Albanian Skills has announced that applications are now open for the 11th edition of the National Professional Skills Competitions in Albania — the country’s largest event of its kind, bringing together talented young people from a wide range of professional fields to compete and win opportunities for international development.
The competition traditionally takes place at the Pyramid of Tirana (Expocity) and is expected to draw hundreds of young competitors, following the previous edition held on 14–16 November 2025, which set a record with around 300 applications.
Who can apply
- You must be between 16 and 25 years old (as of the competition date).
- You must meet the specific requirements of the category you’re applying for.
- Applying to more than one category is not allowed, since all competitions take place on the same days; if multiple applications are submitted, only the first one is considered valid.
- Competitors are selected by the respective juries based on relevant experience, the motivation expressed in the application form, and a balanced mix of participants by gender and region.
- Former participants are welcome to reapply, but in the event of a large number of suitable candidates, priority is given to first-time applicants.
- Application and participation are completely free; travel and accommodation costs are covered by the competitor.
Competition categories
The 2026 edition will include several professional fields, among them:
- Entrepreneurship & Business Development — for young people with an interest in economics, management, or creative problem-solving.
- Hotel Reception & Restaurant Service — English communication skills are required for interacting with foreign guests.
- Cooking & Pastry — competitors bring their own ingredients and tools.
- Graphic Design — requires proficiency in software such as Photoshop or Illustrator.
- Photography — competitors bring their own equipment (digital/DSLR camera).
- Software Development — knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, JavaScript, etc.
- Web Development — knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Digital Marketing — knowledge of social media management and visual content creation.
- Hairdressing & Barbering — competitors bring their own tools and a model.
Most categories also require a working understanding of English, since competition tasks are given in that language.
How to apply
Registration is done online, through the official YUMME platform and the albanianskills.org website. The exact dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially confirmed (listed as “TBA” on the organizer’s page), so interested applicants are advised to follow the official website and Albanian Skills’ social media channels for further announcements.
Why it’s worth applying
Beyond certificates and prizes for winners, the competition offers a window onto the international stage: first-place winners in each category receive exchange trips to WorldSkills or EuroSkills events, while other participants gain access to professional development opportunities and internships in their respective fields.
This edition is supported by the SkillAlb Project, co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and ENGIM, as part of broader efforts to strengthen vocational education and training (VET) in Albania.