February 4, 2026

The current situation in Albania is full of deep contrasts, where an optimistic image of a modernizing country and a tourist “boom” collides with the harsh reality of massive youth emigration. While outwardly Albania appears to be the Balkans’ rising star, within society there is considerable uncertainty about who will actually remain in the country in a few decades’ time. If there were a crystal ball that could predict the future, every Albanian would eagerly peer into it.