Thursday – October 2-6 2025
EDITION 27
Thursday – December 6-10 2024
EDITION 26
Thursday – December 6-10 2024
EDITION 25
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Skampa International Theatre Festival was founded in 1999, at a symbolic turning point between centuries, a moment that not only marked a shift in time, but also inspired new artistic visions and contemporary creative concepts. Today, it stands as one of Albania’s leading cultural events, held annually every autumn in the historic city of Elbasan. Dedicated to contemporary theatre and intercultural dialogue, the festival showcases major trends from both Albanian and international stages, welcoming more than 4000 artists and over 270 premieres from countries across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
Its rich program spans physical theatre, classical productions, and experimental performance, complemented by workshops, presentations, and exhibitions. Organized by the Albanian Contemporary Theatre Association (A.T.K.), with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Elbasan, the festival celebrates artistic exchange, cultural diversity, and creative innovation on an international platform.
“Skampa Festival is a living platform where contemporary theatre breaks free from convention and opens itself to new forms, new voices, and new cultural energies. It exists to create dialogue between artists and audiences, between local identity and global ideas, keeping theatre in constant movement toward the future.
Theatrical Performances
Live theatrical performances presented on the Skampa Theatre stage, combining strong artistic expression with an intimate historic setting.
Workshops
Educational workshops held within the Skampa Theatre Festival, bringing together artists, professionals, and young creatives through practical training and exchange.
Street Theatre
Open-air performances that transform public spaces into vibrant stages, engaging audiences directly within the city during the festival.
Editions
Theatrical Performances
Artists
Countries
Spectators
You already have an ambassador which would easy substitute the work of 70 ambassadors, around the world. Your culture must be urged. It improves respect. This was revealed by your audience which strangely enough I wouldn’t have thought so.”
Antonio Alamo
Spanish Playwright and Art Critic
“It is heroic to procreate theater, but also to institutionalize it. Then to give it to the public.”
Miho Gjini
Studies, Art Critic, Writer and Publicist.
Skampa Festival is not only an event for this country … You have wonderful actors the serious troops. On the stage, you have done an art understandable to all. This is the most unexpected thing for me.”
Aldo Xhovaneti
Theater Critic, Roma, Italy
“The Festival with its history and tradition is a great opportunity to convey the contemporaneity of different cultures, it’s a valuable contribution for enriching life and enhancing the quality of life, an excellent way to get and given artistic experience. I express my best wishes for the success of this festival.”
Edi RAMA
Prime Minister of Albania
“Such events contribute in the best of ways in creation of unique identity multicultural for the societies that look in progress towards the future.” The cultural unification is a step towards the integration.
Evangjelos Venizellos
Former Culture Minister, Greece