Last weekend, Korça welcomed poets from around the world for the 29th edition of the International Authors Festival, “Korça Poetry Nights.”

The festival featured diverse poetry performances and honored the heritage of the written word with the traditional planting of a tree in Poets’ Park.

Poet Maklena Nika received the Poetry Crown award. The Best Poem award went to Tsvika Nir from Israel. Greece’s Dinos Kubatis earned the “Dritëro Agolli” prize. Poet Zyhdi Dervishi received the “Asdreni” prize. A Special Award went to poet Rakela Zoga for her original perspective and poetic expression of universal values.

Korça Poetry Nights celebrate the beauty of words. This year, 34 poets from Italy, France, Israel, Monaco, Greece, Kosovo, and Albania brought inspired verses along with the sounds and emotions of their homelands.

Once again, Korça transformed into an open stage and a spiritual journey. The festival united participants through the universal language of art. Notable poets included Angela Valenti Durazzo, Bardhosh Gaçe, Pierre Ech-Ardour, Helena Halilaj, Albin Lushi, Maklena Nika, Sadik Bejko, Raimonda Moisiu – Sade, Tsvika Nir, Entela Kasi, and Vlora Konishevci.

The festival ran with support from the National Center for Books and Reading, the “Thimi Mitko” Public Library Korça, Korça Municipality, and PEN Albania.

“Let this edition prove that poetry lives beyond books. It lives on streets, in voices, and in gatherings like this. Most of all, it lives within us when we choose to listen with our hearts,” said Alda Bardhyli, director of the National Center for Books and Reading.

/a.p./