2025–26 Kategoria Superiore
Football league season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2025–26 Kategoria Superiore was the 87th official season, or 90th season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 26th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 22 August 2025 and ended on 31 May 2026. Egnatia won the league title on 31 May 2026, beating Dinamo City in the final match.
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 22 August 2025 – 31 May 2026[1] |
| Champions | Egnatia 3rd title |
| Relegated | Bylis Flamurtari |
| Champions League | Egnatia |
| Conference League | Elbasani Vllaznia Dinamo City |
| Matches | 186 |
| Goals | 414 (2.23 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Bekim Balaj (14 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Dinamo City 6–2 Tirana (3 December 2025) Egnatia 5–1 Bylis (22 November 2025) |
| Biggest away win | Elbasani 0–4 Egnatia (17 May 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Dinamo City 6–2 Tirana (3 December 2025) |
| Longest winning run | 7 matches Vllaznia |
| Longest unbeaten run | 9 matches Egnatia Elbasani Tirana Vllaznia |
| Longest winless run | 12 matches Tirana |
| Longest losing run | 5 matches Flamurtari Teuta |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 31 May 2026. | |
The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Conference League.
Teams
Two clubs have earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Flamurtari (promoted after a five-year absence) and Vora (promoted for the first time in their history). Laçi (relegated after sixteen years in the top flight) and Skënderbeu (relegated after two years in the top flight) were relegated to Kategoria e Parë at the conclusion of last season.
Locations
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| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2024–25 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bylis | Ballsh | Adush Muçaj Stadium | 2,464 | 7th |
| Dinamo City | Tirana | Arena Kombëtare | 22,500 | 4th |
| Egnatia | Rrogozhinë | Egnatia Arena | 4,267 | Champion |
| Elbasani | Elbasan | Elbasan Arena | 12,800 | 5th |
| Flamurtari | Vlorë | Flamurtari Stadium | 5,600 | Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë) |
| Partizani | Tirana | Arena e Demave | 3,959 | 3rd |
| Teuta | Durrës | Niko Dovana Stadium | 12,040 | 6th |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 7,308 | 8th |
| Vllaznia | Shkodër | Loro Boriçi Stadium | 16,022 | 2nd |
| Vora | Vorë | Vora Stadium | 1,436 | Champion (Kategoria e Parë) |
Stadiums
| Bylis | Dinamo City | Egnatia | Elbasani | Flamurtari |
| Adush Muçaj Stadium | Arena Kombëtare UEFA stadium category  |
Egnatia Arena | Elbasan Arena UEFA stadium category |
Flamurtari Stadium |
| Capacity: 2,464 | Capacity: 22,500 | Capacity: 4,267 | Capacity: 12,800 | Capacity: 5,600 |
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| Partizani | Teuta | Tirana | Vllaznia | Vora |
| Arena e Demave | Niko Dovana Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Loro Boriçi Stadium UEFA stadium category |
Vora Stadium |
| Capacity: 3,959 | Capacity: 12,040 | Capacity: 7,308 | Capacity: 16,022 | Capacity: 3,200 |
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Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | President | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bylis |  Besnik Kapllanaj |
Mirel Josa |
Aurel Marku |
Macron | |
| Dinamo City | Ardian Bardhi |
Ilir Daja |
Bruno Dita |
Kappa | Caffè Pascucci |
| Egnatia | Agim Demrozi |
Nevil Dede |
Albano Aleksi |
Joma | Demrozi Construction |
| Elbasani | Kujtim Llupa |
 Ivan Gvozdenović |
Bruno Lulaj |
Cohl's | Kurum |
| Flamurtari | Sinan Idrizi |
Andi Ribaj |
Denis Pjeshka |
Adidas | |
| Partizani | Gazmend Demi |
Realf Zhivanaj |
Alban Hoxha |
Joma | |
| Teuta | Fatos Troplini |
Bledar Hodo |
Blerim Kotobelli |
Macron | |
| Tirana | Refik Halili |
Orges Shehi |
Redon Xhixha |
Joma | |
| Vllaznia | Alban Xhaferi |
Edi Martini |
Bekim Balaj |
Suzmar | AL Invest |
| Vora | Albert Xhabafti |
Arjan Bellaj |
Xhuljo Tabaku |
Macron | RAMS Global |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vllaznia |  Thomas Brdarić |
Sacked | 13 May 2025 | Pre-season | Edi Martini |
15 May 2025 |
| Flamurtari |  Artim Pollozhani |
Mutual consent | 26 May 2025 |  Carlos García |
27 June 2025 | |
| Tirana | Bledi Shkëmbi |
19 June 2025 | Vangjel Mile |
14 July 2025 | ||
| Teuta | Bledar Hodo |
7 July 2025 | Enkeleid Dobi |
7 July 2025 | ||
| Bylis | Gentian Mezani |
21 July 2025 | Mirel Josa |
21 July 2025 | ||
| Partizani | Skënder Gega |
Resigned | 23 July 2025 | Mladen Milinković |
6 August 2025 | |
| Tirana | Vangjel Mile |
Mutual consent | 7 September 2025 | 10th |  Roberto Bordin |
7 September 2025 |
| Partizani | Mladen Milinković |
Sacked | 6 October 2025 | 9th | Oltijon Kërnaja |
7 October 2025 |
| Flamurtari | Carlos García |
Mutual consent | 7 October 2025 | 10th | Francesco Moriero |
8 October 2025 |
| Tirana | Roberto Bordin |
31 October 2025 | 9th | Ardian Nuhiu |
31 October 2025 | |
| Tirana | Ardian Nuhiu |
23 February 2026 | 9th | Orges Shehi |
23 February 2026 | |
| Flamurtari | Francesco Moriero |
9 March 2026 | 9th | Andi Ribaj |
9 March 2026 | |
| Partizani | Oltijon Kërnaja |
Sacked | 30 April 2026 | 5th | Realf Zhivanaj |
30 April 2026 |
| Egnatia | Edlir Tetova |
Mutual consent | 3 May 2026 | 3rd | Nevil Dede |
4 May 2026 |
| Teuta | Enkeleid Dobi |
Resigned | 6th | Bledar Hodo |
3 May 2026 | |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vllaznia | 36 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 63 | Qualification for the Final four round |
| 2 | Elbasani | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 62 | |
| 3 | Egnatia (C) | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 42 | 34 | +8 | 57 | |
| 4 | Dinamo City | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 49 | |
| 5 | Partizani | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 48 | |
| 6 | Tirana | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 44 | |
| 7 | Vora | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 39 | 40 | −1 | 42 | |
| 8 | Teuta (O) | 36 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 42 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
| 9 | Bylis (R) | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 38 | 50 | −12 | 41 | Relegation to the 2026–27 Kategoria e Parë |
| 10 | Flamurtari (R) | 36 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 36 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Results
Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.
First half of season
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Second half of season
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Final four round
The four teams that qualified to the final four round played an additional round between each other. Their points were halved, rounded downwards. All matches were played in Arena Kombëtare, which serves as a neutral ground.
Final four table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | EGN | ELB | VLL | DIN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egnatia (C) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 37[a] | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round | 2–0 | ||||
| 2 | Elbasani | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 37[a] | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round[b] | 0–4 | 3–0 | |||
| 3 | Vllaznia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 31 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | |||
| 4 | Dinamo City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 27 |
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.
(C) Champions
Notes:
- Tied on head to head points. Head to head goal difference: Egnatia +3, Elbasani –3.
- Dinamo City qualified for the Conference League first qualifying round as the 2025–26 Albanian Cup winners.
Relegation play-off
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers
- As of 31 May 2026
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bekim Balaj |
Vllaznia | 14 |
| 2 | Irgi Kasalla |
Vora | 13 |
| 3 | Erald Maksuti |
Flamurtari | 12 |
| 4 |  Blaise Tsague |
Elbasani | 11 |
| 5 | Dejvi Bregu |
Dinamo City | 10 |
| Xhonatan Lajthia |
Elbasani |
Hat-tricks
| Player | Club | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soumaila Bakayoko |
Egnatia | Bylis | 5–1 (H) | 22 November 2025 |
 Ibrahim Mustapha |
Bylis | Elbasani | 3–2 (H) | 20 December 2025 |
| Daniel Adjessa |
Egnatia | Bylis | 3–0 (H) | 4 April 2026 |
| Erald Maksuti |
Flamurtari | Dinamo City | 3–1 (H) | 27 April 2026 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team