Beach Volley Shkodra 2026 Brings Sport, Spectacle and Tourism to Velipojë

For three days, Velipojë became the home of beach volleyball as it successfully hosted the latest edition of Beach Volley Shkodra 2026.

The event took place from August 14–16, organized through a partnership between the Municipality of Shkodër and the Albanian Volleyball Federation.

Teams from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro participated in the tournament, giving it a regional character and bringing competition, excitement and an extraordinary sporting atmosphere to the Velipojë coastline.

Matches were held in both the women’s and men’s categories, while the finals attracted considerable interest from vacationers at the beach.

Kruti and Pireva triumph in the women’s competition

In the women’s final, Xhuda Kruti and Lyra Pireva faced Rezi Gjini and Lika Gjini.

Kruti and Pireva produced the stronger performance in the decisive match and won 2–0, becoming the champions of this year’s edition.

Nevena Bodroza and Selma Sutaj finished in third place.

Ndrecaj and Latifi win the men’s tournament

The men’s competition produced intense rivalry and several surprising results. The tournament’s pleasant surprise was the local Velipojë duo of Kristian Marticanaj and Eris Qerkepja, who deservedly reached the final.

In the title match, the local pair faced Endrit Ndrecaj and Dilon Latifi. Ndrecaj and Latifi proved more clinical in the decisive moments and secured a 2–0 victory, earning first place.

Aleksandar Marojević and Oleg Ivanov finished third in the men’s competition. The final results and standings were reported by Shkodra Sport.

Beach Volley Shkodra 2026 winners

Women

Xhuda Kruti–Lyra Pireva Rezi Gjini–Lika Gjini Nevena Bodroza–Selma Sutaj

Men

Endrit Ndrecaj–Dilon Latifi Kristian Marticanaj–Eris Qerkepja Aleksandar Marojević–Oleg Ivanov

During the closing ceremony, Auron Miloti, Director of Sports at the Municipality of Shkodër, and Ervis Dosti, Secretary of the Albanian Volleyball Federation, presented the winners with trophies, medals and financial prizes.

More than a sporting event

Beach Volley Shkodra 2026 was more than just a volleyball tournament. The event combined sport, entertainment, tourism and the promotion of Velipojë as a summer destination.

Beach volleyball fits naturally with Velipojë’s coastline. Its wide beach, soft sand and large number of summer visitors create ideal conditions for hosting events of this kind.

The participation of athletes from three countries also promoted regional sporting exchanges and brought communities closer together through fair competition.

Events like this can help establish Velipojë as an important destination for beach sports, expanding its tourism offerings beyond traditional vacations while encouraging children and young people to become more physically active.

The three days of Beach Volley Shkodra 2026 demonstrated that sport, tourism and the promotion of natural beauty can work successfully together. Velipojë gained a spectacular event, the athletes enjoyed an attractive competitive arena, and the public experienced another exciting activity at the height of the summer season.