TIRANA, May 9 /ATA/ – The coastal city of Vlora will host the 18th edition of the Aulona Inter Folk from May 22 to 25, bringing together hundreds of performers from across Europe and beyond in a celebration of traditional music, dance and cultural heritage.
Held under the rhythms of folk songs, dances and colorful traditional costumes, the festival has become one of Albania’s most established international folklore events, attracting around 330 artists this year from countries across Europe, Africa and South America.
Festival director Sejmen Gjokoli told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that the event returns following the strong success of last year’s edition.
“The festival’s continued growth proves that this cultural and tourism-oriented event has been both necessary and valuable, not only for Vlora but for the broader Albanian cultural space,” Gjokoli said.
He described the festival as more than a folklore gathering, calling it a dynamic artistic and cultural platform that promotes both Vlora and Albania internationally through the exchange of traditional music and dance.
A key feature of this year’s edition is the participation, for the first time, of groups from Africa and South America, further expanding the festival’s cultural and geographic reach.
Participating ensembles will arrive from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Greece, Italy, Poland, Georgia, Burundi and Chile.
As in previous years, the festival will open with a traditional costume parade along Vlora’s “Ismail Qemali” boulevard, transforming the city center into a vibrant showcase of music, dance and folk traditions.
Founded in 2009, the festival has welcomed around 140 folklore ensembles and more than 4,900 performers from 39 countries across the Balkans, Europe, Asia and Africa.
The event is organized with the support of the Municipality of Vlora, Albania’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, and other partners.
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