The city of Korça has officially launched its tourist season with the International Carnival Festival, where numerous Albanian and international groups paraded through the city’s main streets, bringing color, music, and a festive atmosphere.
For several consecutive years, the carnival has become one of the city’s most distinctive traditions, with not only the participating groups but also local residents joining the celebration through colorful masks and costumes.
This year’s parade featured groups from various countries, showcasing characters and cultural elements unique to their traditions. For the first time, the festival also welcomed a group of Arbëreshë (Italo-Albanians) from Calabria, Italy.
A participant from Serbia expressed her excitement about experiencing Albania for the first time.
“This is my first time in Albania, and I am very happy. We come from northern Serbia and are a group of 20 girls dressed as princesses and in other costumes that highlight feminine beauty. We will dance and present our culture,” she said.
The group from Romania also brought well-known characters from Romanian folklore and fairy tales.
“We are the Romanian group. It is our first time in Albania and in Korça. We are bringing characters from Romanian fairy tales, including queens, witches, and various animals. We are having a wonderful time, especially alongside the other international groups.”
Representatives of the Arbëreshë community explained that they had brought traditional garments worn during their celebrations and religious ceremonies.
“We feel very happy to be here. It is our first time visiting Korça. This costume is antique, and we wear it during family celebrations and when attending church.”
Another participant added:
“This is the traditional men’s costume. This is how Arbëreshë men dress in Calabria. It is a more recent version of the costume, but it preserves the traditional elements of our culture.”
The International Carnival Festival once again transformed Korça into a vibrant stage of cultural exchange, celebrating traditions, diversity, and the start of the city’s summer tourism season.
Blerta Belliu, Director of Arts and Culture at the Municipality of Korça, said that the city has been fully embraced by the festive atmosphere and that an increasing number of residents are becoming active participants in the carnival celebrations.
“The Korça Carnival, in addition to the costumes and traditions that we aim to preserve, has also brought together groups from Romania, Greece, Poland, the Albanian diaspora, and other countries. Today, we are officially opening the tourist season, which coincides with the first Saturday of June. The carnival has created a wonderful atmosphere, and what impresses me most is that local residents themselves have obtained costumes and come out into the city to celebrate,” said Blerta Belliu, Director of Arts and Culture.
In recent years, Korça has experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors, particularly international tourists. Cultural events such as the International Carnival Festival are increasingly becoming one of the city’s main attractions during the tourism season.
The growing popularity of these celebrations reflects Korça’s efforts to promote its cultural heritage while strengthening its position as one of Albania’s most attractive tourist destinations.
