Tirana, Albania – Tens of thousands of Albanians filled streets and public squares across Tirana on the evening of 10 June 2026 in one of the largest protests in recent years.

The footage, filmed from an elevated vantage point by X user Migena Bicaku overlooking the crowd, shows a vast sea of people stretching between trees and buildings under a darkening blue sky.

A massive crowd fills the city center, with thousands of protesters holding smartphones high above their heads. Their flashlight beams create a dense sparkling field of lights across the demonstration. Albanian national flags wave alongside red banners and protest signs. In the foreground, people standing on a balcony or ledge also record the scene, capturing the scale of the gathering. Despite its size, the atmosphere appears charged yet orderly under street and building lights.

The protest has expanded beyond its original focus on a resort project linked to Ivanka. It has grown into broader opposition against the political establishment that has governed Albania for the past 35 years.

Demonstrators point to issues including the collapsing healthcare system, struggling education sector, low wages, corruption, and what they describe as the right of citizens to build a dignified future in their own country.

The demonstration is also tied to opposition against a multibillion-dollar luxury resort project supported by Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners on Sazan Island and the nearby Vjosa-Narta protected wetlands and coastal area. Critics say the development threatens environmentally sensitive zones that are home to flamingos, sea turtles, and other wildlife.

The government of Prime Minister Edi Rama is accused of changing laws to allow construction within protected areas. What began as environmental protest has expanded into wider demands for Rama’s resignation and an end to systemic corruption, poor public services, and long-standing economic hardship.

Protesters have continued chanting “Albania is not for sale” as demonstrations enter their second week.

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