In brief
Al Jazeera Balkans re‑emerges on November 1, 2026 with a digital‑first approach that amplifies local stories through social media, short videos and podcasts. The relaunch, led by Jamal Elshayyal, follows a 2025 closure and drew nearly 100 million social‑media views in the weeks before the launch.
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Al Jazeera Balkans (AJB) announced it would return as a digital‑first network. The move follows the channel’s 2025 shutdown and aims to reach a new generation of online viewers across the Balkans.
AJB’s launch team, headed by Jamal Elshayyal, the director of digital news content and languages for Al Jazeera, said the platform would focus on short‑form videos, podcasts, a new web portal, and stronger social‑media presence. Elshayyal added that the new format would “go where the story matters, listen to the voice of the voiceless, and give people the space to tell their own stories.”
"The Balkans is a region whose stories, struggles and suffering have too often been seen only when they become impossible for the world to ignore. Yet behind the headlines are societies in transformation, communities shaped by extraordinary resilience, and people asking to be heard,"
Jamal Elshayyal, Director of Digital News Content and Languages.
The relaunch builds on the 2011 brand that once covered elections in Serbia and protests in Albania. In the weeks before the relaunch, AJB posted content on its own social‑media accounts that earned close to 100 million views.
Listeners can now find a dedicated “Balkans” section on AJB’s website, with country‑specific pages for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and more. The portal will feature live updates, explainers, and local opinions, aiming to give Balkan readers a clearer view of their own neighborhoods.
By shifting to a digital‑first model, AJB plans to make coverage faster and more interactive. Short videos and instant polls will provide quick snapshots of key events, while full‑length podcasts dive deeper into regional debates.
The network’s goal is to keep the Balkans’ voices in the global conversation and maintain a real‑time link between local communities and international audiences.
