concert will take place at Eagle Stadium, a venue built specifically in the Kashar area. To ensure public safety and manage traffic, Tirana Police has announced temporary road restrictions around the event area. From 07:00 to …
Tirana, July 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu said justice system reforms and the implementation of the National Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are concrete steps toward Albania’s European Union membership. Gogu said a strong, independent and accountable justice system remains a key pillar of …