Global UBT Fest 2026 Begins: The Region’s Largest Knowledge Festival Welcomes More Than 3,000 Participants
03/07/2026The 15th edition of Global UBT Fest 2026 has officially commenced, marking the beginning of the largest knowledge festival in the region. Throughout the month of July, the festival will serve as a comprehensive platform that brings together education, science, innovation, and professional development with the goal of creating solutions to the challenges of the future.
This milestone edition reflects a vision launched fifteen years ago to position Kosovo as an international hub for academic collaboration. The festival will gather more than 3,000 participants from Kosovo, the region, and countries around the world. More than 300 professors, researchers, experts, and professionals from both local and international institutions will take part in lectures, discussions, and scientific activities, sharing their expertise and experience with participants.
Over the coming weeks, the festival will host more than 50 summer schools covering a wide range of disciplines, including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Architecture, Energy, Media and Communication, Economics, Business, Law, Psychology, Arts, Design, Music, Public Policy, Sports, Agriculture, and Food Sciences. The agenda will also feature international conferences, innovation forums, hackathons, startup showcases, exhibitions, workshops, and numerous networking opportunities.
Participants were welcomed by the Rector of UBT, Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, who highlighted the festival’s significance as a unique platform positioning Kosovo on the international map of knowledge, innovation, and academic excellence.
“Welcome to two important milestones for UBT. Today, we officially launch the Global Knowledge Festival, which has become a long-standing tradition, with the ambition of making July the month of the largest knowledge festival in Europe. Through UBT, we are working to create a platform in Kosovo that brings together hundreds of speakers, hundreds of activities, and thousands of participants from today until the end of July,” said Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi.
Speaking about the festival’s program, Rector Hajrizi emphasized that this year’s edition is built upon academic diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. According to him, every UBT faculty will organize specialized summer schools and academic activities, complemented by conferences, competitions, workshops, forums, and cultural events.
“The idea behind the Global Knowledge Festival is founded on the diversity of academic programs. Throughout this month, every faculty will organize summer schools, conferences, events, competitions, and concerts, creating a space where knowledge, innovation, and creativity come together. This platform is open and free of charge, ensuring that all citizens, including members of our diaspora, have the opportunity to benefit from it,” Hajrizi added.
As part of the opening day of Global UBT Fest 2026, UBT also hosted the Leadership Conference, themed “Governing Innovation: Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The conference focused on the challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence presents for leadership, governance, and decision-making, bringing together institutional leaders, industry representatives, academics, and international experts.
The opening ceremony was further enriched by a cultural performance from the UBT Band, composed of students from the Faculty of Modern Music, Digital Production and Management. The ensemble performed the iconic Albanian song “Baresha,” delivering a contemporary interpretation that celebrated Albania’s rich cultural heritage. The performance was warmly received by the audience and symbolically marked the opening of the festival, demonstrating that Global UBT Fest is not only a platform for knowledge, science, and innovation, but also a celebration of art, culture, and creativity.
