TKOBAP Polyphony Group Performs at Piccolo Opera Festival 2026 in Italy
The Albanian iso-polyphony group from the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances (TKOBAP) performed at the Piccolo Opera Festival 2026 in Italy. As a result, Albanian traditional music reached an international audience. The group presented Albania’s rich iso-polyphonic heritage, which is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. In …
Tirana International Airport adds direct flights to Gothenburg
TIRANA, June 30 – Tirana International Airport has expanded its route network by adding direct flights to Gothenburg. The airport said Norwegian Air Shuttle will operate the route. The new service will offer passengers an additional travel option for tourism, business and family visits. Meanwhile, the new route strengthens air …
Shkodër Art Gallery brings artworks to city streets through digital exhibitions
TIRANA, June 30 – Shkodër Art Gallery presents its collection in public spaces this summer. The gallery places digital exhibitions across the city for visitors and residents. The works include paintings created over different years. Albanian painters and young artists contribute to the collection. The exhibits appear through barcode access. …
Albania Women’s Basketball Team Finishes Runner-Up at European Small Countries Championship
The Albanian women’s national basketball team finished second at the European Championship for Small Countries. As a result, they won the silver medal after losing the final to Malta 72–55. The final took place at the “Karagaç” sports hall in Peja. From the start, Malta controlled the game. They built …
190th anniversary of first publication of The Songs of Milosao
TIRANA, June 30 – Albania marks the 190th anniversary of the first publication of The Songs of Milosao, the masterpiece of Jeronim De Rada that is widely regarded as the foundation of Albanian Romanticism. First published in Naples on June 30, 1836, the work introduced a new artistic and national …
Jonid Jorgji becomes member of European Film Academy
TIRANA, June 30 – The National Center of Cinematography announced Jonid Jorgji as a member of the European Film Academy. It confirmed his selection in an official statement. In addition, the institution described the appointment as recognition of his contribution and vision in the audiovisual sector. It framed the membership …
Albania U-21 to compete at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean games
TIRANA, June 30 – Albania’s U-21 national football team will compete at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” in Italy. The event runs from 23 August to 1 September 2026. The International Committee of the Mediterranean Games organizes the competition. The football tournament features eight national teams. Organizers split the teams …
Italian Foreign Minister says Western Balkans EU membership should be accelerated
TIRANA, June 30 – Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy will work to accelerate European Union membership for Western Balkan countries during the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia. He said Albania and Montenegro are ready for membership. He also said other countries in the region should move forward so most …
97 years since adoption of statute of Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church
TIRANA, June 30 – Albania marked 97 years since the adoption of the Statute of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church on June 30, 1929. The development followed the country’s independence in 1912. Religious institutions also moved toward separation from traditional external dependencies shaped by political and administrative conditions. In the …
PM Rama: Zvërnec investment to create 10,000 jobs as Vlora Bay naval base deal strengthens maritime industry cooperation
TIRANA, June 30 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said foreign investment drives jobs and economic growth in Albania. He said the Zvërnec project alone will create 10,000 jobs. Speaking in Pashaliman, Vlora, Rama attended the signing of a cooperation memorandum between Italy’s “Fincantieri”, Albania’s “Kayo”, and the “Pavarësia” industrial school. …
President Bajram Begaj visited the Presheva Valley, where he met with local leaders, including municipal mayors Ardita Sinani and Arbër Bajaziti, the only Albanian member of Serbia’s Parliament, Shaip Kamberi, and the head of the Albanian National Council, Enkel Rexhepi. The meetings focused on the concerns of Albanians in the …
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania has begun preparations to host the next NATO Summit in Tirana, which could take place in 2027. Speaking to Top Channel during the NATO Summit in Ankara, Hoxha described the event as an important milestone for both the Alliance and Albania. Furthermore, he said …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi described Albania’s selection to host the next NATO Summit as a historic moment for the country. In a social media post, Nufi said the decision reflects the trust that NATO allies have placed in Albania. Furthermore, he said the decision recognizes Albania’s strong commitment to Euro-Atlantic …
Albania has entered a new and decisive stage on its path toward European Union membership, Socialist Party parliamentary group leader and EU–Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee co-chair Taulant Balla said in Strasbourg. Speaking at the opening session of the 21st meeting of the committee, Balla described the moment as …
Albania presented its experience in civil service recruitment and selection systems during a regional workshop organised by OECD/SIGMA in Paris. Representatives from the Department of Public Administration (DAP), alongside officials from Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries, participated in the workshop titled “Strengthening recruitment and selection systems in the civil …
Kosovo will benefit from €206.4 million in European Union funding, according to acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The EU’s IPA Committee approved Kosovo’s proposed projects under the IPA 2026 and IPA 2027 programmes, worth €180.5 million. In addition, three grants from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), totaling €25.9 million, …
Tirana Times, July 8, 2026 – NATO’s Ankara Summit, held on July 7 and 8, marked less a moment of new strategic doctrine than a shift from political pledges to implementation. The central message was clear: the Alliance is moving into a phase where defence spending, industrial capacity, support for Ukraine …
TIRANA, July 8 – According to projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European economy is expected to maintain moderate growth rates during the remaining years of this decade. For the 2027–2031 period, the eurozone economy is forecast to expand by an average of 1.2% annually, while the European …
TIRANA, July 8 – During these hot July days, many foreign tourists fill the streets of Shkodër. Their travel gear and backpacks easily identify them as nature and adventure tourism enthusiasts. Many visitors use Shkodër as a starting point to explore some of northern Albania’s most popular mountain destinations. Meanwhile, …
TIRANA, July 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Wednesday that the next NATO Summit will take place in Tirana, following the conclusion of the Alliance’s meeting in Ankara. PM dismissed speculation that Albania would not host the summit. He said the country had moved beyond a time when …