Albania U-21 Squad Announced for “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games
Albania’s U-21 national football team is entering the final stage of preparations for another major international event. Head coach Alban Bushi has announced the squad for the “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games in Italy. The squad includes players from the Albanian league and young talents developing their careers abroad. They represent …
Morina border crossing with Kosova sees over 25,000 daily movements, traffic doubles at weekends
TIRANA, August 19 – The Morina border crossing with Kosova continues to record heavy traffic during the week. More than 25,000 people cross the border each day on average. The figure almost doubles at weekends. Many citizens from Kosova appear to be using the remaining weeks of the summer season …
UEFA Conference League: Albanian referees appointed for two play-off matches
UEFA has appointed two Albanian refereeing teams for matches in the UEFA Conference League play-off round. Twente will face Qarabağ on Thursday, August 20, at 20:00 in Enschede, Netherlands. Juxhin Xhaja will referee the match. Rejdi Avdo and Mario Shazivari will serve as assistant referees. Emanuela Rusta will act as …
Kosova’s Self-Determination leader Kurti and Democratic League leader Abdixhiku discuss next president
TIRANA, August 19 – Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti and Democratic League of Kosova leader Lumir Abdixhiku have discussed the profile of the country’s next president. After their 2-hour meeting at the Assembly, both leaders said they wanted to reach agreement on a candidate. Kurti said they had discussed the criteria …
Albanian exports grow as export structure shows signs of change
Albania’s exports continue to grow. Their structure is also showing signs of change, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said today. Exports reached 33.6 billion lekë in July 2026. This marked a 10.6% increase from the same month last year. Exports also grew by 6.7% during the first seven months …
Nufi welcomes Belgian counterpart Theo Francken to Vlora
Albanian Defence Minister Ermal Nufi welcomed his Belgian counterpart, Theo Francken, in Vlora on Tuesday. The two ministers held a warm and informal meeting during Francken’s holiday in Albania with his family. Nufi said the meeting offered an opportunity to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Francken chose …
1.3 km embankment rehabilitated, protecting 2,000 hectares of farmland in Vrina, Saranda
TIRANA, August 18 – Around 2,000 hectares of farmland in Vrina, Saranda are gaining better protection from flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion. The work covers the rehabilitation of the K-17 canal embankment and the irrigation and drainage system. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla visited the investment site in …
Kosova acting President Haxhiu: No agreement on president could lead to new elections
TIRANA, August 18 – Acting President of Kosova Albulena Haxhiu said the country could face new elections. She linked this possibility to the lack of an agreement on the next president. Haxhiu said political leaders should discuss specific names for a consensus candidate. She added that acting Prime Minister Albin …
“The Sun”: Albania sees 293% surge in tourist bookings
TIRANA, August 18 – British newspaper The Sun has highlighted Albania as one of Europe’s fastest-growing holiday destinations. The article cites Thomas Cook data showing a 293% increase in bookings for Albania compared with a year earlier. The Sun points to Albania’s beaches, affordable summer holidays and capital Tirana. It …
Heavy passenger traffic at port, PM Rama highlights Italian tourist influx in Vlora
TIRANA, August 18 – Italian tourists continue to arrive at the Port of Vlora in large numbers in late August. Many others are returning home after spending their holidays on Albania’s beaches and in its cities. Albanians living abroad are also arriving for their holidays. As a result, Vlora continues …
Theth welcomes the “Ah Theth” festival this weekend. The festival combines music, sports, adventure and tradition. It takes place from August 21 to 23. The event features two nights and three days of activities. Visitors can enjoy events from sunset to sunrise amid the spectacular landscapes of the Albanian Alps. …
Albania has reached its target of more than 600 MW in new renewable energy capacity ahead of schedule. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said the energy sector reforms are producing concrete results. He said the government is modernizing the legal framework and aligning it with European Union standards. …
Albania’s cultural heritage sites recorded a strong increase in visitors during the first seven months of 2026. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja released the figures for January–July 2026. A total of 824,340 local and foreign visitors explored these destinations. The figure marks an 80% increase compared with …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi visited Gojan i Madh in Puka on Friday evening. He inspected the situation after wildfires affected the area. Nufi said the situation had been difficult during the day. However, firefighting teams brought the fires under control after several hours of work. He praised the local forces …
TIRANA, August 21 – The Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games open today in Italy, with Albania represented by 72 athletes. The delegation is the largest in Albania’s history at the Mediterranean Games. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja congratulated the Albanian athletes as the competition began. The delegation includes …
TIRANA, August 21 – The cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants is becoming an increasingly important sector for Albanian agriculture. It provides income for farmers and contributes to the country’s exports. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images from fields in Devoll, where farmers have turned to medicinal plant cultivation in …
TIRANA, August 21 – Border traffic has increased at Kakavija border crossing with Greece as Albanian emigrants return, with more than 10,000 people and 3,000 vehicles processed over the past 24 hours. Border services processed 10,581 people at the Kakavija crossing. A total of 4,294 entered Albania, while 6,287 left …
TIRANA, August 21 – Albania’s cultural heritage institutions and sites recorded a significant rise in visitors during the first 7 months of 2026. A total of 824,340 domestic and foreign visitors visited the sites from January to July, marking an 80% increase from the same period in 2023. According to …
TIRANA, August 21 – The Ministry of Defence reported 16 wildfires by 14:00. Ten remained active and two were under monitoring. The ministry said 240 military personnel, 3 firefighting vehicles, 4 helicopters and 2 Air Tractor aircraft supported the operations. In Gojan–Gjegjan, Puka, the situation remains calm and authorities report …
Big changes are afoot amid the heat of the summer holiday season. Our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories takes a deep dive into the motives and agendas driving these changes. Original post Here