From April, 10th to 12th Tirana’s spectacular location on the thirty-ninth floor of the Downtown One building hosted the Albanian Fashion Week organized by Gentiana Dervishi, founder of the Albanian International Fashion Federation and organizer of numerous fashion events within the context of the world’s most prestigious fashion weeks: Milan and Paris.
The event’s program was vast and all-encompassing. Fashion shows by prominent Albanian and international designers during the first two days. And the Fashion Future Forum on Sunday, April 12th, the third day of the event.
The thirty-ninth floor of a building that has forty floors created atmosphere and added a lot to Fashion Week from a visual standpoint. Haute couture was presented at high altitude, among the clouds and the signage useful for civil aviation. A floor exposed on all four sides allowed one to admire the panoramas of present-day Tirana, with its skyscrapers, tree-lined avenues, centuries-old mosques, and mountains in the distance thanks to which Albania is called the Switzerland of the Balkans. The beauty of the event was therefore enhanced by the changing light: the shows began at dawn, with the natural light of the sun that gradually set until it disappeared behind the horizon. The shows went on in darkness, with stage lighting focused on the runways. A psychedelic fashion week that managed to amaze viewers with panoramic spaces and superlative views of Tirana as well as offer followers of the event visions, perceptions, and impressions.
After the success of the very first edition of the Albanian Fashion Week held in October 2025, Gentiana Dervishi launched the second edition with the support of institutions, authorities, and fashion and entertainment celebrities coming from Albania and elsewhere.
The Albanian International Fashion Federation, which organizes the Fashion Week, launched a digital platform aimed at positioning Albanian fashion on the global stage. One could participate in the event as a sponsor, model, designer, media partner, volunteer.
The Fashion Future Forum linked Albanian Fashion Week to education and work, bringing together professionals and emerging talents for a debate around education, creativity, and the business of fashion.
The stated mission was clear: “Fashion is not just presentation — it is positioning.” The organization of Fashion Week worked for a long time to connect local crafts with international standards, evaluating the work of fashion houses, brands, and artisanal tailoring workshops.
Albanian Fashion Week 2026 sets trends and influences the tastes of its followers.
This year Albanian trends are conquering social media: Lemon8 reports 51 top ideas for “Albanian Fashion Trends 2026,” while UpGrow records five Albanian fashion influencers with over one million two hundred thousand people following them. Wedding dresses that blend traditional embroidery and contemporary silhouettes are among the most viral looks.
The two days of shows brought to the runway the bright green of the Albanian Design Academy, the fire red in all its shades that referred to blood, to wounds and their healing in an elaborative and creative process, many achromatic colors like white and black, more varied colors. Among the materials there were only ecological and recyclable fabrics of sustainable fashion. The dress designs, in any case, enhanced elegance and an exquisite beauty that united Western and Eastern style within itself. The salient features of the main fashion trends of 2026 can also be found in Tirana: solid color, fluid silhouettes, radical minimalism, versatility, and sustainability.
Over two days, the designers who presented their collections were:
Albanian Design Academy, Ezgi Ozalan,
Ármela Harizi (Harizelle), Bettina Alli Huseni, Dete by Elisabeta Katiaj
Fabio Porliod, Klarisa Vulaj,
Etnik Shala, Aslama Galicaj, Marina Banovic, Delfina Dehari, Xheksil.
The event’s partners were Bashkia Tiranë, Kastrati Albania, Mercedes Benz Shqipëri, GX Group.
In short, Albania Fashion Week 2026 is no longer a promise, but the first true appointment that unites cultural identity, international business, and education. From April 10th to 12th, Tirana tried to set the trend – and it did so from the skyscrapers of Downtown One.
Thanks go to all the organizers, sponsors, partners, designers, models, makeup artists, hairdressers, photographers, and videomakers of the Albanian Fashion Week:
Director Hair & make-up
@jaupi.diana
@alexradulescuofficial
Assistants
@mdauti_
@beauty_dori_Salon
@beauty_by_rovena
@rubjanahyseni
@alexia_mariaa__
@adrian_colesniuc
@monicamotoc_makeup
@selvanamedha
@visienea_sonny_
@Jeta_.hairstile
@olaaa_18_a
@ola_a_19_
@flutura.c_
@beautysalonlili
@damicomichelesaloon
@lidiana_kockici
@eri_q0sja
@beauty.sallon.angelina
@RubjanaHyseni
@beauty_salon_by_rita
#afw26 #albaniafashionweek #afwofficial #aiff #albanianinternationalfashionfederation #gentianadervishi
Olga Matsyna
Photos by Vincenzo Testa
