Tirana to host 12th Tirana Gate International Literature Festival

The 12th edition of the “Tirana Gate 2026” International Literature Festival for Youth will take place in Tirana from October 7 to 9. Organized by the Institute of Books and Promotion, the event aims to serve as a meeting point for Albanian, Balkan, and European literature.

The festival’s theme, “When silence speaks – Literature that transcends borders, challenges narratives and restores excluded voices,” will explore topics such as memory, trauma, identity, the diaspora, and representation. The program includes panels, creative writing workshops, and book promotions held at various locations, including Vila 31 x Art Explora and the National Library.

International participants include German author Martina Hefter, winner of the 2024 German Book Prize, along with writers and scholars from Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Romania. Regional representation will include authors from Croatia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, alongside prominent Albanian writers.