West, also known by his stage name Ye, took to the stage at the makeshift Eagle Stadium at 09:15 p.m. , performing a set featuring many of his best-known songs as the audience sang along throughout the evening.

Rama shared footage of the concert on social media, showing the stage and the large crowd.

“There are 80 nationalities around that stage,” Rama wrote.

The concert features elaborate staging, visual effects and lighting, including a globe-shaped stage design, as fans and tourists from around the world gathered for the event.

Earlier today, Rama and Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja welcomed West at the Prime Minister’s office ahead of the performance.

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West, also known by his stage name Ye, is due to perform on Friday evening at the temporary venue built along the Tirana-Durrës highway, with tens of thousands of spectators expected to attend.

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja shared images on social media showing crowds gathering as the atmosphere built across the Albanian capital.

“All roads lead to the concert. The atmosphere has begun and fans and tourists from different countries are heading to Eagle Stadium for one of the biggest musical nights in Tirana. Tirana is ready,” Gonxhja wrote.

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Zhupa, chair of parliament’s Committee on Culture, Tourism and the Diaspora, argued that the concert had been presented as a private investment and should therefore have been financed by its organisers through ticket sales, sponsorships and private investment.

Speaking to reporters at parliament, Zhupa said the decision was not merely a poor political choice or a misuse of public funds, but also ran counter to Article 101 of Albania’s Constitution, which allows the government to issue normative acts only in cases of necessity and urgency.

“The emergencies for which this fund exists are earthquakes, floods, fires and disasters that threaten people’s lives, property and safety -not the financing of a concert,” she said.

Zhupa also pointed to ongoing wildfires, shortcomings in civil protection capacity and funding needs in healthcare, education, agriculture and pensions, arguing that public money would be better spent in those sectors.

She warned that a normative act should not be used to bypass parliamentary oversight whenever the government seeks to finance what she described as an unjustified expenditure.

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During the show, the artist said he had broken the world record for the largest audience at a stadium concert.

Following one of the biggest nights of his career, Ye is scheduled to continue his tour with stops in the Netherlands, Georgia and Albania.

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja on Saturday reminded fans of the upcoming concert in Tirana.

“On July 11, 2026, Tirana will become a global stage, hosting a world-class spectacle expected to attract thousands of fans from Albania, the region and across Europe at Eagle Stadium,” Gonxhja said in a social media post.

The concert is expected to position Tirana as a major destination for music, entertainment and culture, featuring a large-scale production, advanced immersive technology and one of the most ambitious live events ever staged in Albania.

Construction is continuing on Eagle Stadium, a venue being built specifically for the event in the Kashar area, near the Tirana-Durres highway. The stadium is expected to accommodate around 60,000 spectators from Albania, the wider region and abroad.

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Speaking at the concert, VanHorn said the event formed part of “Freedom 250,” a global initiative launched to commemorate 250 years of U.S. independence, innovation and the enduring spirit of freedom.

“This is American Cultural Week and we are bringing something extraordinary,” VanHorn said. “We are celebrating ‘Freedom 250’, a global initiative honouring 250 years of American independence, innovation and the enduring spirit of liberty.”

She described the initiative as an invitation to U.S. partners and allies around the world, including Albania, to celebrate the values of freedom, opportunity and prosperity.

VanHorn said the concert represented more than a cultural performance, calling it a symbol of the strong partnership between Albania and the United States.

The event brought together the U.S. Navy Forces Europe and Africa band “Flagship” and the Albanian Armed Forces Orchestra, with Albanian artists Renis Gjoka and Gjergji Kaçinari also performing.

VanHorn thanked Albanian institutions and partners involved in organising the American Cultural Week, including the ministries of culture, defence and education, the Municipality of Tirana, universities and the Albanian-American Development Foundation.

She said the partnership between Albania and the United States continued to be strengthened through institutional cooperation and people-to-people ties.

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Gonxhja described the event as unique in both significance and scale. The concert will take place at Italy Square and will feature the Albanian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet choir.

In a notable highlight, the performance will be conducted by the son of renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone.

The government has approved special funding for the event, which is being organized in cooperation with the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute.

“We will have an even more vibrant May 9 in Tirana, both in terms of cultural and artistic life and tourism interest in the capital,” Gonxhja said.

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The concert offered a refined and immersive musical experience, marked by precision, energy and a strong connection with the audience that lingered beyond the final note.

The event was organized by the Fondacioni Arte, with support from the Dutch Embassy in Albania, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, and the Municipality of Tirana, underscoring continued efforts to expand access to international classical performances in the country.

The performance added momentum to Tirana’s cultural calendar, bringing together internationally acclaimed artists and a growing local audience with an interest in classical music.

Chen, widely recognized as one of the leading violinists of his generation, is known for combining traditional concert performances with a strong presence on digital platforms, where he reaches younger audiences.

Speaking ahead of the concert, Chen highlighted the importance of using social media to promote classical music, noting that short-form content and online engagement can inspire new generations to explore and study the art form.

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The artists, born and raised outside Albania but deeply connected to its cultural heritage, appeared alongside the Albanian song and dance ensemble “Colorit” and the dance group “Ilyria” from the village of Karakurt, which represent the Albanian diaspora in Ukraine.

The programme featured elements of Albanian cultural heritage preserved and developed over centuries in Ukraine, highlighting the links between traditions in Albania and those maintained by diaspora communities.

Through dance, music and traditional costume, the performance underscored a shared Albanian identity beyond geographical boundaries.

The concert illustrated the unifying power of culture and art, even in challenging times, and reaffirmed the enduring strength of cultural roots.

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The “Czech Boys – Boni Pueri” choir performed global choral masterpieces and also sang in Albanian.

The internationally renowned ensemble, composed of 35 boys, was conducted by Pavel Horák and accompanied on piano by Vartan Agopian.

The choir presented selections from the international choral repertoire, performing in Albanian as well, which added a special connection with the audience alongside their vocal craftsmanship.

The concert, a premiere for Albania, showcased not only a treasured musical tradition from the Czech Republic but also offered a unique cultural experience for the Albanian public.

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Mikkey Dee, Matthias Jabs, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Paweł Mąciwoda will perform classic hits including “Wind of Change,” “Still Loving You,” and “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”

The band last played in Albania in 2001, delivering a show that fans here still recall as one of the country’s most memorable concerts.

With a six-decade career, more than 100 million records sold and tours spanning the globe, Scorpions remain a defining force in rock music.

Sunday’s event is part of their “Coming Home” world tour marking the band’s 60th anniversary.

Organisers expect thousands of fans from across Albania and neighbouring countries, including many expatriates who returned home for the weekend to see the group that helped shape rock history.

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