List of Kosovo Albanians



This is a list of historical and living notable Kosovar Albanians (ethnic Albanian people from Kosovo or people of full or partial Kosovar Albanian ancestry), sorted by occupation and name:

Military personnel

 * Idriz Seferi - nationalist guerrilla fighter
 * Azem Galica - nationalist resistance fighter
 * Isa Boletini - nationalist guerrilla fighter
 * Asim Vokshi - volunteer in Spanish Civil War
 * Sulejman Vokshi - military leader and commander of the League of Prizren
 * Haxhi Zeka - nationalist leader
 * Bislim Bajgora - nationalist leader
 * Shote Galica - nationalist guerrilla fighter who was declared as the People's Heroine of Albania
 * Mic Sokoli - nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter
 * Shaban Polluzha - military leader
 * Idriz Gjilani - KLA commander
 * Zahir Pajaziti - KLA commander
 * Adem Jashari - KLA commander
 * Agim Ramadani - KLA commander
 * Njazi Azemi - KLA commander

Academics

 * Anton Berisha - scholar and folklorist
 * Anton Berishaj - academic, from Malsia, Montenegro living in Kosovo
 * Flora Brovina - poet, pediatrician and women's rights activist from Drenica, raised in Prishtina
 * Musa Haxhiu - academic, from Peja
 * Din Mehmeti - poet, from Gjakova
 * Ali Podrimja - poet, from Gjakova
 * Adem Zaplluzha - poet, from Prizren

Actors and actresses

 * Muharrem Qena - actor, director, writer and singer
 * Faruk Begolli - actor
 * James Biberi - American actor, who was born in Kosovo
 * Arta Dobroshi - actress, notable works include Lorna's Silence and Baby
 * Fortesa Hoti - Swedish actress, best known for her role as Roxana Nilsson, in the Swedish drama series Andra Avenyn, born in Kosovo
 * Arta Muçaj - actress born in Prizren Kosovo. Known for roles in Home Sweet Home as Hana and Njerez dhe Fate (People and Destinies) as Didi. Based in Australia.
 * Enver Petrovci - actor, writer and director

Entertainment and media

 * Ardian Bujupi - German-Kosovar singer-songwriter, who finished in third place of the 8th season of the German talent show Deutschland Sucht den SuperStar, born in Pristina
 * Rauf Dhomi - classical music composer and conductor
 * Rona Nishliu - singer
 * Tony Dovolani - professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge based in New York
 * Gashi - rapper
 * Adelina Ismajli - singer, actress and model who was crowned Miss Kosovo in 1997
 * Era Istrefi - singer-songwriter
 * Akil Mark Koci - composer from Prizren
 * Memli Krasniqi - rapper, singer-songwriter, politician and spokesperson; minister the Culture, Youth and Sport of the Republic of Kosovo
 * Albina Kelmendi - singer and runner-up of the fourth season of The Voice of Albania
 * Zana Krasniqi - model and Miss Universe Kosovo 2008
 * Zana Nimani - Belgrade-based former singer, parents from Kosovo
 * Patrick Nuo - Swiss recording artist and actor, the father is an Albanian from Gjakova
 * Rita Ora - British singer-songwriter and actress, born in Pristina
 * Dua Lipa - British pop singer, parents are immigrants from Kosovo, fleeing during the war
 * Ismet Peja - folk singer
 * Nexhmije Pagarusha - singer, known for song "Baresha"
 * Shkëlzen Doli - violinist
 * Leonora Jakupi - singer
 * Nita Bahtiri - Kosovar singer and pianist
 * Lindita - Kosovo-Albanian singer-songwriter
 * Regard - DJ
 * Gjon's Tears - Swiss singer-songwriter
 * Ledri Vula - singer
 * Njomza - Kosovo born songwriter

Visual arts and design

 * Fatmire Zeka - artist
 * Rifo Dobra - photographer
 * Adem Kastrati - painter (1930–2000)
 * Gazmend Freitag - painter
 * Lirika Matoshi - fashion designer
 * Teuta Matoshi - fashion designer
 * Burim Myftiu - American contemporary photographer, born in Prizren
 * Ramadan Ramadani - painter and artist
 * Mustafa Presheva - Turkish film editor

Models

 * Diana Avdiu - Kosovar Albanian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Kosovo 2012
 * Marigona Dragusha - model who was crowned Miss Universe Kosovo in 2009; second runner-up in Miss Universe 2009
 * Donika Emini - Kosovar Albanian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Kosovo
 * Zana Krasniqi - Kosovar Albanian fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Kosovo 2008
 * Camila Barraza - Argentinian-Kosovar model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Kosovo 2016 and represented Kosovo at Miss Universe 2016.
 * Mirjeta Shala - Kosovar Albanian model
 * Zana Berisha - Kosovar Albanian model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Kosovo 2018

Business and entrepreneurship

 * Florin Krasniqi - American businessman and political activist
 * Shkëlzen Shala - veganism activist and entrepreneur
 * Ramiz Tafilaj - American businessman, activist, visionary and publisher

Politics

 * Albin Kurti - current Prime Minister of Kosovo
 * Vjosa Osmani - current President of Kosovo
 * Lulzim Basha - Albanian politician. He is the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, the main opposition party, since 2013.
 * Agim Çeku - minister of security forces for the Republic of Kosovo
 * Bajram Curri - minister of defence of Albania, member of the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo, independence activist
 * Nexhat Daci - member of the Assembly of Kosovo
 * Nexhip Draga - politician and deputy of the Ottoman and later of the Yugoslav parliament
 * Jakup Krasniqi - spokesman for the Kosovo Liberation Army (during the Kosovo war); Former Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo (2007–2014); Former Acting President of Kosovo.
 * Ramush Haradinaj - former Prime Minister of Kosovo (2004–05)
 * Sinan Hasani - former president of Yugoslavia (1986–1987), novelist, statesman and diplomat
 * Ali Kelmendi - communist organiser
 * Hasan Prishtina - former Prime Minister, nationalist, organizer of Albanian movements against Ottomans and other regimes installed in Kosovo, during the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century
 * Ymer Prizreni - cleric, jurist, politician, scholar and patriot, head leader of the Albanian League of Prizren
 * Bajram Rexhepi - Prime Minister of Kosovo 2002-2004
 * Ibrahim Rugova - first president of Kosovo (1992–2000) and (2002–2006)
 * Fatmir Sejdiu - first president of the Republic of Kosovo (2006–2010)
 * Hashim Thaçi - former Prime Minister and President of Kosovo
 * Azem Vllasi - senior politician and lawyer

Football

 * Ardit Tahiri - footballer
 * Allmir Ademi - Albanian-Swiss footballer
 * Fidan Aliti - football player
 * Enis Alushi - football player
 * Donis Avdijaj - footballer
 * Ilir Azemi - footballer
 * Zymer Bytyqi - football player
 * Adnan Januzaj - Belgian football player for Real Sociedad, La Liga, parents are from the Republic of Kosovo, of both Kosovan and Turkish descent
 * Agon Mehmeti - football player
 * Albert Bunjaku - Swiss-Albanian football player for Nürnberg, German Bundesliga
 * Almir Murati - Swiss football player who plays for Potenza S.C.
 * Arian Beqaj - football player for Anorthosis Famagusta, Cypriot First Division
 * Fatos Beqiraj - Montenegrian former football player born in Peja
 * Astrit Ajdarević - Swedish football player for Leicester City, Premier League, born in Prishtina
 * Beg Ferati - Swiss football player, born in Pristina
 * Bernard Berisha - football player
 * Besart Berisha - football player for Brisbane Roar, A-League
 * Valon Berisha - footballer player who played for Red Bull Salzburg and Lazio
 * Mërgim Brahimi - football player
 * Bersant Celina - football player
 * Debatik Curri - footballer
 * Ardin Dallku - footballer
 * Ibrahim Drešević - footballer
 * Lorik Emini - footballer
 * Betim Fazliji - footballer
 * Ardian Gashi - footballer, who played for Norway and Kosovo
 * Besian Idrizaj - Austrian football player for Swansea City, English League Championship, parents are from Kosovo
 * Besar Halimi - footballer, former player of Mainz 05
 * Besnik Hasi - former football player turned manager for Anderlecht, Belgian First Division A
 * Mehmet Hetemaj - footballer, who played several seasons in the Italian Serie B
 * Ylldren Ibrahimaj - footballer
 * Blendi Idrizi - footballer, currently playing for Schalke 04
 * Flamur Kastrati - footballer
 * Kushtrim Lushtaku - footballer
 * Alban Meha - footballer
 * Arijanet Muric - footballer, who played for Manchester City and NAC Breda
 * Florent Muslija - football player, who formerly played for Hannover 96
 * Besar Musolli - football player
 * Atdhe Nuhiu - football player
 * Leart Paqarada - footballer
 * Avni Pepa - footballer
 * Fanol Përdedaj - football player, who played for Hertha BSC
 * Amir Rrahmani - footballer
 * Elbasan Rashani - footballer
 * Anel Rashkaj - footballer
 * Dardan Rexhepi - footballer
 * Loret Sadiku - footballer
 * Herolind Shala - footballer, who played for Odd and Sparta Prague
 * Valmir Sulejmani - footballer, who formerly played for Hannover 96
 * Gjelbrim Taipi - footballer
 * Samir Ujkani - footballer, who played several seasons in Serie A and Serie B
 * Mërgim Vojvoda - football player currently playing for Torino F.C.
 * Eroll Zejnullahu - footballer
 * Arbër Zeneli - footballer, who played for Heerenveen and Reims
 * Edon Zhegrova - footballer
 * Drilon Shala - Finnish football player for FC Lahti, Finnish Veikkausliiga, parents are from the Republic of Kosovo
 * Dren Feka - German football player for Hamburger SV and Germany national youth football team U19. Parents are from Kosovo.
 * Emir Bajrami - Swedish football player, born in Pristina
 * Erton Fejzullahu - Swedish football player, born in Mitrovica
 * Fatmire Bajramaj (Alushi) - German football player, born in Kosovo
 * Faton Toski - German football player, born in Kosovo
 * Gezim Ljalja - Kosovar Albanian football player who played for KF Vëllaznimi and FK Galenika Zemun.
 * Granit Xhaka - Swiss football player, an ethnic Albanian born in Kosovo
 * Johan Berisha - retired Swiss football player
 * Kosovare Asllani - Swedish football player, parents migrated from Kosovo to Sweden
 * Kristian Nushi - football player for FC St. Gallen, Swiss Super League
 * Labinot Haliti - Australian-Albanian football player for Western Sydney Wanderers FC, born in Pristina
 * Labinot Harbuzi - Swedish football player, parents migrated from Kosovo to Sweden
 * Liridon Krasniqi - football player born in Vitina, representing Kosovo and later Malaysia
 * Lorik Cana - football player for Lazio, Italian Serie A
 * Mehmet Dragusha - football player for Paderborn, German 2 Bundesliga
 * Mentor Zhubi - Swedish football player for Örgryte IS, Swedish Superettan, born in Kosovo
 * Milaim Rama - Swiss football player for Augsburg, German Regional Liga Nord, born in Kosovo
 * Milot Rashica - football player for Werder Bremen, Bundesliga, born in Vushtrri, Kosovo
 * Njazi Kuqi - Finnish football player for TuS Koblenz, German Zweite Bundesliga, born in Kosovo
 * Rijat Shala - Swiss football player for Novara Calcio, Italian Lega Pro 1.Divisione, born in Prizren, Kosovo
 * Shefki Kuqi - Finnish football player for Swansea City, English Football League Championship, born in the Kosovo
 * Shpetim Hasani - football player
 * Sokol Maliqi - Swiss-Albanian football player
 * Valdet Rama - football player born in Mitrovica
 * Valon Behrami - Swiss football player and former player of West Ham United, Premier League, born in Mitrovica
 * Xherdan Shaqiri - Swiss football player, born in Kosovo
 * Xhevat Prekazi - football manager and former player of Kosovar Albanian descent.

Basketball

 * Edmond Azemi - Kosovo Albanian professional basketball player who plays for Sigal Prishtina in Kosovo Basketball Superleague

Handball

 * Taip Ramadani - head coach of the Australian national handball team, parents are from Kosovo

American Football

 * Lirim Hajrullahu - Kosovar-born Canadian placekicker in both the CFL and NFL, 2017 Grey Cup champion

Boxing, Kickboxing and Wrestling

 * Luan Krasniqi - German professional boxer, born in Junik
 * Robin Krasniqi - German professional boxer, born in Junik
 * Xhavit Bajrami - Swiss former kickboxer, born in Dumosh
 * Aziz Salihu - professional boxer, born in Prishtina
 * Naim Terbunja - Swedish amateur boxer, born in Pristina
 * Rezar - professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist
 * Elvis Gashi - professional boxer in America, born in Peja
 * Ilir Latifi - professional UFC fighter for Sweden, his parents come from Kosovo
 * Elvir Muriqi - American-Albanian boxer, born in Kosovo
 * Azem Maksutaj - Swiss former kickboxer, born in Kosovo
 * Donjeta Sadiku - Kosovar female boxer, born in Pristina
 * Besar Nimani - former professional boxer, IBF European intercontinental champion

Judo

 * Majlinda Kelmendi - Judoka, 2013 and 2014 World Champion (52 kg), won the 2019 European Games, three European Championships (2014, 2016, 2017), the 2013 Judo World Masters, seven IJF Grand Slams, 10 IJF Grand Prix, and conquered the gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics
 * Distria Krasniqi - Judoka, won three IJF World Masters (2018, 2019, 2021), two IJF Grand Slams (2020 Paris and Hungary), six IJF Grand Prix (2015 Samsun, 2017 Antalya and The Hague, 2018 Antalya and Tashkent, 2019 Antalya), one European Championship and a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
 * Nora Gjakova - Judoka, won two IJF Grand Slams (2018, 2021), five IJF Grand Prix (2017 Antalya, 2018 Tunis, 2018 Antalya, 2019 Tbilisi), one European Championship, a gold medal at the 2018 Mediterranean Games, and conquered the gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics