“A millennia-old culture, rich in art, traditions, music, literature and history, which has influenced the cultural development of societies across Asia and beyond, is coming to Albania through a special programme,” Gonxhja said.

The event is part of the fifth edition of the International Cultural Weeks in Albania and will feature activities ranging from jazz and traditional music to puppet theatre, literature, sports and audience interaction.

A highlight will be a traditional Chinese puppet theatre performance featuring three styles – string, hand and rod puppets. The programme will include performances such as “Monkey King Kung-Fu”, “Monkey Training”, “Puppet Fighting” and “Face Change”, as well as interactive games and opportunities for children to join the performers on stage.

The performance will open Chinese Culture Week on Tuesday at Tirana’s Puppet Theatre and will be staged again on Thursday at the Petro Marko Theatre in the southern city of Vlora.

The event is being organised in cooperation with the International Puppet Festival of Tirana.

Another event, “Discovering China through Books,” will introduce Albanian audiences to Chinese culture, literature and traditions through translated publications.

The programme will feature the launch of the Albanian-language edition of “Chinese Legends,” a collection exploring ancient Chinese stories where history, myth and imagination intertwine.

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Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said Thursday that from Sept. 14-18, audiences would have the opportunity to discover new rhythms, stories and artistic traditions from Türkiye.

Alongside music and film, the programme will showcase Turkish culture and offer Albanian audiences an opportunity to explore its traditions, history and diverse forms of artistic expression.

Events in Tirana and Shkodra are also aimed at strengthening cultural ties between Albania and Türkiye and promoting further cooperation in the arts and culture.

The five-day programme will run from Sept. 14 to 18, providing a platform for cultural exchange while highlighting the diversity of Türkiye’s artistic scene and the longstanding cultural links between the two countries.

The International Cultural Weeks, an initiative of Albania’s Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, brings a series of events designed to introduce audiences to cultures from around the world and encourage cultural exchange.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage on social media showing the festive atmosphere, with crowds celebrating into the early hours. He said Lezha was “full of life” on these summer nights.

The municipality of Lezha organises a series of events around Aug. 15 each year, aiming to establish the date as a symbolic occasion for Albanians who have left the country and return to their hometowns during the summer.

The celebrations also mark the end of a two-week programme of nightly events in Lezha’s central square, attracting thousands of residents, visitors and returning migrants.

The “Day of the Migrants” continues to serve as a meeting point for Albanians living in the country and those abroad, turning the summer return to their hometowns into a shared celebration.

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The DUA Fest will bring two nights of live music, entertainment and a unique atmosphere beneath the centuries-old walls of Rozafa Castle. The festival will feature some of the most popular names in Albanian music, including Alban Skënderaj, Aleksandër Gjoka and Shkodra Elektronike, alongside other performers set to create a memorable summer weekend.

The programme will also include performances by DJs Hermes and Irgen, Eri Dee, as well as the band “Burn” and Hektor Jubani. Organisers say the event aims to offer audiences an unforgettable blend of music, emotions and celebration in one of Albania’s most historic cities.

Shortly afterwards, on August 12, Shkodra will host the second edition of the Youth Wave Festival, organised as part of International Youth Day celebrations.

This year’s festival will move to the square in front of Kinema Republika, where around 2,000 young people are expected to gather for an evening featuring music, entertainment and activities focused on youth participation.

Organisers have promised new elements and surprises for this year’s edition, with the new central location intended to bring the festival closer to the city’s young population.

The first edition of Youth Wave Festival was held last summer in the tourist area of Shiroka. By moving this year’s event to the city centre, organisers aim to expand participation and establish the festival as an important meeting point for Shkodra’s younger generation.

With its combination of cultural heritage, music and youth-oriented events, Shkodra continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Albania’s leading destinations for summer tourism and cultural experiences.

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France, one of the world’s leading centres of art and culture, has a rich heritage that has profoundly influenced global creativity and cultural thought. French art continues to inspire generations of artists and audiences around the world.

Now, this cultural legacy and creative energy will come closer to Albanian audiences through a series of events showcasing French artistic traditions.

The event marks the fifth edition of the International Cultural Weeks, an initiative that transforms Albania into a major artistic stage where cultures from around the world meet through emotions, colours, sounds and unique stories.

The International Cultural Weeks are a series of events held mainly from May to November and organised by Albania’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport in cooperation with diplomatic missions in the country. The initiative aims to introduce audiences to different world cultures and promote a future built on inspiration, dialogue and diversity.

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The programme opened on Tirana’s “Martyrs of the Nation” boulevard with the installation of an “I Love Çamëria” display, intended by organizers as a symbol of remembrance and reflection.

Speaking at the event, Liljan Idrizaj, head of the Patriotic Association “Çamëria,” described June 27, 1944, as one of the darkest dates in the history of the Cham Albanian community, saying it marked the beginning of expulsions, massacres and the ethnic cleansing of Albanians from the region.

The commemorative week includes cultural and memorial events aim at preserving the historical memory of the Cham community, promoting its identity and cultural heritage, and calling for justice over the events of the past.

Shpëtim Idrizi, leader of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU), has called for greater institutional and national support for what Albanians refer to as the Cham issue, saying it remains a historical obligation to seek justice for Cham Albanians.

The events will conclude with commemorations at the memorial cemetery in Kllogjer, near the coastal town of Saranda, where organizers say the remains of 2,900 Cham Albanians are buried.

Later on Friday, Albania’s parliament, in cooperation with the Patriotic Association “Çamëria”, is due to host a commemorative event marking what it describes as the 82nd anniversary of the genocide against Cham Albanians, attended by lawmakers, scholars, representatives of the Cham community and public figures.

Albania’s parliament in 1994 designated June 27 as the “Day of the Genocide against Cham Albanians by Greek Chauvinists” and approved the construction of a memorial.

According to the Albanian account of the events, Greek forces entered Paramithia on June 27, 1944, after assuring local Cham representatives that civilians would not be harmed if weapons were surrendered. Albanian sources say the pledge was broken and hundreds of Cham Albanians were subsequently killed.

Albanian institutions and Cham organizations say more than 30,000 Muslim Cham Albanians were expelled from their homes and more than 3,000 were killed during the campaign, while thousands more died during their flight to Albania from hunger, disease and hardship.

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The initiative, aimed at promoting sports, teamwork, discipline and youth talent development in schools, has become one of the country’s main programs for encouraging student participation in extracurricular and athletic activities.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday this year’s edition introduced chess for the first time as an official discipline within the program, bringing together 650 young chess players alongside traditional team sports.

“An emotional moment that crowns the success of this program through the work, discipline and talent of more than 10,000 students,” Rama said. “For the first time this year, 650 young chess players joined as part of the newest discipline added to the teams.”

The “School Sports Teams” program has expanded steadily in recent years, creating broader opportunities for students to engage in sports and educational activities while promoting fair competition and cooperation among young people.

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Details of the programme were unveiled on Friday by Italian Ambassador to Albania Marco Alberti, director of the Italian Cultural Institute Alessandro Ruggera and Deputy Culture Minister Lira Pipa.

The week-long programme, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, includes 15 events in visual arts, music, fashion, theatre and cinema to be held in Tirana, Vlora, Gjirokastra, Berat and Butrint.

“In eight days, we will host 15 events in this fifth edition,” Alberti said, adding that organisers aimed to surpass their previous record of 120 cultural initiatives in a single year.

He also said organisers were targeting at least 500,000 views across social media platforms during the event.

Pipa said the cultural week came at “a very important moment” in cultural cooperation between Albania and Italy, noting that Albania’s upcoming National Culture Strategy had been developed with the support of the Italian government.

“Italian international experts have contributed their expertise and best international practices, helping us adapt them to our own context,” she said.

The main events also include a concert by Italian singer Mario Biondi at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet on June 1.

On June 3, the Centre for Openness and Dialogue (COD) will host an event dedicated to renowned Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce.

Two performances featuring the famous Sicilian marionettes are scheduled for June 4 at Tirana’s Puppet Theatre.

The programme will conclude with the play “The Visit”, directed by Davide Iodice, at the Butrint Amphitheatre. The production, a collaboration between the Sardinia Theatre and Shkodra’s Migjeni Theatre, arrives in Butrint after receiving recognition at domestic and international festivals.

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The event will showcase the area’s key attractions, combining history, cultural heritage, unspoiled beaches, local traditions and Albanian cuisine.

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Thursday that the programme includes water sports, fairs and exhibitions promoting local products and handicrafts, as well as entertainment areas for children and live music concerts.

“For three consecutive days, the city will come alive with sports and cultural activities, fairs and exhibitions, water sports and concerts that bring the energy of the approaching summer,” Gonxhja said.

The opening event is intended to position Himara as a key summer destination, highlighting its blend of natural beauty and cultural offerings.

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Following the October 24 concert “Better Together” marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the celebrations will continue from October 28 to 31 with a diverse program featuring music, literature and European ideas.

The Vienna “Johann Strauss” Symphony Ensemble will perform a concert of Viennese waltzes and masterpieces by the Strauss dynasty, presented in authentic historical orchestration.

A book presentation titled “Kiosks – Temporary Architecture and Living Social Worlds on the Albanian Coast” will include a discussion with authors Saimir Kristo, Mamica Burda, Dhimitër Doka and editor Robert Pichler on architecture and urban life in post-1990 Albania.

A literary meeting will feature Austrian writer Theresia Töglhofer at the “POETEKA – Tirana In Between” residency, where she will share her experiences and recent works.

A discussion panel titled “30 Years and Beyond” will reflect on the experiences and future challenges of Austria, Sweden and Finland after three decades as members of the European Union.

The Clara Montocchio Quintet will offer a unique concert blending Strauss melodies with jazz, pop and chanson influences, while “Turning Point” by the No Borders Orchestra will bring together musicians from across the former Yugoslavia in an international ensemble performance.

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