Director Mario Banushi has won the Silver Lion for Theatre 2026 at the Venice Biennale.

The Biennale praised his poetic and minimalist language. His work explores grief, loss, family memory, and Balkan traditions. It combines intimacy with strong political insight.

Banushi was born in 1998. He lived in Albania until age six. Later, he moved to Greece and graduated from the Athens Drama Conservatory.

He debuted as a director with “Ragada” during the pandemic. The production led to collaboration with the National Theatre of Greece.

His play “Goodbye, Lindita” ran for three years at the National Theatre of Greece. It later toured internationally. The trilogy continued with “Taverna Mirësia,” acclaimed at major festivals worldwide.

Banushi told The New York Times he creates theatre to be felt, not explained.

His latest work, “Mami,” is an international co-production. It premiered at the Avignon Festival and received strong critical praise.

In 2025, Banushi won the Young Theatre Artist Award from the Hellenic Association of Theatre Critics.

Many of his works carry Albanian titles, including “Pranvera,” “Goodbye Lindita,” “Taverna Mirësia,” and “Mami.”

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