Football federation president Armando Duka sets World Cup 2030 target for Albania
TIRANA, May 19 – The president of the Albanian Football Federation, Armando Duka, said Albania aims to reach the World Cup in 2030 during the presentation of the new national team coach Rolando Maran. Meanwhile, Duka said the national team opens a new cycle with a coach who brings experience …
“Mona Lisa of Berat” displayed after three-month restoration
TIRANA, May 19 – The monumental icon “Saint Mary with Christ in her right arm”, a work by Onufri, returned to public display in Berat. It followed a three-month restoration process at the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory of the Onufri Iconographic Museum. Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi …
Italians Lead Tourist Visits in Albania, Accommodation Up 20.8%
Tourism in Albania continued to grow in March, with a strong increase in visitors staying in accommodation structures. According to INSTAT, total visitors increased by 20.8% compared to March 2025. Foreign visitors rose even more, by 23.7%. Resident visitors increased by 15.9%. Italian tourists led arrivals. They made up 30% …
Radio Tirana in 1947, rare photographs from Albanian Telegraphic Agency archive
TIRANA, May 19 – The archive of the Albanian news agency (ATSH) contains rare photographs of Radio Tirana dated 1947. The images show the radio’s facilities, speakers, technicians and broadcasting equipment. They also feature antennas, an orchestra and singers performing live in front of microphones. Radio Tirana was founded in …
Besëlidhja Crowned Albanian Basketball Champions for Third Consecutive Time
Besëlidhja Basketball Club wins the Albanian Basketball Championship for the 2025–2026 season. They defeat Tirana Basketball Club 103–84 in the third final game. They complete the final series 3–0. Coach Afrim Bilali leads the team. He guides Besëlidhja to a dominant performance throughout the series. The game starts balanced. Besëlidhja …
Montenegrin FM Ervin Ibrahimovic highlights strong Albania–Montenegro partnership for EU integration
TIRANA, May 19 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimovic visited Tirana on an official trip. He said Albania and Montenegro share friendship and a common European vision. Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Ibrahimovic said relations between the two countries …
Foreign ministers of Albania and Montenegro focus on cross-border projects and cooperation
TIRANA, May 19 – The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha held a press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Ervin Ibrahimoviç. They underlined close cooperation between the two countries and commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Hoxha described relations between Albania and Montenegro as a stable model …
Modigliani Comes to Tirana as Kalo Gallery Expands Albania’s Cultural Horizon
Tirana Times, May 15, 2026 — Kalo Gallery, one of Tirana’s most prominent private cultural spaces, has opened an exhibition dedicated to Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, marking a significant moment for Albania’s growing contemporary art scene. The exhibition brings to the Albanian public works associated with one of the …
Balla: We Support Student Protest in North Macedonia
Taulant Balla supports Albanian students protesting in North Macedonia. He posts on social media. He backs their demand. Students want the bar exam in Albanian. Balla says the request is legitimate. He says the constitution already recognizes this right. Yet, it is not applied in practice. He calls for action. …
Hoxha Meets Qatar Foreign Minister: “We Move Forward with Joint Projects”
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. They first met in Tirana. Later, they continued talks in Durrës. Both sides confirmed strong relations. They also confirmed mutual trust and a strong partnership. Hoxha said both …
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said on Monday that those who destroy businesses, attack State Police officers and set fire to the capital are not protesters but perpetrators of violence. In a social media statement, Koçiu stressed that authorities must respect and protect the right to peaceful protest. However, she …
Tourism revenue in Albania has more than doubled in three years, while overnight stays outside the peak summer season have increased by around 78%, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said. Gonxhja attended the Balkan Blue Economy Summit at Marina Orikum as part of the Balkans Sea Fair. …
Albania on Monday commemorated writer, playwright, screenwriter and journalist Dhimitër Xhuvani, who died on October 19, 2009. Xhuvani was one of the most prominent figures in Albanian literature in the second half of the 20th century. Born in Pogradec on May 23, 1934, he initially trained in medicine and worked …
The Swiss Embassy in Albania has expressed concern over the recent outbreak of violence and damage to public and private property during demonstrations in the country. It called on all sides to exercise restraint, ease tensions and prioritize constructive dialogue. In a statement posted on social media, the embassy stressed …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has renewed his call for dialogue with protesters, urging them to reject violence, stone-throwing and arson targeting public institutions. Rama said the government stands ready to hold talks at any time and without conditions. He also called on protest organizers to lead by example and help …
Marco Tarquinio, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Albania, and Andreas Schieder, the Parliament’s standing rapporteur for Albania, have voiced concern over the escalation of protests in Tirana. “We condemn the violent escalation of these protests, attacks on public institutions and the destruction of public and private …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met Interior Minister Ervin Demo and senior State Police officials on Monday to address the violent protests that have rocked the capital in recent days. During the meeting, Rama accused Russia of seeking to undermine Albania’s economic growth, discourage investment and obstruct its EU integration. He …
Albanian karate athlete Neevis Hasani won the bronze medal at the World Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, securing a place among the world’s top three junior athletes in the under-55kg category. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the achievement, praising Hasani’s performance on the international stage. Hasani secured …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday that citizens have the right to protest but must not resort to violence, as demonstrations continued in the capital in recent days. In a social media post, Rama shared a photo from protests across Europe and urged citizens not to fall for what …
Socialist MP Pirro Vengu has reacted to the government’s decision to award bonuses to State Police officers who have been on the front lines of student protests for several days. Vengu linked salary increases and bonuses to the need to prioritize professions that contribute to the functioning of the state …