Sun, sound, and spectacle: A year of events awaits travellers in Albania
Albania highlighted the diversity of its tourism offer at ITB Berlin 2025 as the Official Host Country
Following the show, the destination has a host of cultural and sports events in store for travellers this year.
Albania remains an ideal choice for travellers looking for new experiences. In 2025, many festivals will be taking place across the country. The South Outdoor Festival, for example, is celebrating its eighth edition this August. This festival is a celebration of all things outdoors: sport, culture, tradition, music, nature, and food. Taking place annually in southern Albania, the festival welcomes participants from across the country and Europe to join, compete, and have fun—experiencing everything that makes Albania’s beautiful Riviera so special. Festival organisers are committed to making it as sustainable and locally rooted as possible, and with more than 40 different outdoor activities for all age groups and backgrounds, there’s something for everyone.
From 5 to 10 June, Unum electronic music festival offers five days of unforgettable performances, art, and parties right by the beach. It’s a chance for travellers looking to dance and unwind in a lively atmosphere. The Kala Music Festival will be held from 4 to 11 in Dhërmi, a beautiful spot of the Albanian Riviera. This festival is a must for electronic music fans, and will welcome famed international DJs. Also in Dhërmi, from 12 to 17 June, Anjunadeep Explorations will combine deep house and techno with yoga and meditation.
For travellers looking for more traditional celebrations, the international Festival Days of Albania are taking place in Durrës between from 26 to 30 June. This event brings together dance and music from all around the world and offers an opportunity to discover Durrës, home to many ancient archaeological sites including a well-preserved amphitheatre dating back from the time of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
As Tirana was named the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue for 2025, the city is taking the opportunity to bring back the Tirana Biennial, helping to establish the capital as an important cultural hub. Tirana will play host to a number of events such as the International Cultural Weeks, the International Film Festival, the International Wine and Gastronomy Festival, and the Balkan Folklore Festival.
An exceptional sporting event in 2025 will be the Giro D’Italia cycling race, taking place in Albania from 9 to 11 May. Fans can witness the race passing through most major cities in Albania.
Albania’s soaring connectivity
Air transport connecting Albania to the world is an important tool for the development of tourism. In 2024, Tirana International Airport was the fastest-growing airport in Europe. Traffic was up by 48%, helping the airport pass the 10-million mark for the first time in its history. Since 2019, passenger traffic has been multiplied by three, growing from 3.34 million to 10.71 million. Various airlines including Air Albania, Ryanair and Wizz Air provide routes to over 60 destinations in Europe and the Middle-East. Airport’s authorities have embarked on a terminal expansion that will triple the area in order to accommodate up to 15 million passengers.
A brand new airport will be created along the Albanian Riviera in Vlora. This project began in 2019 and is due to open to the public this summer. This will reduce air travel time for visitors keen to stay along the Albanian Mediterranean coast.
