Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said in a television interview that these sectors account for 72% of the ministry’s total budget. The funding supports artistic programmes, cultural institutions and restoration projects for monuments and heritage sites.

Of the ministry’s total budget of 7.65 billion lek, 5.45 billion lek will go to arts and cultural heritage.

The allocation marks a 3.5% increase compared with 2026. The ministry may also reallocate funds during the year through normative acts.

Gonxhja stressed that state funding is not the only source of support for cultural heritage. International partnerships, foreign funds and European Union programmes, including IPA instruments, also contribute to the sector.

National History Museum restoration moves forward

The minister also outlined progress on the restoration of the National History Museum.

He said the project focuses on completing the foundation reinforcement works and starting the interior reconstruction and musealisation phase. Authorities have secured €2 million to complete the remaining foundation works.

“This intervention is essential before we move to the second phase, which includes the full reconstruction of the interior spaces and their transformation into a modern museum,” Gonxhja said.

Exterior works, including the facades, have already been completed. However, the remaining structural works must finish before the wider project can proceed.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is also expected to play an important role. It is advancing the approval of a loan and the establishment of a dedicated project implementation structure within the ministry.

The project aims to transform the National History Museum into a major centre for presenting Albanian history. It also seeks to make the institution a key attraction for domestic and international visitors and strengthen its links with other museums and heritage sites across the country.

New cultural spaces and institutions

Gonxhja also announced plans for a multifunctional children’s centre. Albania aims to develop it into one of the most advanced cultural institutions in the region and the Balkans.

The investment will cover infrastructure, technology, artistic programmes and professional management. New facilities will host exhibitions, artistic activities and a range of public events. They will also include multifunctional spaces, modern stages and open areas.

Meanwhile, the project for the National Gallery of Arts aims to transform it into the National Arts Centre. The institution will serve as a fine arts museum. The ministry is working with Rome’s MAXXI Museum, which is providing expertise in the organisation and management of contemporary art institutions.

Regarding the new National Theatre and cultural centre, Gonxhja said specialised stage technology and equipment require separate procurement procedures from construction works.

The ministry is therefore working to resolve contractual issues and ensure compliance with all legal procedures. The aim is to equip the new facilities with the required standards.

The projects also include plans to strengthen the institutions’ human and financial resources. Gonxhja stressed that modern buildings alone would not guarantee success.

“The main challenge is not only building modern facilities, but also ensuring their operation, artistic management and long-term sustainability,” he said.

Free access to books and cultural activities

The ministry is also focusing on creating public spaces where citizens, especially young people, can access books, read and take part in cultural activities free of charge.

Gonxhja said the ministry is working with the National Youth Agency, the National Library and cultural heritage institutions to establish social book centres. These spaces will bring together young people, writers and artists.

The authorities also plan to revitalise parts of the Palace of Culture, which currently houses the National Library. The project aims to improve existing facilities and make better use of the available space.

The new National Library project, planned near the Republican Guard headquarters and the National Children’s Centre, will cover approximately 25,000 square metres of construction area.

Gonxhja confirmed that authorities have signed the project contract. The new facility aims to create a modern centre dedicated to books, reading and cultural activities.