The new season of Albania’s First Division (Kategoria e Parë) will officially begin on Saturday, September 5, introducing a new competition format designed to increase the intensity of the promotion race and give more teams a chance to reach the country’s top flight, the Abissnet Superiore.
The 2026–27 championship will be played across three phases, with a total of 33 matchweeks, creating a demanding and competitive season for all participating clubs.
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| The official logo of the Kategoria e Parë ahead of the start of the 2026-27 football season, which introduces a new format with 33 matchdays and new opportunities for promotion to the Abissnet Superiore. |
Two Teams to Earn Direct Promotion
One of the biggest changes concerns the battle for promotion to the Albanian elite.
At the end of the 33-matchweek regular competition, the teams finishing in first and second place will secure direct promotion to the Abissnet Superiore for the following season.
This means that the top two clubs will avoid the additional playoff stage and earn their place in the top flight based on their final league position.
Playoffs Open the Door for a Third Promoted Team
The team earning the third promotion spot will be determined through a playoff involving the clubs finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the final First Division standings.
The teams will compete through the playoff rounds, with the winner of the final securing promotion to the Abissnet Superiore.
The new system therefore keeps the promotion race alive for clubs that may fall short of the top two positions during the 33-week championship.
A Fourth Promotion Place Through a Decisive Match
The format also creates a pathway for a fourth First Division team to reach the Albanian top flight.
The finalist from the First Division promotion playoff will face the team finishing third from bottom in the Abissnet Superiore, in a decisive match linked to the top flight’s play-out battle.
Victory in this crucial encounter will determine the final promotion place, giving another First Division club the opportunity to reach Albania’s elite.
A More Competitive Race for the Superiore
The new format is expected to create greater competition throughout the First Division, with four potential promotion places available through direct promotion, playoffs and the decisive play-out-related match.
With 33 matchweeks and several routes to the top flight, the 2026–27 campaign promises to bring increased rivalry and drama as clubs fight for a place in Albania’s premier football division.