The European Literature Festival in Tirana (FELT) returns for its second edition. It celebrates European culture and contemporary writing.

FELT 2025 brings 12 authors from 13 EU member states. The festival runs from 2–6 December.

The EU in Albania organizes the event with the Italian Cultural Institute and EU member state embassies. Writers from Ireland, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Italy and Poland will meet Albanian readers. They will also visit schools and universities.

Moreover, the festival aims to highlight Europe’s literary diversity and promote dialogue. It offers dynamic formats that encourage storytelling, discussion and audience engagement.

EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato said the festival “builds spaces and bridges” through stories. He noted that several of the invited authors are already translated into Albanian.

In addition, Alessandro Ruggera of the Italian Cultural Institute said the initiative brings Europe’s cultural richness closer to Albanian audiences.

FELT takes place across multiple venues, including the House of Europe, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Vila 31 x Art Explora, the National Library, Tulla Cultural Center, Babel Library and the National Puppet Theatre. These spaces host discussions and help authors connect with diverse audiences.

Meanwhile, the program explores major literary themes: multilingual writing, minority languages, identity, migration, cultural memory, family roles, young writers’ challenges and social issues such as AI, war, conflict, displacement and resilience.

Reading sessions feature works by Maja Haderlap, Begoña Oro, Michał Rusinek, Barbara Stock, Přemysl Vinš, Djamel White, Milena Selimi, Ena Katarina Haler, Christos Kythreotis, Nadia Terranova, Dario Voltolini and Philippe Collin.

Finally, the festival includes school activities, public evening talks, creative-writing workshops and artistic collaborations that blend spoken word and music. FELT invites participants to explore how stories shape a more connected and empathetic Europe.

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