Tirana Connectivity Forum 2026 is the 12th edition of an annual forum launched in 2015. Organised by the Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI), a Tirana-based think tank, the event examines how connectivity, reforms and EU enlargement intersect in South-East Europe. Its stated aim is to build knowledge that can inform policy on regional cooperation, development and the region’s convergence with the EU.12
The 2026 forum takes place as EU enlargement moves from preparation towards implementation. Its agenda addresses the readiness of public administrations and businesses to meet accession requirements, deliver reforms and prepare for the next EU policy and budget cycle. Sessions also examine institutional capacity, accountability and the Reform and Growth Facility, alongside trade and the Common Regional Market.1
The two-day programme opens with remarks from TCF coordinator Ardian Hackaj and EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa, followed by a high-level panel with regional politicians and senior EU officials. The second day turns to connectivity, including rail developments in the South Adriatic area and the role of the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and connectivity acquis in supporting negotiations and regional economic opportunities.1
TCF is aimed at experts, researchers, academics, civil-society organisations, policymakers and others working on EU enlargement, regional cooperation and connectivity. The organisers describe it as a by-invitation event; the forum’s history includes 11 previous editions, with more than 5,100 participants and 58 sessions reported since 2015.12 The programme combines keynote addresses, panel discussions and topic-focused sessions, with networking breaks and a reception.1